WhatsApp is developing a major change to how users back up their chats by introducing its own first-party cloud backup service, a move that would reduce reliance on Apple iCloud and Google Drive.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature, currently under development for both iOS and Android, will allow users to store WhatsApp backups directly on WhatsApp’s servers. Unlike existing backup options, all backups stored on WhatsApp’s infrastructure will be protected with end-to-end encryption by default, with users unable to disable the protection unless they switch back to iCloud or Google Drive.
New Alternative to iCloud and Google Drive
For iPhone users, WhatsApp backups currently count against Apple’s free 5 GB iCloud storage allocation. As chat histories and shared media grow over time, many users quickly run out of space and are forced either to delete files or pay for additional iCloud storage.
WhatsApp’s upcoming backup provider is designed to offer another option. The company plans to provide 2 GB of free storage for users who choose to back up their chats on WhatsApp’s servers instead of iCloud.
The feature was discovered in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.28.10.16 update, where users will eventually be able to select their preferred backup provider directly from the app’s chat backup settings.
On Android, WhatsApp users store their backups on Google Drive. If this is implemented, this will be the first time WhatsApp implements an option that does not depend on Google.
Encryption Becomes Mandatory
One of the biggest changes is WhatsApp’s approach to privacy.
Currently, encrypted backups on iCloud are optional and must be enabled manually by the user. Under the new system, backups stored on WhatsApp’s servers will always be encrypted.
Users will be able to secure their backups using:
-
A device passkey stored in the phone’s password manager
-
A traditional password
-
A 64-digit encryption key
WhatsApp says that only the user will be able to access the encrypted backup, meaning neither WhatsApp nor its parent company Meta Platforms can read the stored chat history.
Free and Paid Storage Plans
While the service will start with 2 GB of free storage, WhatsApp is also exploring paid plans for users with larger backups.
Early versions of the feature point to:
|
Plan |
Expected Price |
|---|---|
|
2 GB |
Free |
|
50 GB |
About $0.99 per month |
|
1 TB |
Price not yet confirmed |
The pricing would closely mirror entry-level cloud storage plans already offered by Apple and other providers.
Potential Cross-Platform Restores
Because WhatsApp would control its own backup infrastructure, the new system could eventually support cross-platform restores, allowing users to restore a backup on a different operating system than the one on which it was created.
For example, an iPhone backup could potentially be restored on an Android device, though WhatsApp has not confirmed whether this capability will be included in the final release.
No Release Date Yet
The backup provider remains under development and is not yet available for public or beta testing. WhatsApp has not announced an official launch timeline, but the company appears to be building the feature simultaneously for both iOS and Android ahead of a wider rollout.
If released, the service would mark the first time WhatsApp offers its own cloud backup system across both major mobile platforms, giving users a dedicated alternative to iCloud and Google Drive while making encrypted backups the default rather than an optional setting.
I have been waiting for this update since I first used WhatsApp 14 years ago. This has the potential to make my cross platform life easy due to the use of one backup across my devices hence losing chats will be a thing of the past.
