Setting up the backup

Why right away

Your data exists only on your phone: without a backup, a lost or broken phone takes your places, circles and conversations with it. Until it is set up, a “No backup” banner stays visible in the app: tap it, or open Settings → Backup.

1. Choosing the location

Your cloud (default, recommended) Google Drive on Android, iCloud on iPhone. Sign in with the account you will also use on your next phone: that is where the backup will be found. Nothing to remember: the key is split into two halves, one at Fenzly, the other in your cloud, and neither is enough on its own to read the backup.

Fenzly hosting If you would rather not go through Google or Apple, or if your cloud is full, Fenzly hosts the backup in Switzerland. It is encrypted before upload and stays unreadable to Fenzly. The app then shows you a 30-digit recovery code: it is the only key to this backup.

2. Putting the recovery code somewhere safe

This step only exists with Fenzly hosting, and it matters: without the code, the backup cannot be recovered on a new phone.

• Copy it into a password manager, take a screenshot or write it on paper, then tick “I have saved my code somewhere safe”.
• Turn on Keep a copy in my cloud if you like: the code is stored in your Google or iCloud account and found automatically on your next phone. It stays unreadable to Fenzly.
• You can display it again later from Settings → Backup → View my recovery code.

3. Let it run, and check

The backup triggers by itself when you open the app. Your keys go first, a few kilobytes; the conversation history and photos follow. Settings → Backup → Manage backup shows the date of the last upload, its size and the next run. To force an upload, right before switching phones for instance, tap Back up now.

If something blocks, the app says so rather than letting you believe all is well:

• “Cloud storage full”: free up space in Google Drive or iCloud, or switch to Fenzly hosting in one tap from the banner. Your keys were backed up regardless.
• “Reconnect to your cloud”: your Google or iCloud session expired, signing in again is enough.

Exporting a file

Settings → Backup → Export the backup produces an encrypted file, the same as the cloud copy, which you put wherever you like through the share sheet. Belt and braces; it reads with the same key as your backup.

Changing location or deleting

To move from your cloud to Fenzly hosting or the other way, first delete the existing backup from Manage backup, then set up again. Deletion is irreversible: make sure you have an up-to-date backup on the other side first. Deleting the backup also erases the copy of the recovery code in your cloud.