WhatsApp Now Offers Encrypted Cloud Backups For Android

After a long test phase, WhatsApp has now released an option that allows users to encrypt their cloud backups. The feature has been in work since March 2020 and is finally finding its way to users – but initially only in the beta app for Android.

WhatsApp has not yet offered end-to-end encryption for chats for backups. That is changing now. According to the online magazine Neowin, the function that allows encrypted cloud backups is being distributed to all users – but initially only for Android. Android users can select the WhatsApp beta in the Play Store and try out the encrypted backup with this version. According to the information from Neowin, the release will now be given to all beta users.

Without Password There Is No Recovery

The feature offers the option of choosing a password before uploading your backup to the cloud, more precisely to Google Drive. As WhatsApp writes, the encryption of the backups means that users have to enter the password when creating or restoring a backup. However, this also means that without this password you will no longer be able to use the data from the backup for a restore.

To use the function, you must first perform the following steps:

• Start WhatsApp and go to the menu using the three dots in the upper right corner.
• Navigate to Settings> Chats> Chat Backup.
• There now follows the point “Encrypt backups” under the section “Google Drive settings”.
• Tap on “Next” and then on “Create password”.
• Assign a password there and tap “Next” again.
• Alternatively, the option “Use 64-digit encryption code” can be selected.

The password must then be re-entered and confirmed. The function is currently only available in beta from version 2.21.15.5 of WhatsApp for Android. The release to other users and also for iOS should follow soon.