How to Restore Signal from a Backup: Step-by-Step

Published: October 7, 2026 Updated: October 8, 2026

Restoring Signal is a one-shot operation: the offer appears during the first setup after a fresh install, and if you skip it, it does not come back without a reinstall. That single fact causes more lost history than any bug ever has. This guide covers both restore paths: the hosted Secure Backup and the current on-device backup (both unlocked by the same 64-character recovery key; only old legacy .backup files still need the 30-digit passphrase), in the exact order that works, plus a troubleshooting table for every common failure.

Before you restore: the checklist

1. Know which backup you have

   Hosted Secure Backup (needs the 64-character recovery key), or a current on-device backup (needs the same 64-character recovery key and the backup folder in place before installing). An old legacy .backup file is the one exception: it needs the 30-digit passphrase instead. If you are unsure, read the backup key guide first. Using the wrong key is the number-one restore failure.

2. Use the same phone number

   Backups are tied to your account. Registration on the new install must use the number the backup was made with, and you must be able to receive the verification code.

3. Know your Signal PIN

   The PIN is entered during registration and restores your profile, contacts, and group memberships separately from the message archive.

4. Update the app

   Install the latest Signal: Play Store or the official APK from Signal's own site. Restoring with mismatched versions is asking for trouble.

5. Charge and connect

   Restores can be large. Use Wi-Fi, plug the phone in, and do not interrupt the process once it starts.

Path 1: restore from a hosted Secure Backup

This is the path for a lost, broken, or wiped phone. The old device is not needed. Only your number, your PIN, and your recovery key.

1. Install Signal fresh on the new or wiped phone

   On the new (or wiped) phone, install the official app. If Signal was already installed and set up, uninstall it first. The restore prompt only appears during initial setup.

2. Register your number

   Enter the phone number and the verification code. Enter your Signal PIN when asked; this pulls back your profile, contacts, and groups.

3. Choose "Restore from backup"

   When setup offers the choice, pick the backup restore option. Do not tap "skip". There is no later.

4. Enter the 64-character recovery key (hosted backup)

   Type it exactly, in order. Signal decrypts the archive on your device; the key never leaves the phone.

5. Let it finish in the background

   Large archives take time. Signal finishes setup while the restore continues. Leave the app open and the phone on Wi-Fi until your recent conversations look complete.

Path 2: restore from an on-device backup

Use this when the backup folder lives on this phone's storage, either because you never switched phones or because you copied the folder over manually from the old one (a USB drive or even a NAS works, since the folder is just files you can copy anywhere). A current on-device backup is a folder holding a message archive plus a separate media folder. It is not a single .backup file. If instead you have one file named like signal-2024-03-15-09-30-00.backup, that is the legacy format: it needs the 30-digit passphrase, not the recovery key, and the steps below still apply.

1. Put the backup folder in place first

   Before installing Signal, copy the backup folder onto the phone's internal storage (USB from a computer is the reliable route). Signal only scans for local backups during its first launch.

2. Install Signal fresh and grant file access

   Install the official app and start setup. Grant the storage/file permissions it asks for. Without them it cannot see the backup folder.

3. Register and choose restore

   Verify your number, enter your PIN, and when offered, choose to restore from the local backup instead of skipping.

4. Enter the 64-character recovery key (on-device backup)

   Current on-device backups are unlocked by the 64-character recovery key. Not the 30-digit passphrase. The keys are not interchangeable: the recovery key opens current on-device folders and hosted Secure Backups, while the 30-digit passphrase opens only legacy single-file .backup archives. Enter the key exactly as written, in order, and let the restore run.

Troubleshooting failed restores

After the restore: verify, then protect

1. Spot-check conversations. Open long threads, group chats, and a few media-heavy conversations. Confirm recent photos and files open correctly, and open your most important contacts' chat info to confirm their safety numbers match what you had before. Re-verify in person any that look changed.
2. Re-enable backups. A restore does not automatically turn future backups back on. Go to Settings → Backups and confirm both your plan and the last-backup timestamp.
3. Keep the old backup for two weeks. Missing data usually surfaces days later, not minutes. Do not delete the old backup folder or throw away the key until the new setup has proven itself in daily use.
4. Confirm the key still works. While you are logged in and everything is healthy, verify your recovery key is stored correctly. This is also the moment to rotate it if it was ever exposed.

Keep reading

• Moving Signal to a new phone: the full switch walkthrough
• Secure Backups explained: the hosted service in detail
• Backup troubleshooting hub: every failure mode in one place
• Lost your key? Read this: the honest limits