Full Backup and Restore

Discover how to create and restore a complete, encrypted backup of your identity, contacts, and chat history.

While the 12-word recovery phrase is essential for recovering your core identity, it does not save your conversation
history or contact list. For a complete migration to a new device, Mercury provides a full backup and restore feature.

This feature creates a single, password-protected file containing an encrypted copy of your entire application database.

Creating a Backup

  1. Navigate to Backup & Restore: Go to your Profile screen, and you will find an option for "Backup & Restore".

  2. Start the Backup: Tap the "Create Encrypted Backup" button.

  3. Set a Password: You will be prompted to create a strong password for this backup file. This password is used to
    encrypt the backup. Do not forget this password. We cannot help you recover it. You will need to enter and
    confirm the password.

  4. Save the File: The application will create a backup file (e.g., mercury-backup-DATE.mcr). Save this file to a
    secure location outside of your device, such as a cloud storage service, a personal computer, or an external drive.

The backup file contains your encrypted private key, your contacts, all message history, and application settings.

Restoring from a Backup

Restoring from a backup will completely overwrite any existing Mercury data on the device.

  1. Install Mercury: On your new device, install a fresh copy of the Mercury application.

  2. Transfer the Backup File: Make sure your .mcr backup file is accessible on the new device (e.g., download it
    from your cloud storage).

  3. Navigate to Backup & Restore: If you have just installed the app, you will need to create or restore a temporary
    identity first to access the main interface. Once in the app, go to your Profile screen and then "Backup & Restore".

  4. Select the Backup File: Tap the "Restore from Backup File" button. This will open your device's file picker.
    Navigate to and select your .mcr backup file.

  5. Enter the Password: You will be prompted to enter the password you created when you made the backup.

  6. Restart the App: After the restore process is complete, it is crucial to fully close and restart the application
    for all changes to take effect. Upon restarting, your full identity, contacts, and message history will be available.

Security of the Backup File

Your backup file is encrypted using AES-256-GCM, a strong, authenticated encryption standard. The encryption key is
derived from your chosen password using PBKDF2-SHA256 with a high iteration count. This makes it computationally
very difficult for an attacker to brute-force the password, even if they have the backup file.

However, the security of the backup ultimately depends on the strength of your password. Choose a long, unique, and
complex password for maximum protection.