End-to-end encryption has become a stable security feature for messaging apps and services, but Meta is taking the decision to remove it from direct messaging in Instagram.
Citing the fact that “very few people” were opting to use end-to-end encryption, Meta does not see the point in continuing to offer it. The company suggests that anyone who is concerned about the loss of this security measure should think about shifting their messaging to WhatsApp.
The decision to cull this valuable feature is a curious one, and it is one that has been announced very quietly in an update to a support document about encryption. What is also strange is that Meta is giving very short notice about what feels like quite a major change – just a few short weeks.
A note at the top of a support document about end-to-end encryption on Instagram reads:
End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May 2026.
- If you have chats that are affected by this change, you will see instructions on how you can download any media or messages that you may want to keep.
- If you’re on an older version of Instagram, you may also need to update the app before you can download your affected chats.
In a second support document, there are instructions for downloading encrypted chats:
You can download a copy of all your end-to-end encrypted messages at any time if you’ve turned secure storage on in Instagram. Your data in end-to-end encrypted messages can include:
- Messages that you’ve sent and received from other people.
- Attachments, such as files, images and other media that you’ve sent and received.
Download your data from secure storage
- Click
Menu in the bottom left, then click Your activity.
- Click Download end-to-end encrypted data at the bottom, then click Next.
- If your device isn’t authenticated, you may need to enter your PIN.
- Enter your Instagram account password and click Request download.
- The download will happen in the browser once your file has been prepared.
As reported by Engadget, a spokesperson for Meta said:
Very few people were opting in to end-to-end encrypted messaging in DMs, so we’re removing this option from Instagram in the coming months. Anyone who wants to keep messaging with end-to-end encryption can easily do that on WhatsApp.
Is this a change that affects you? Let us know how you feel about this move by Instagram in the comments.
Image credit: Ofx Studio / Dreamstime.com
