WhatsApp Beta Reveals iCloud Backup Alternative for iPhone

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp is developing a first-party cloud storage option for chat backups on iPhone, providing users with an alternative to iCloud for the first time, according to app tinkerer WABetaInfo.

Code found in the WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 26.28.10.16), available through TestFlight, suggests that users will eventually be able to pick their preferred backup destination directly from the app's chat backup settings. iCloud however will remain the default.

The feature harks back to one that WABetaInfo spotted in development for Android back in April, which is set to give users on Google's platform a way to store backups off Google Drive.

Under the plan, WhatsApp will reportedly include 2GB of free storage on its own servers, and there will be a 50GB tier priced at around $0.99 per month, similar to Apple's entry-level iCloud+ plan. There is also said to be a 1TB option in the works, although the tiers and pricing could always change before the backup feature goes live.

Image: WABetaInfo​

Notably, backups kept on WhatsApp's servers will be protected by end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default, with no way to switch encryption off. That's firmer protection than what is offered by iCloud backups, whose users must turn on encryption manually by enabling Advanced Data Protection (ADP). WhatsApp will reportedly recommend securing backups with a passkey, but a password or 64-digit key will also work.

WABetaInfo says the feature is still in development and not yet working for beta testers, and WhatsApp hasn't yet stated when it plans to officially launch the backup alternative.

Article Link: WhatsApp Beta Reveals iCloud Backup Alternative for iPhone

 

[SilmarilFinder]

Paving the way for yet another subscription, are we?

And does anyone genuinely trust Meta's so called E2E encryption anymore?

Edit: subs cost added later to the article

 

[Nik]

The conversation at Meta went something like this:
"We need to train AI models with chats… but they are end-to-end encrypted"
"I have a solution, we upload the chats to our servers, but this time encrypted with something we can decrypt"
"AMAZING! And we can finally sell subscriptions as well!"

 

[iSmoggie]

Not a chance I’m using Meta for cloud backup.

 

[vegetassj4]

The Zuck trying to zuck up more data from his customers products

 

[Havalo]

Apple, Google, Samsung, and others are essentially sharing their datacentres like a huge incest orgy, so don't be fooled into thinking your data is completely encrypted and secure! Unless you implement your own backup solution, the idea of piracy might be a bit naive, or maybe I'm just being overly cautious. 😁

What would be much more convenient if Apple allowed alternative options for iCloud, similar to how we can choose third-party applications for Messages, Maps, Mail, and so on.

 

[akbarali.ch]

can we put it on nextcloud?

 

[dbwie]

They don’t know what to do with the cloud infrastructure spend.

 

[dominiongamma]

Not a chance I’m using Meta for cloud backup.

Not a chance, they will harvest your data

 

[one more]

I can see two issues with this:

1) Backup privacy – I trust Apple way more than Meta, even if Meta promises to encrypt them, etc.

2) 2GB free storage for WhatsApp chats is a joke (my current backup is at 8 GB!) and why would I pay Meta .99 for 50 GB if I can pay Apple exactly the same amount and use it for anything, not just WhatsApp?

 

[triumvirate]

Meta… surely out of the goodness of their AI-written hearts, no doubt.

 

[Ctrlos]

Who in their right mind would willingly pay Meta $1 a month for cloud storage just to back up some WhatsApp chats you've forgotten about after a week? Does anybody actually go back and look through these things?!

 

[AppleTO]

I’m confused. Are they talking about backing up iMessage iCloud data, or is this just referring to backing up WhatsApp messages?

Does WhatsApp not already save message history like every other chat app?

 

[svish]

Good to have more options. Looks like WhatsApp/Meta is aiming to get revenue from subscriptions!

 

[thelion7]

Paving the way for yet another subscription, are we?

And does anyone genuinely trust Meta's so called E2E encryption anymore?

Edit: subs cost added later to the article

I agree Meta are getting desperate.

Its been recently said in the news that they’re pivoting to renting out what was their AI Data centre kit as server space instead.

Kind of like Microsoft Azure because they’ve realised they’ve wasted all this money on a AI platform that no one wants.

They’ve also launched a paid subscription tier for facebook, instagram and whatsapp (not cloud storage but extra chat themes etc in whatsapp)

Now we’ve got news of this optional extra chat storage on whatsapp too.

I mean they might as well, they have the server space… 😂

Jokes aside, if this isn’t a sign that the cloud based AI gold rush is coming to an end, I don’t know what is.

 

[deathnite]

Although I don't like Meta, I'm trying to see the positive side of this. For users with only 5GB on iCloud it's a good way to offload some of that data from iCloud.
I keep my WhatsApp backup clean, I regularly delete images and videos that take a lot of storage, so it's usually less than 1GB. Having 2GB for free will be enough for me.
The WhatsApp messages already go through Meta servers before reaching your phone, so no point in worrying about backing them up on their servers. The only way to not give your data to them is to stop using WhatsApp.

 

[sos47]

when i can read anything someone posted to me and vice versa zuck can read anything as well, because its their app.
this encryption thing might be a protection for men in the middle

 

[ifxf]

Who in their right mind would willingly pay Meta $1 a month for cloud storage just to back up some WhatsApp chats you've forgotten about after a week? Does anybody actually go back and look through these things?!

Many people are data hoarders, afraid to delete any data.

 

[ypl]

Many people are data hoarders, afraid to delete any data.

And too lazy to review pictures collection to at least delete duplicates. How is it even possible for young person to have 10000-20000 pictures in the collection and a few (even 10s of) GB of iMessage or WhatsApp backup? That's incomprehensible for me.

 

[vantelimus]

Oh boy! Another way I can give Meta access to my most private thoughts and conversations. What a lucky time to be alive!

 

[GrumpyOldGuy52]

I’m confused. Are they talking about backing up iMessage iCloud data, or is this just referring to backing up WhatsApp messages?

Does WhatsApp not already save message history like every other chat app?

It's just your WhatsApp backup. As long as you're signed-in on your device, the chat history is there (and I think—someone correct me if I'm wrong—history is saved on-device, not on the server). If you sign-out, change phones, etc., the history is wiped. If there's a backup, WhatsApp can restore the chat history from that.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy52]

I realize it's Meta we're talking about, but for the people who rely on WhatsApp as their primary communications (those in Africa, South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, plus other regions), this could be huge for them (though many are most likely on Android devices and haven't had the ability to back up to iCloud).

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Meta trying to get it all, F' meta

 

[ninetyCent]

Not trusting Meta with backups while trusting them enough to pipe every single message through their servers is not contradicting at all.

 

[AppleTO]

It's just your WhatsApp backup. As long as you're signed-in on your device, the chat history is there (and I think—someone correct me if I'm wrong—history is saved on-device, not on the server). If you sign-out, change phones, etc., the history is wiped. If there's a backup, WhatsApp can restore the chat history from that.

Oh, that’s wild. I thought it worked like Facebook messenger, Teams, or Slack, where you can sign in anywhere and it’s the same messages.