WhatsApp Is Developing Its Own Cloud Backup Service for iPhone Users

WhatsApp is working on a new cloud backup service for iPhone users that will allow users to save their chat backups directly on WhatsApp’s servers instead of relying only on Apple’s iCloud. According to WABetaInfo, The feature is currently under development and is not yet available for beta testers.

The upcoming backup provider will give iPhone users more flexibility while improving the privacy and security of their chat backups.

WhatsApp Is Developing Its Own Cloud Backup Service for iPhone Users

At the moment, WhatsApp on iPhone uses iCloud to store chat backups. While this works well for many users, Apple’s free iCloud storage is limited to 5GB, which is shared across photos, documents, device backups, and app data. As WhatsApp backups grow over time—especially for users who frequently share photos and videos—they can quickly consume the available storage.

To solve this problem, WhatsApp is developing its own cloud backup service, allowing users to choose between iCloud and WhatsApp’s servers. iCloud will remain the default option, and users who prefer it will not need to make any changes.

2GB of Free Backup Storage

WhatsApp plans to offer 2GB of free cloud storage for users who choose its backup service. This storage can be used exclusively for WhatsApp chat backups, helping users free up valuable space in their iCloud accounts for other files and apps.

Users will also have the option to switch back to iCloud whenever they want.

End-to-End Encryption by Default

One of the biggest highlights of the new backup system is its focus on privacy.

Unlike iCloud, where end-to-end encrypted backups must be enabled manually, every backup stored on WhatsApp’s servers will be end-to-end encrypted by default. This means only the user will be able to access the backup—not even WhatsApp or its parent company, Meta.

For security, WhatsApp is expected to recommend using a passkey to protect backups. Users who prefer traditional methods can also choose a password or a 64-digit encryption key.

Paid Storage Plans in Development

While 2GB of free storage may be enough for many users, larger chat histories will require additional space.

WhatsApp is reportedly exploring paid storage plans, including:

• 50GB for around $0.99 per month
• 1TB plan for users with much larger backups

These pricing details are still under development and may change before the feature is officially launched.

What Happens to Existing iCloud Backups?

It is still unclear whether existing WhatsApp backups stored in iCloud will be removed automatically after switching to WhatsApp’s backup service.

If they remain in iCloud, users will likely need to delete them manually to free up storage space.

See Also: WhatsApp Is Testing Birthday Notifications for Contacts on Android

Cross-Platform Backup Support Could Be Possible

By managing its own backup infrastructure, WhatsApp could eventually support restoring chat backups across different operating systems, such as moving chats from Android to iPhone or vice versa.

Although this possibility has been discussed, the feature is still under development. WhatsApp has not confirmed whether it will be included in the final release.

When Will It Be Available?

The first-party cloud backup provider for iOS is currently being developed and is not yet available for testing. WhatsApp is also working on a similar backup solution for Android, where it will provide an alternative to Google Drive.

There is currently no official release date, but the feature is expected to roll out in a future WhatsApp update once development is complete.