Signal 8.30 Brings Encrypted Local Backups to iOS and Desktop
Summary
Signal 8.30 completes encrypted backup support across its platforms, adding local backups for iOS and desktop, cross-device improvements, and storage controls. Both hosted and local backups require a recovery key.
Key points
- Version 8.30 completes Signal's secure-backup rollout across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Users can choose Signal-hosted backups or unrestricted local backups; both are encrypted and require a recovery key for restoration.
- Hosted backups add a supplemental key that rotates daily inside a Trusted Execution Environment, according to Signal.
- The update brings local backups to iOS and desktop and moves Android backups to the same cross-platform format.
- Signal says the update improves attachment restoration and media storage, including storing duplicate files only once.
- The iOS release adds direct iPhone-to-iPhone transfer over a local end-to-end encrypted Wi-Fi Aware link.
- Signal says backups exclude disappearing messages set to vanish within 24 hours.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Signal released version 8.30, completing the rollout of encrypted backups across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with local backups added to iOS and desktop.
- Impact
- Users can create encrypted hosted or local backups and restore them with a recovery key. The update also improves cross-device transfers and attachment recovery, reduces duplicated media storage, and lets paying users purge old local media while retaining thumbnails. Signal says hosted backups use a daily rotating supplemental key inside a Trusted Execution Environment.