- WhatsApp is rolling out end-to-end encryption for chat backups on Android and iOS.
- Users can secure WhatsApp cloud backups with a password or 64-digit encryption key so that no one except themselves can access backup files.
- WhatsApp says users can’t restore the backup if they lose WhatsApp chats or forget the password or key.
WhatsApp has announced end-to-end encryption for chat backups on iOS and Android and the feature is now available. The social media giant has offered end-to-end encryption for chats but with the new change, chat backups will also be encrypted and can’t be accessible to Facebook and its associated platforms. The feature will roll out gradually to users on the latest version of the app. Notably, WhatsApp backups are stores in iCloud for Apple products and Google Drive for Android products and with end-to-end encryption, users can secure WhatsApp cloud backups with a password or 64-digit encryption so that no one except the owner will be able to access the backup files.
How to enable WhatsApp end-to-end encrypted chat backup
WhatsApp already offers end-to-end encryption for all personal messages that users send and receive. Now, with chat backup encryption, WhatsApp is offering an additional layer of protection for iCloud and Google Drive backups. Here’s how to enable end-to-end encryption for chat backups.
- Firstly, open WhatsApp and open Settings.
- In Settings, select Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
- Now hit Continue and follow the prompts to create a password or key.
- Once the password or Key is set, tap Done, and wait for WhatsApp to get your end-to-end encrypted backup ready. Note: WhatsApp advises users to connect to a power source.
WhatsApp says that you won’t be able to restore the backup if you lose WhatsApp chats or forget your password or key. WhatsApp can’t reset passwords or restore backups. To disable WhatsApp chat backups end-to-end encryption, head to Settings, and then Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup and tap ‘Turn Off’ by authenticating with password or key.
Also read: Facebook outage: Telegram gained 70 million new users when WhatsApp was down
