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In Signal, you can create a backup of your data in order to export chats to a new device, among other things. Read this step-by-step guide to find out how to do this.
Create a backup in Signal – this is 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 are automatically exported and backed up.
- Open Signal and tap the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu, then select Settings.
- In Settings, select Conversations.
- Scroll down in the Entertainment settings and select Save conversations.
- Here you can enable backup by tapping Turn on.
- In the next screen you will see a passphrase consisting of 36 digits. You must write this down or save it in order to restore a local backup.
- Once you have saved the passphrase, you can activate the automatic backups with Activate 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, when you reinstall Signal, you can select Restore backup 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 data carrier, you must copy them accordingly.
Signal: Can you export individual chats?
At this time, it is not possible to export individual chats directly through 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 find 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 do not come from Signal itself and should be used with caution if in doubt.
