WhatsApp is developing its backup cloud provider for iOS

WhatsApp is testing a first-party cloud backup provider where backups are encrypted by default. This feature will give users an alternative to iCloud for storing their WhatsApp backups. The update will make end-to-end encryption mandatory for backups stored on WhatsApp's servers.

WhatsApp is working on a first-party backup provider for Android

As we reported back in April, WhatsApp is developing its own cloud backup provider for Android. With this feature, users will finally have an alternative to Google Drive. Users will be able to store their chat backups on WhatsApp's own servers instead. WhatsApp will offer up to 2 GB of free storage for users who opt for its own provider. Backups stored on WhatsApp's servers will be end-to-end encrypted by default. For Android users, this would be the first time WhatsApp offers a cloud backup option that does not depend on Google.

WhatsApp is now developing the same option for the iOS app

Users on WhatsApp for Android rely on Google Drive for backups, and the new provider will give them an alternative. iOS users deal with the same situation with iCloud, and WhatsApp is now working on bringing the same choice to them. This is the news we discovered with the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.28.10.16 update, which is available on TestFlight. Specifically, WhatsApp is developing its own backup cloud provider for the iOS app.

iCloud's free storage fills up fast, and WhatsApp backups make it worse

Apple offers 5 GB of free iCloud storage for photos, documents, app data, and device backups. WhatsApp backups can grow quite large over time, and users who share a lot of media files often end up with the biggest ones. Once users hit the 5 GB limit, they can free up space manually or pay Apple for more storage. The cheapest paid plan from Apple offers 50 GB for around $0.99 per month. A dedicated option for WhatsApp backups would allow users to free up iCloud storage for everything else.

WhatsApp will offer its own backup storage on iOS

In a future update, WhatsApp will give users on iOS the ability to choose their preferred backup provider directly from the chat backup settings. iCloud will still be the default option, so users who do not want to change anything can simply ignore it. WhatsApp will offer 2 GB of free storage to start. This will let users keep their chat history on WhatsApp's servers instead of iCloud. Users can then dedicate their iCloud storage to photos, documents, and backups from other apps. However, it will be possible to switch back to iCloud at any time.

Backups on WhatsApp servers require end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption for WhatsApp backups is optional on iCloud. This means that users have to turn it on manually. On WhatsApp's own servers, encryption for backups is never optional. They will be end-to-end encrypted by default, and there is no way to turn it off without switching back to iCloud. WhatsApp recommends a passkey as the main encryption method. A passkey is a credential stored in the device's password manager that replaces traditional passwords. Users who prefer not to use a passkey can still encrypt their backup with a regular password or a 64-digit encryption key. Only the user can access their encrypted backups, not even WhatsApp or Meta.

WhatsApp will offer paid storage plans for users who need more than 2 GB

WhatsApp will offer 2 GB of free storage. However, it may not be enough for some users with large backups. With around three billion users, WhatsApp simply cannot afford to offer more free storage to everyone. As a result, WhatsApp is also exploring paid solutions. The first one is a 50 GB plan priced at around $0.99 per month, similar to what Apple already charges for its entry-level iCloud upgrade. WhatsApp is also working on a 1 TB plan for users who need more storage. These prices and storage tiers are still preliminary and could change before the official release.

What to do with the existing iCloud backup

Once users switch to WhatsApp's own provider and complete a backup, it is still unclear what will happen to the existing backup on iCloud. If it does not disappear on its own, users who want to free up that iCloud space will be able to delete the WhatsApp backup manually. Users can delete it by opening the Settings app, tapping their Apple account name, then iCloud. Here, they can find WhatsApp in the list of their apps and delete its backup.

WhatsApp's backup provider could enable cross-platform restores

WhatsApp's own backup provider could make it possible to restore a backup on a different platform than the one it was created on. WhatsApp will control the backup infrastructure, so cross-platform restores may become a real possibility. Note that this feature is still under development. This means that it is too early to say whether WhatsApp will include this in the final product.

Why end-to-end encrypted backups matter for your privacy

For a company like Meta, making encryption mandatory for backups is an important step. Some users might have concerns to store their chat history on WhatsApp's servers. End-to-end encryption will help WhatsApp address those concerns directly. A backup that is always encrypted by design protects users even if they never think about it.

WhatsApp is developing the backup provider for a future iOS update

The first-party backup provider for iOS is currently under development, and it is not available for beta testing yet. The feature is also under development on the Android app. This means that WhatsApp is working on the same feature on both platforms ahead of the public release. WhatsApp has not announced an official timeline for its release. We will share more details once WhatsApp moves this feature closer to a beta or stable release.

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