What are Signal Secure Backups?
Signal Secure Backups can help you safely restore your chats if something unexpected happens to your device (like dropping your phone in a lake). When this optional feature is enabled, your device will automatically back up your message history so you won’t lose important data if you get a new phone or reinstall Signal.
Your Secure Backup Archive is end-to-end encrypted and protected by a cryptographically secure 64-character recovery key that is never shared with the Signal service. Without your unique recovery key, no one (including Signal) can read, decrypt, or restore any of the data in your Secure Backup Archive.
What is included in my Secure Backup Archive?
If you enable this feature, your Secure Backup Archive includes all of your text messages and the last 45 days of media — like files, photos, and attachments.
For a small monthly fee, you can also opt to store up to 100 gigabytes of media.
What is the cost?
$1.99 per month
What happens to disappearing messages?
View-once messages and any messages that are scheduled to disappear within the next 24 hours will be excluded.
How do I enable Secure Backups?
- Ensure your app has been updated to v7.56 on Android or v7.86 for iOS.
- On your phone, navigate to Signal Settings
> Backups.
- Tap Setup > tap Enable Backups > Tap Next > Record your recovery key somewhere safe and tap Next.
- Confirm your recovery key and tap Next > tap Continue > choose between the free or paid backup plan > Tap Ok.
Is Secure Backups optional?
Yes. This feature is opt-in.
How do I disable Secure Backups?
- Open Signal and navigate to Signal Settings > Backups > Tap Turn Off and Delete Backup > Chose Turn Off and Delete.
How do I recover messages?
Android:
- On the “Restore or Transfer Account” screen in the registration flow, select "From Signal Backups".
- Tap Restore Backup.
iOS:
- Open Signal and navigate to Signal Settings > Backups.
- On the “Restore or Transfer Account” screen, select “Restore Signal Backup”.
Enter your recovery key and tap Next. - Tap Restore Backup.
What happens if I lose my recovery key? Why can't Signal help me restore my secure backup archive without it?
Your recovery key is always in your hands; it never leaves your device and is never shared with Signal’s servers.
Because your secure backup archive is end-to-end encrypted, there is simply no way to decrypt the information that it contains without your recovery key.
Can I delete my backup?
Yes. If you disable Secure Backups in your Signal settings, your secure backup archive will automatically be deleted.
Can I merge backups?
Merging backups is not supported at this time.