WhatsApp beta testing end-to-end encrypted chat backups on iOS

WhatsApp has begun beta testing a new feature on the latest version of the app that enables end-to-end encrypted chat backups on the latest iOS beta version. The company had previously announced on September 10 that the feature would be coming soon to iOS and Android and it looks like the company has begun testing the feature on its beta channel for iPhone users, according to a new report.

Earlier today, feature leaker WABetaInfo spotted the newly added feature on the latest WhatsApp Beta app for iOS that enables end-to-end encrypted chat backups on iCloud. A screenshot of the new feature shows a message of the onboarding screen that informs users that end-to-end encrypted backups are off, and informing them that when the feature is turned on, neither Apple nor WhatsApp will be able to access the backup.

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According to the image shared by the leaker, tapping the ‘Turn on’ button should show a new prompt that will ask users to create a password (or a 64-digit encryption key) that will be used to restore the end-to-end encrypted chat backups on another device. When a user installs WhatsApp on another iPhone, they will be able to enter the password to decrypt the backup and read the messages stored inside the backup. The screenshot also shows a warning message that states that if the password is forgotten, then WhatsApp cannot help users recover their backup.

The feature should be rolling out to beta testers who have installed the latest testing versions of WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business – specifically version 2.21.200.14. Users who are on the beta program might slowly see the feature enabled for them after they install this update according to the report. In order to check if you can access the end-to-end encrypted chat backups feature, you can goto the WhatsApp Settings, then tap on Chats, tap on Chat Backup, then tap on End-to-end encrypted Backup to begin the process.

The leaker also reveals that users should go to the iPhone settings and tap on their name, then iCloud, then Manage Storage, tap on Backup, then disable the option for WhatsApp. This is because the backup will not be encrypted so users should disable this method and use the end-to-end encrypted chat backups feature provided inside WhatsApp to backup and restore chats, according to the report.