Since the first quarter of 2021 we knew that WhatsApp would soon have encrypted backups to avoid onlookers. This feature came to iOS first (in May 2021), but it’s already a reality on Android too.
With it you will be able to create a personalized key so that nobody can see your backed up WhatsApp chats, so it is something that you will surely want to know. You do not know how? We teach you how to encrypt your backup on WhatsApp .
How WhatsApp encrypted backups work
Although WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, and no one is supposed to read or intercept them, this is something that did not happen with backups. Until now, the backup copies that WhatsApp stored on your mobile or in Drive were vulnerable and anyone could easily open them.
This was a pending problem to solve, but the company finally did it by enabling encryption of backups . What does it consist of? Simple, the application will take your backups, encrypt them before saving them and you will only be able to access them if you have the decryption key.
WhatsApp has never said what type of encryption this encryption system uses, although it allows you to use custom keys or generate ultra-secure 64-character keys to block access to backed-up files.
What happens if you lose your password? Easy, you cannot restore the backup and you will have to give it up as lost because neither you nor anyone else will be able to decrypt it to see it. How can you activate this functionality? Read on after the jump.
So you can activate encryption for your WhatsApp backups
At the time of writing this note, backup encryption was not yet available in the stable version of WhatsApp. Thus, the process that we will show you is done through the beta 2.21.21.3 of the application, but it will be exactly the same when it reaches the general public. In addition, it is a functionality that is not activated by default , but you must enable it manually. What should you do? This:
- Download the latest WhatsApp beta (as of 2.21.21.3).
- Install the beta APK on your mobile, you can review our tutorial on how to install APK packages on Android if you need help.
- Note : At the time of writing this article, backup encryption was not available to all users, but WhatsApp was gradually enabling it from its server.
- Open WhatsApp options from the three dots icon .
- Select “Settings” to go to settings.
- Go to the “Chats” submenu and enter “Backup” .
- Turn on “End-to-End Backup” .
- Create a password . You can use your own or a 64-digit encryption key that you’ll need to write down.
- Go ahead and repeat the password you just created in order to activate encryption.
- Click “Create” to encrypt your backup.
Once this is done, all your local and Google Drive backups will be encrypted. It is a very good security feature, although remember that you must memorize or keep your password well if you do not want to lose your photos, videos, messages and voice memos. Have you already tried it?
