Signal is the best private messaging app for most people, but without back up technology it previously meant messages vanished if your phone was lost or broken beyond repair. That’s now changing, if you use Signal’s new secure backup feature.
After introducing the feature on Android back in September, it’s now available on iOS for the first time. Back ups through Signal’s service are end-to-end encrypted using a 64-character recovery key to regain access to your information.
Signal says, “Without your unique recovery key, no one (including Signal) can read, decrypt, or restore any of the data in your Secure Backup Archive.”
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There’s a free option for all users to back up 100MB of text messages, and it’ll also save your files, videos, photos, GIFs, and other media for 45 days. After that time, it’ll delete the files, unless you pay for a premium subscription.
For $1.99 a month, you can then back up 100GB of media, but there’s currently no option to exceed that.
To turn the feature on, download the latest version called v7.86 on iOS. Head to Signal and the Profile button in the top left, followed by Signal Settings > Backups > Setup > Enable Backups > Next.
You’ll then be given your 64-character recovery key, which Signal recommends recording somewhere safe that isn’t connected to your profile. Then tap Next and enter your recovery key to confirm you’ve got it safely recorded. Then tap Next > Continue and choose between either the free or paid backup plan.
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Signal notes that your recovery key is essential to decrypt your information. If you lose it, there is no other way to regain access. Signal’s support page says, “There is simply no way to decrypt the information that it contains without your recovery key.”
The brand plans to bring its back ups to its desktop service soon. Once that’s complete, Signal also plans to introduce transfers between platforms so you can easily switch between all three.
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