In this guide, we will show you how to backup and restore signal chats on Android devices. In recent times, many smartphone users have converted to the online messaging app, Signal as it has proven to be a safe messaging platform. The signal is characterized by a plethora of features, concerning security and other aspects of a messaging app that has made the experience of Signal a very improved one for the users. The number of users of the Signal app further increased after the recent controversy about WhatsApp privacy policy. So if you are a new Signal user and want to know how to backup and restore Signal chats, then this article is for you.
Unlike WhatsApp which sends all your data to a cloud for backup, Signal makes use of a local backup in your device’s storage. So this means that you do need an active internet connection to backup or restore Signal chats in your phone’s internal storage. Along the same lines, Signal also asks for your permission before backing up your chats to your internal storage. The backing up of data to your internal storage rather than a cloud tells that your personal data is safe and secure. To backup and restore Signal chats, there is a little process that we will be discussing in this guide.
How to Backup and Restore Signal Chats on Android?
As we mentioned previously, the Signal app does not restore your chats unless you instruct it to. The backup feature is turned off by default. So in order to backup your signal chats, you have to turn that feature on manually and then create a backup yourself in your phone’s internal storage.
ALSO READ: Send Automated replies in Signal app
How to backup Signal Chats?
Here the steps following which you can backup Signal chats on Android devices:
STEP 1: First of all, open the Signal app on your device.
STEP 2: Then on the top right corner of your screen, you will see a profile icon, tap on it.
STEP 3: After that, select “Chats and Media”.
STEP 4: Once opened, you will be able to see “Chat Backups” inside. Tap on it.
STEP 5: In there, you will be able to see a Turn on button. Tap on it.
STEP 6: Once done, a passphrase will appear on your screen. You need to keep this passphrase safe as it will be required later when you have to restore your backup up data. So either take a screenshot of this passphrase or write it down somewhere else. After that, tap on “Enable Backups”.
STEP 7: Once done, you will be able to see a new option under Chat Backups. There you will be able to see an option named “Create Backup”. With this option, you can backup your Signal chats anytime you want just by clicking on the option. This option will also display the last time you backed up your Signal chats.
How to restore Signal Chats on the same device?
Often users uninstall apps due to some technical issues with the apps. Users also do this for the Signal app. So when you install it again, how do you get your chats back again? Let’s discuss just that in this section.
Before we get into this, you need to make sure that you have a backup created for your Signal chats. As we mentioned previously, the Signal app does not create backups unless you tell it to. So in order to restore your Signal chats, you should create a Backup first for your Signal chats in your device’s internal storage.
STEP 1: First of all, install the Signal app and give it all the permissions it asks for.
STEP 2: Once you have installed the app, open it up and then it will detect the backup in your internal storage itself. Tap on “Restore Backup” to allow it to access the backup file.
STEP 3: After that, the Signal app will then ask you to enter the passphrase that you were given when you created the backup for your chats. To enter the code correctly and then tap on restore. This will initiate the restoring process and once the process is done, you will be able to see all your older chats back on your device.
Without having a backup in the first place, you will not be able to restore your Signal chats. Along with that, keeping the passphrase safe is also important as it is required to restore your chats. Without the passphrase, you will not be able to restore your Signal chats on your device.
How to restore Signal Chats on a different smartphone?
Restoring your chats is also required when you switch from one device to another. So follow the steps below to see how you can restore your Signal chats on a different device:
STEP 1: First up, you are required to copy the Signal app’s folder from your previous device’s internal storage to your new device.
STEP 2: After you have placed the Signal app directory in the right place, then you have to install the Signal app on your new device and then allow all the required permissions.
STEP 3: Once you have installed the app, open it up and then it will detect the backup in your internal storage itself. Tap on “Restore Backup” to allow it to access the backup file.
STEP 4: After that, the Signal app will then ask you to enter the passphrase that you were given when you created the backup for your chats. To enter the code correctly and then tap on restore. This will initiate the restoring process and once the process is done, you will be able to see all your older chats back on your device.
If you do not know where your Signal app directory is, then take a look at the guide below.
How to copy the backup file to a PC or another device?
When you create a backup file on your PC for the Signal app, then that file is stored on your phone’s internal storage. So in order to copy that backup file to another device, you are required to copy that directory of the Signal app which contains the backup file.
STEP 1: First up, you have to know the location where the backup file has been created as well as the location of the Signal app directory. So for that, open the Signal app and then click on the Profile icon appearing on the top right of your screen.
STEP 2: In there, tap on “Chats and Media”.
STEP 3: Inside Chats and Media, you will be able to see “Chat Backups”. Tap on it.
STEP 4: In here, you will be able to see “Backup Folder” and under this option, will be the location for that backup folder.
STEP 5: Now head over to that folder and then copy the backup file to your PC. It is advised that you copy the entire Signal directory.
With this, you have only copied the backup to an external device. So when you have to restore your chats to a new device, then copy this file to the internal storage of that new device so when you open the Signal app on that device, it will be able to detect the backup file automatically.
So that was it from our side on how to backup and restore Signal chats on Android devices. We hope that you found this guide helpful. If you have any queries, post them in the comment section below.
