WhatsApp is in the early phases of testing a new privacy feature on the messaging platform that will allow users to secure their chat backups, according to WABetaInfo.

whatsapp chat history icloud backup
Currently, WhatsApp on iPhone lets users back up their chat history to iCloud, but messages and media that users back up are not protected by WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption while in ‌iCloud‌.

This new feature would resolve that security hole by allowing users to encrypt and password protect their chat history before uploading it to the cloud.

The new encryption and password-protection feature is currently being tested on Android for Google Drive chat backups, but given the way the Facebook-owned platform goes about testing and deploying new features, there's every chance that it will eventually come to WhatsApp for ‌iPhone‌ too.

As mentioned, this change to the way chats are backed up is still in the early stages of testing, and there's never any guarantee that new features will make it to public release.

Earlier this week, WhatsApp's long-requested Dark Mode rolled out to all users. Check out MacRumors' quick guide on how to set it up.

Top Rated Comments

nick_iphone7 Avatar
78 months ago
The dark mode is terrible! I can't turn it off unless I stop the night mode on my iPhone! When you do something, you do it properly! I have no words...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3bs Avatar
78 months ago
Now they need to working on cross platform backups. I sometimes switch back and forth between iOS and Android and the backups are not interchangeable.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78 months ago
Whatsapp isn’t that owned by Facebook? Enough said about privacy, does not exist there.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78 months ago

The dark mode is terrible! I can't turn it off unless I stop the night mode on my iPhone! When you do something, you do it properly! I have no words...

Turn off dark mode in your iOS settings.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oz. Avatar
78 months ago

Whatsapp isn’t that owned by Facebook? Enough said about privacy, does not exist there.
I hope Signal is going to take WhatsApp place soon enough...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fede777 Avatar
78 months ago

Now they need to working on cross platform backups. I sometimes switch back and forth between iOS and Android and the backups are not interchangeable.
Even more considering it's owned by Facebook, and Messenger works multiplatform.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...