WhatsApp Backups on iPhone Without iCloud: Everything We Know (2026)

Important: this information comes from evidence found in a WhatsApp beta for iOS (26.28.10.16, via TestFlight), reported by WABetaInfo. The feature has not been officially announced by Meta and may change or never ship.

What's changing?

Right now, WhatsApp on iPhone can only back up chats through iCloud — and those backups only get end-to-end encryption if the user manually enables Apple's Advanced Data Protection.

Code found in the beta suggests Meta is building its own backup storage, selectable directly from WhatsApp's chat backup settings, as an alternative to iCloud.

How much storage might be available?

According to WABetaInfo, the tiers spotted in the beta are:

• 2 GB free on WhatsApp's own servers.
• 50 GB for around $0.99/month — close to iCloud+'s entry-level plan.
• A reference to a 1 TB tier, still in development.

None of this is confirmed and it could change before launch.

The security difference that matters

This is the most relevant part of the feature: backups on WhatsApp's own storage come with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on by default, with no way to turn it off.

That's a real contrast with iCloud, where end-to-end encrypted backups only happen if the user manually turns on Advanced Data Protection — a step most people never take.

Protection methods spotted in the beta include:

• Passkey (recommended).
• Custom password.
• 64-digit encryption key.

Only someone holding one of those can restore the backup — not even WhatsApp itself can access the content.

When will it launch?

There's no official date. Since this was found in a beta and doesn't even work yet for testers, it could:

• Launch in the coming months.
• Change significantly before release (pricing, limits, naming).
• Never make it to the final version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will WhatsApp stop using iCloud? Not necessarily. Everything points to an additional option — choosing where to store the backup — not removing iCloud as a choice.

Are backups on WhatsApp's own storage more secure than iCloud? Based on what's known so far, yes on this specific point: they ship with E2EE on by default, while iCloud's end-to-end encryption requires manually enabling Advanced Data Protection.

Will I have to pay? The beta points to 2 GB free, with paid tiers of 50 GB and possibly 1 TB — nothing officially confirmed.

Where can I follow reliable updates on this? WABetaInfo is usually first to spot these clues in beta builds, ahead of any official Meta announcement.

Summary

If this feature ships, it's one of the most relevant changes for iPhone WhatsApp users since encrypted backups launched: less reliance on iCloud, and end-to-end encryption on by default with no extra setup. We'll keep tracking this and update this article once Meta confirms anything officially.

Related

• Username Key
• Privacy