# Scheduled encrypted backups to WebDAV / SFTP **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Proposal\ **Created:** [September 23, 2026, 9:36am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/scheduled-encrypted-backups-to-webdav-sftp/5814 "2026-09-23T09:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robinwgr](https://forum.delta.chat/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@robinwgr](https://forum.delta.chat/u/robinwgr)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:36am UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/scheduled-encrypted-backups-to-webdav-sftp/5814/1 "2026-09-23T09:36:46Z")
Hi, I’d like to add support for the existing proposal on automatic backups to SFTP, WebDAV or Samba. **Use case** I use Delta Chat on a single main device and already have a Nextcloud / WebDAV server. Manual “Export backup” works, but I forget to do it regularly. A second always-on device is not always realistic. I would like Delta Chat to create a backup on a schedule and upload it to WebDAV (or SFTP) itself. ## Expected behavior Optional setting (off by default) to create a backup on a schedule (daily or weekly) and upload it to WebDAV or SFTP. - Destination: WebDAV URL + credentials, or SFTP - Backup encrypted with a user-chosen passphrase before upload - Keep only a few recent remote copies (e.g. last 3–7) - Notify locally if a backup or upload fails - Desktop first would already help; Android/iOS later if feasible ## Actual behavior Backups can only be created manually via Settings → Chats → Export backup. There is no scheduler, no WebDAV/SFTP upload, and no built-in way to send the backup file to a remote store automatically. Multi-device sync is not a replacement for a regular offline backup file. ---
**Author:** ![WofWca](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/wofwca/32/1702_2.png) [@WofWca](https://forum.delta.chat/u/WofWca)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/scheduled-encrypted-backups-to-webdav-sftp/5814/2 "2026-09-23T12:58:49Z")
See related: - [Automatic backups to a SFTP, DAV or Samba server](https://support.delta.chat/t/automatic-backups-to-a-sftp-dav-or-samba-server/3308). So I’d say this is two parts: 1. Automatically periodically create backup files (like Signal does). 2. Upload the file somewhere. IMO the first would be nice. But the latter might not have to be something integrated into Delta Chat. Instead, this could be managed by a third-party app that simply syncs the contents of a directory to wherever. Well, maybe that would be OK to have, but not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![ian](https://forum.delta.chat/user_avatar/forum.delta.chat/ian/32/3164_2.png) [@ian](https://forum.delta.chat/u/ian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://forum.delta.chat/t/scheduled-encrypted-backups-to-webdav-sftp/5814/3 "2026-09-24T22:55:52Z")
Related: > [@Backup service concept](https://support.delta.chat/t/backup-service-concept/5542/2): > > I think users are already too reliant on servers, and the last thing we would need is yet another commercial server hoarding a lifetime of data & metadata. I would enjoy seeing the mentioned reciprocal scheme for peer to peer message backup based on [secret sharing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_sharing). However, note that even if such a system were to be implemented, instead of Delta Chat implementing it separately, it would be desirable for all apps on your device to use it, but then it would need to be running a daemon for each an… > [@Export Backups by timeline?](https://support.delta.chat/t/export-backups-by-timeline/5390/2): > > It depends what you actually want to archive and why. In most cases, multimedia takes up the majority of space, then file attachments and xdc archives, xdc updates, preview HTML message attachments, bot generated messages and then user messages. One can usually trim the fat easily, but only you know which parts are redundant to you personally. For some cases, you can set disappearing messages or deletion of all content locally after a week (or 5) for at least the less important profiles and grou…