Signal Private Messenger Rolls Out Secure Backups for iPhone

Encrypted messaging platform Signal now offers secure backups on iPhone, letting users save and restore messages if they lose access to their device.

signal logo
There are free and paid versions of Signal's secure backups. The free version lets users store up to 100MB of text messages, including photos, videos, and files from the last 45 days.

The paid version costs $1.99 per month and can back up all text messages, along with up to 100GB of media which can be older than 45 days.

The end-to-end encrypted backups can be accessed using a 64-character recovery key generated by the user's device, but keeping the key safe is crucial – if it's lost, Signal can't help users recover their backups.

Enabling secure backups in the Signal app is straightforward: Open the Settings menu and select Backups, then tap Setup ➝ Enable Backups. After a recovery key is generated, users can choose a free or paid plan.

Secure backups first came to Android in September. Signal says it plans to bring secure backups to its desktop app, and its longer term goal is to allow users to transfer message history between Android, iPhone, and desktop apps.

Tag: Signal

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Update Now: iOS 26.2 Fixes 20+ Security Vulnerabilities

Friday December 12, 2025 11:11 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS 26.2, all of which introduce new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. Apple says that the updates address over 20 vulnerabilities, including two bugs that are known to have been actively exploited. There are a pair of WebKit vulnerabilities that could allow maliciously crafted web content to execute code or cause memory...

Top Rated Comments

G725 Avatar
3 weeks ago

Not a fan of subscriptions. But if you only need to sign up for 1 month when i.e. you change phones, I think that is acceptable.
You can already easily transfer all your Signal chats from your old phone to your new phone.
The backup is for the case that your old phone is lost or stopped working. In that case you need to have uploaded a backup before.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mthomas184 Avatar
3 weeks ago

You go ahead and believe what "they" tell you. :)
You dropped this.



Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maasj Avatar
3 weeks ago
I love Signal! This development is great news for end user usability. Free backups to iCloud are great… until you don’t want every government on earth spying on you.

For the few remaining people who care about privacy, Signal is where it’s at.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maasj Avatar
3 weeks ago

You go ahead and believe what "they" tell you. :)
Tell me that you don't understand how open source software works without telling me that you don't understand how open source software works.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mthomas184 Avatar
3 weeks ago

Nothing is private anymore, but it sure is funny that companies try to make you believe in privacy.
The protocol that Signal uses has been audited and proven to be private and secure.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Martin Bland Avatar
3 weeks ago
If Signal can securely store a backup on their cloud, Signal can securely store a blob on my phone. A blob that should just copy along with the rest of my data when I upgrade phones. Any data security paranoia with regards to the on-phone blob applies equally to this cloud backup. Any data security paranoia can be mitigated by applying the paranoia safeguards to the key material securing the blob instead of to the blob itself.

I'm baffled by Signal's continued insistence on their cumbersome, user hostile, and backwards data migration process. It's dumb and it's likely the biggest hurdle blocking most people from using Signal. Most people will not realize at first that Signal's data doesn't transfer when upgrading a phone until it is too late and the data is lost. Losing data is inexcusable. The separate data transfer hassle is unnecessarily painful and a reminder to look elsewhere.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)