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In Signal, you can create a backup of your data to export chats to a new device, among other things. You can read how to do this in this step-by-step guide.
Create a backup in Signal – here’s how to do it with the chat export
To create a backup in Signal, you only need to activate the local backup. After you have activated the function, your chats will be exported and backed up automatically.
- Open Signal and tap the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu, and then select Settings.
- In Settings, select Conversations.
- In Entertainment Settings, scroll down and select Save Conversations.
- Here you can activate the backup by tapping on Turn on.
- In the next screen, you will be shown a passphrase consisting of 36 digits. You need to write this down or save it to restore a local backup.
- Once you have saved the passphrase, you can switch on the automatic backups with Enable Backups. From now on, your chats will be automatically exported and backed up with your passphrase.
- If you move the exported backup file to a new device, you can select Restore backup when you reinstall Signal and use your passphrase to decrypt the file to restore your chats.
- Note that Signal backups are stored on your smartphone. If you want to keep your backup files on another storage device, you will need to copy them accordingly.
Signal: Can you export individual chats?
At the moment, it is not possible to export individual chats directly via the Signal app.
- While messengers like WhatsApp have this feature, it is currently not possible with Signal, an app that has won awards for its privacy protection.
- If you want to export a chat to retrieve it later on a new phone after installing Signal, all you need to do is go through the steps above to make a full backup of your data.
- Alternatively, there are occasional tools that offer such functionality. However, these are not from Signal itself and should be used with caution if in doubt.
