Messaging app Signal has released version 8.30, completing the rollout of its end-to-end encrypted backup system across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. The update introduces local backups to iOS and desktop systems while overhauling the Android storage format into a unified, cross-platform architecture, according to a company announcement detailed by German tech publication appgefahren.
Signal Backup Options and Storage Tiers
The messaging platform now offers two distinct backup methods secured by user-managed restoration keys. Hosted cloud backups, introduced previously, operate on a tiered model: a free option covering text messages alongside media from the last 45 days, and a paid subscription priced at €1.99 per month that provides up to 100 GB of storage. Hosted backups utilize a daily rotating key stored inside a Trusted Execution Environment.
By contrast, local backups stored directly on user devices carry no size restrictions. Under version 8.30, these local archives become available on iOS and desktop platforms, while Android transitions its local saves to the new cross-platform format. Media files are stored separately from the main chat archives to prevent duplicate storage, and expiring messages set to vanish within 24 hours are excluded entirely from both backup types.
Direct Device-to-Device Transfers on iOS
In addition to file-based backups, the iOS release of version 8.30 adds support for direct, peer-to-peer data transfers between iPhones. The application uses a local, end-to-end encrypted connection via Wi-Fi Aware to move chat histories directly from an old device to a new one without routing through external servers.
The deployment of local desktop archives and direct iOS transfers marks the completion of the first phase of Signal’s multi-platform backup initiative. The release follows prior warnings from law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, regarding the risks of third parties attempting to intercept encryption keys used for local data recovery.
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