• 2 min read
WhatsApp readies iPhone backup option beyond iCloud
WhatsApp’s iOS beta points to first-party cloud backups on iPhone, with 2GB free storage and end-to-end encryption enabled by default.
Image: MacRumors
WhatsApp is working on its own cloud storage option for iPhone chat backups, giving users an alternative to iCloud for the first time, according to app tracker WABetaInfo.
Code in the WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.28.10.16, distributed through TestFlight, suggests users will eventually be able to choose a backup destination directly in the app’s chat backup settings. iCloud is still expected to remain the default option.
The move mirrors a feature WABetaInfo previously spotted for Android in April, aimed at letting users store backups outside Google Drive. On iPhone, WhatsApp is reportedly planning 2GB of free storage on its own servers, plus a 50GB tier priced at around $0.99 per month — roughly in line with Apple’s entry-level iCloud+ plan. A 1TB option is also said to be in development, though the storage tiers and pricing could still change before launch.
According to WABetaInfo, backups stored on WhatsApp’s servers will use end-to-end encryption by default, with no option to disable it. That would be a stronger default than iCloud backups, where users need to manually enable encryption through Advanced Data Protection.
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WhatsApp is also expected to recommend protecting backups with a passkey, though a password or 64-digit key will also be supported. The feature is still in development and does not yet work for beta testers, and WhatsApp has not said when it plans to launch it.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via MacRumors
