diff --git a/native/backup/backup-handler.js b/native/backup/backup-handler.js
--- a/native/backup/backup-handler.js
+++ b/native/backup/backup-handler.js
@@ -2,41 +2,60 @@
 
 import * as React from 'react';
 
+import { useCheckIfPrimaryDevice } from 'lib/hooks/primary-device-hooks.js';
 import { isLoggedIn } from 'lib/selectors/user-selectors.js';
+import { getMessageForException } from 'lib/utils/errors.js';
 
 import { commCoreModule } from '../native-modules.js';
 import { useSelector } from '../redux/redux-utils.js';
+import Alert from '../utils/alert.js';
 import { useStaffCanSee } from '../utils/staff-utils.js';
 
 function BackupHandler(): null {
-  const isBackupEnabled = useSelector(
-    state => state.localSettings.isBackupEnabled,
-  );
   const loggedIn = useSelector(isLoggedIn);
   const staffCanSee = useStaffCanSee();
   const isBackground = useSelector(
     state => state.lifecycleState === 'background',
   );
+  const canPerformBackupOperation = loggedIn && !isBackground;
+  const checkIfPrimaryDevice = useCheckIfPrimaryDevice();
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (!staffCanSee) {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (isBackupEnabled && loggedIn && !isBackground) {
-      try {
-        commCoreModule.startBackupHandler();
-      } catch (err) {
-        console.log('Error starting backup handler:', err);
+    void (async () => {
+      const isPrimaryDevice = await checkIfPrimaryDevice();
+      if (!isPrimaryDevice) {
+        return;
       }
-    } else {
-      try {
-        commCoreModule.stopBackupHandler();
-      } catch (err) {
-        console.log('Error stopping backup handler:', err);
+
+      if (canPerformBackupOperation) {
+        try {
+          commCoreModule.startBackupHandler();
+        } catch (err) {
+          const message = getMessageForException(err) ?? 'unknown error';
+          Alert.alert('Error starting backup handler', message);
+          console.log('Error starting backup handler:', message);
+        }
+      } else {
+        try {
+          commCoreModule.stopBackupHandler();
+        } catch (err) {
+          const message = getMessageForException(err) ?? 'unknown error';
+          Alert.alert('Error stopping backup handler', message);
+          console.log('Error stopping backup handler:', message);
+        }
       }
-    }
-  }, [isBackupEnabled, staffCanSee, loggedIn, isBackground]);
+    })();
+  }, [
+    staffCanSee,
+    loggedIn,
+    isBackground,
+    checkIfPrimaryDevice,
+    canPerformBackupOperation,
+  ]);
 
   return null;
 }