Overview
- WABetaInfo found code in WhatsApp’s iOS TestFlight build that indicates the app is building a first‑party backup provider for iPhone, a discovery reported by multiple outlets in mid‑July.
- The interface in the beta code shows WhatsApp would offer 2 GB of free backup storage and is testing paid tiers reported at about 50 GB for roughly $0.99 per month and a 1 TB option, though pricing and limits are preliminary.
- Backups stored on WhatsApp’s servers would be end‑to‑end encrypted by default and WhatsApp recommends securing them with a passkey, a password, or a 64‑digit encryption key so only the user can decrypt them.
- iCloud would remain the default backup option on iOS and users could switch between providers, while claims that the new service will enable restores across iPhone and Android remain speculative and under development.
- The feature is still being developed, is not yet available to beta testers, and WhatsApp has given no release timeline, so users should expect more changes to storage, pricing, and capabilities before any public launch.