User profile for user: avmsam
avmsam Author
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14 points

whatsapp, iCloud, backup & encryption help.

it's 2023 and we have more encryption options, so:


WhatsApp has encryption in the app itself. 


normal iCloud backup doesn't.


iCloud advanced data protection does have iCloud backup encryption.


i've articles like this one say that if you turn on WhatsApp encryption then turn off iCloud backup for WhatsApp:



this confuses me. if WhatsApp encryption is on and backup for WhatsApp in iCloud settings is off then where does WhatsApp get backed up then, to whatsapp's own servers ?


what if you have icloud advanced data protection turned on, then no need for WhatsApp encryption ? and what if both are turned on ? is it double backing up and double encrypting ?



[Link Edited by Moderator]


iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Apr 6, 2023 8:37 PM

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User profile for user: avmsam
avmsam Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

Posted on Apr 10, 2023 11:24 AM

based on responses & research ELSEWHERE i think i get it now. i'll explain and we'll see if others can confirm or correct me:


WhatsApp app itself does encryption and backing up and then iOS does it separately as well. so if both WhatsApp backup is turned on in the whatsapp app settings and WhatsApp is selected in iOS device backup then yes there is double backing up which both reside in iCloud and will take up twice as much iCloud storage.


WhatsApp app controls its own backup & encryption but uses iCloud to store it. so if encryption is turned on in WhatsApp settings then it encrypts it and puts in iCloud and WhatsApp manages this based on the settings in the whatsapp app settings.


iOS does it via the iCloud device backup. if WhatsApp is checked off in the device backup then iOS will backup your chats too. by default this is unencrypted but if you turn on iCloud advanced data protection then iOS will encrypt it. 



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User profile for user: avmsam
avmsam Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

Apr 10, 2023 11:24 AM in response to avmsam

based on responses & research ELSEWHERE i think i get it now. i'll explain and we'll see if others can confirm or correct me:


WhatsApp app itself does encryption and backing up and then iOS does it separately as well. so if both WhatsApp backup is turned on in the whatsapp app settings and WhatsApp is selected in iOS device backup then yes there is double backing up which both reside in iCloud and will take up twice as much iCloud storage.


WhatsApp app controls its own backup & encryption but uses iCloud to store it. so if encryption is turned on in WhatsApp settings then it encrypts it and puts in iCloud and WhatsApp manages this based on the settings in the whatsapp app settings.


iOS does it via the iCloud device backup. if WhatsApp is checked off in the device backup then iOS will backup your chats too. by default this is unencrypted but if you turn on iCloud advanced data protection then iOS will encrypt it. 



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whatsapp, iCloud, backup & encryption help.

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