FAQ

Related FAQ

💾 Backup your profiles

  • Read how to change your phone or computer in anticipation of changing or losing your device.

  • Since Olvid’s version 3.7 (April 2025), the procedure for saving your profiles and contacts has been replaced by a new, simpler and equally secure one. (The old procedure is available here and the information below will be enriched in the coming days).

Content of the backup

Your backup file contains your Olvid profiles only.

  • Messages and attachments are not included in the profiles, nor in their backup.

Each profile is totally independent from the others. Each has its own:

  • Olvid identity (ID) and contact details (name, first name, company, profile picture)
  • Contacts and groups
  • Associated cryptographic public keys
  • Certain discussions and application settings

This backup is an encrypted file with a key derived from your backup key.

Warnings

  • Without a second device or your backup file and key:
    • Your Olvid Profiles (IDs, contacts, groups and settings) will be lost and unrecoverable forever without your original device.
    • You will have to create a new Olvid profile on your next device.
    • All your contacts will have to delete your lost profiles from their contacts.
  • Messages and attachments are not saved, in order to maintain the forward secrecy guaranteed by Olvid.

Is the backup secure?

Of course, every Olvid backup file is systematically encrypted with a high level of security thanks to the key you automatically generated with your device and it alone. It will encrypt all your backups, once and for all, as long as you do not decide to change it. How does it work?

In a nutshell

The complete encryption of Olvid backups use our expertise in cryptography to prevent any unauthorised access to the data stored in the backup. This data is your Olvid profiles and only.

Where are the backup files and keys?

  • Your backup files are stored on our servers. But these files are and will remain indecipherable without your backup key.

  • Depending on your preferences, your backup keys are either stored in your keychain, or to note down manually (old method).

Learn more about iCloud Keychain.

Learn more about Google Password Manager.

How to start?

We recommend that you immediately activate automatic cloud backup to sleep easy 😴.

iPhone iPad
  1. Tap  > Backup settings .
  2. Enable Backup to iCloud Keychain (recommended).
Android
  1. Tap  > Settings >  Backups.
  2. Enable  Save my key to my password manager (recommended).