How can I move my ID to a new device?

When you switch your device (or reset it to factory settings), you can transfer (or restore) your Threema ID and continue to use the app as usual.

To transfer your ID, you need a Threema Safe backup (recommended) or an ID export. To also transfer your chats, a data backup is required in addition to the Threema Safe backup or the ID export. (Threema for Android automatically includes the Threema ID in a data backup, whereas Threema for iOS only includes the ID if an ID export was performed beforehand.) A data backup can only be restored on the same operating system it was created on (i.e., you can’t restore a data backup that was created on Android on iOS, and vice versa). For this reason, it’s always recommended to create a Threema Safe backup.

An ID export only contains the ID; it doesn’t contain chats, group memberships, media files or your contacts’ green verification levels. Threema Safe backups, on the other hand, also contain contacts, groups, and privacy settings. If you switch devices, it’s required to remove your Threema ID from the old device once you have successfully restored the ID on your new device.

1. Export Your ID

Android

1. To create an ID export, navigate to “My Profile > Backup and delete,” and select “Export ID.”
2. Choose a password for the ID export. Without this password, you will not be able to restore your ID.
3. Your ID data (consisting of your private key) will be encrypted and shown to you as a text string and QR code.
4. Save the ID export in a secure location. You can also send the information to yourself by email.

iOS

1. To create an ID export, tap on “Profile” in the app, select “ID Export,” and choose a password. Without this password, you will not be able to restore your ID.
2. Your ID data (consisting of your private key) will be encrypted and shown to you as a text string and QR code.
3. Save the ID export in a secure location.
4. You can also include your ID export automatically in the next iTunes/Finder backup by activating “Include in Phone Backup.”

2. Restore ID from ID Export

An ID export can only be restored in the Threema app’s setup wizard. The setup wizard appears after a new installation or a device change when opening the app for the first time.

• If Threema is already set up with another ID which you would like to replace, remove the current ID first by following the steps described under “Remove Threema ID from Current Device” in this FAQ entry.
• Restore ID on Android: When starting Threema for the first time on the new device, select “Restore from backup,” tap on “Other restore options,” and select “Exported ID.” When entering the backup string, don’t omit the hyphens.
• Restore ID on iOS: When starting Threema for the first time on the new device, tap “Restore ID from Backup,” select “Keep Local Data,” and then tap “Exported ID.” If the string for the ID export is prepopulated, confirm it. Otherwise, scan the QR code of your ID export or enter the string manually (don’t omit the hyphens). What’s left to do for you is to enter the ID export’s password and to confirm by tapping “Done.”