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Troubleshooting Signal Secure Backups

Signal Secure Backups work on both Android and iOS, but some steps and behaviors are platform-specific. Start with the general checks below, then review the section for your device.

Start here (All platforms)

1. Confirm Secure Backups are enabled

  • Open Signal.
  • Go to Settings → Chats → Backups.
  • Make sure Secure Backups is turned on.

If Secure Backups were never enabled, no backup exists to restore.

2. Make sure you have your recovery key

  • Secure Backups are protected by a 64-character recovery key.
  • This key is required to restore your messages.
  • Signal cannot recover, reset, or bypass this key.
  • If the key is lost, the backup is permanently inaccessible.

3. Restore during initial setup only

  • Secure Backups can only be restored during first-time setup.
  • If you skipped the restore step:
     
    1. Uninstall Signal. 
    2. Reinstall Signal.
    3. Restore your backup when prompted.

4. Check your phone number and account

  • You must register Signal with the same phone number.
  • Using a different number will prevent your backup from appearing.

5. Verify your internet connection

  • Make sure you have:
    • A stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
    • No VPNs or network restrictions blocking the restore.

Android-specific notes

6. Keep Signal up to date.

  • Update Signal from the Google Play Store.
  • Please make sure your Signal application is using the latest version.

7. Understand what content may be missing

  • Secure Backups include:
    • All text messages.
    • Media from the last 45 days (free tier).
  • Media older than 45 days restores only if you’re on the paid tier.
  • View-once messages and messages disappearing within 24 hours are never restored.

8. Understanding Secure Backups vs On-Device Backups

  • Signal Secure Backups work across platforms (Android to iOS, iOS to Android)
  • On-device backups are:
    • Android to Android only.
    • Not available on iOS.
    • Stored on your device.
    • Not interchangeable with Secure Backups.
    • If you created an android on-device backup only, restoring from a Signal Secure Backup will not be available.

iOS-specific notes

9. Keep Signal up to date

  • Update Signal from the App Store.
  • Please make sure your Signal application is using the latest version.

10. Secure Backups are the only restore option

  • iOS does not support on-device backups.
  • If Signal Secure Backups were not enabled before reinstalling or replacing your phone, chat history cannot be recovered.

Platform limitations to be aware of

11. Cross-platform restores have expected limits

  • Secure Backups support both restoring from Android to iOS and restoring from iOS to Android.
  • Media availability depends on your subscription tier.
  • Direct device transfers and on-device backups do not support cross-platform restores.

12. Linked devices cannot restore history

  • Linked devices cannot restore message history to your phone, iPad, or other desktop.
  • Linked devices only sync after your phone has completed restoring. 

Still having trouble?

Double-check:

  • Recovery key accuracy (all 64 characters). 
  • Phone number.
  • Signal app version.
  • Network connection.
  • If any requirement is missing, Signal Secure Backups cannot be restored.

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