Introducing Signal Secure Backups Signal has introduced Secure Backups, an opt-in feature designed to solve the problem of losing message history if a phone is lost or broken. This feature allows users to back up their Signal conversations, including messages and media, while maintaining strong privacy and security standards. --- Why Secure Backups? Previously, if a phone was lost or damaged, Signal message history was irretrievable. Essential for users who rely on Signal for important conversations, family photos, sensitive messages, and important documents. Signal's most requested feature: a way to restore messages after phone loss. --- What Are Secure Backups? Save a privacy-preserving, end-to-end encrypted archive of Signal conversations. Automatically refreshed daily. Available now in Android beta, with iOS and Desktop support coming soon. Users can opt in voluntarily; no automatic backups without user consent. Backup Content Free tier: backs up all text messages and media from the last 45 days. Paid tier ($1.99/month in the US): expands media storage up to 100 GB, supporting more extensive media backups and message history. Why a Paid Tier? Media storage is expensive due to costs in storing and transferring large files. Signal is a nonprofit and does not monetize user data through ads or sales. Paid plan helps cover these operational costs responsibly. --- Privacy and Security First Uses zero-knowledge technology similar to Signal groups, avoiding direct links between backup data and user accounts. A 64-character recovery key is generated uniquely on the user's device and never shared with Signal servers. The recovery key is the only way to unlock the backup; losing it means permanent loss of backup access. Important security features include: Double encryption of media files with unique backup keys. Padding to obscure file sizes. Daily refresh removes deleted messages and disappearing messages, respecting user privacy intentions. Signal prioritizes security over convenience, aligning with its mission to collect minimal user data. --- How to Enable Secure Backups Access from the Signal Settings menu. Restricted to Android beta users initially for testing purposes. Upon activation, device creates and refreshes secure backup archive daily. Backups exclude view-once messages and messages set to disappear within 24 hours. --- Future of Secure Backups Planned features: Ability to save backup archives to user-chosen locations. Support for transferring encrypted message history across Android, iOS, and Desktop devices. Signal will roll out full public versions and expand to other platforms soon. --- Additional Information Open-source storage management software on GitHub Signal Storage Manager. Free tier offers around 100 MiB message storage, suitable for heavy users' messages. Media in this context includes photos, videos, GIFs, files, and attachments. Paid plan pricing is subject to change. --- Summary Signal's Secure Backups enhance user experience by providing a secure, privacy-focused way to back up and restore messages. This feature is built on strong encryption principles and offers both free and paid options to balance user needs and operational costs, advancing Signal’s commitment to private communication. --- For more details or to join the beta, visit Signal's official blog and support pages.