India, July 14 -- WhatsApp is building its own encrypted cloud backup service for iPhone users, a move that could reduce its dependence on Apple's iCloud. The feature has appeared in WhatsApp beta code, but it is not yet available to public TestFlight users.

WABetaInfo identified the backup system in WhatsApp beta version 26.28.10.16 for iOS on July 14, 2026. While some reports describe the feature as being tested, the more accurate description is that it remains under internal development.

The planned service would let users store chat histories and media directly on servers operated by WhatsApp or Meta. Today, iPhone users rely on iCloud for cloud backups, while Android users use Google Drive.

Early interface strings suggest WhatsApp...