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
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 
 import * as React from 'react';
 
+import { createUserKeysBackupActionTypes } from 'lib/actions/backup-actions.js';
 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 { useDispatchActionPromise } from 'lib/utils/redux-promise-utils.js';
 
+import { useClientBackup } from './use-client-backup.js';
 import { commCoreModule } from '../native-modules.js';
 import { useSelector } from '../redux/redux-utils.js';
 import Alert from '../utils/alert.js';
@@ -19,6 +22,13 @@
   );
   const canPerformBackupOperation = loggedIn && !isBackground;
   const checkIfPrimaryDevice = useCheckIfPrimaryDevice();
+  const latestBackupInfo = useSelector(
+    state => state.backupStore.latestBackupInfo,
+  );
+  const dispatchActionPromise = useDispatchActionPromise();
+  const { createUserKeysBackup } = useClientBackup();
+  const backupUploadInProgress = React.useRef<boolean>(false);
+  const [handlerStarted, setHandlerStarted] = React.useState(false);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (!staffCanSee) {
@@ -31,17 +41,22 @@
         return;
       }
 
-      if (canPerformBackupOperation) {
+      if (!handlerStarted && canPerformBackupOperation) {
         try {
           commCoreModule.startBackupHandler();
+          setHandlerStarted(true);
         } catch (err) {
           const message = getMessageForException(err) ?? 'unknown error';
           Alert.alert('Error starting backup handler', message);
           console.log('Error starting backup handler:', message);
         }
-      } else {
+      }
+
+      if (handlerStarted && !canPerformBackupOperation) {
         try {
+          console.log('stopping');
           commCoreModule.stopBackupHandler();
+          setHandlerStarted(false);
         } catch (err) {
           const message = getMessageForException(err) ?? 'unknown error';
           Alert.alert('Error stopping backup handler', message);
@@ -55,6 +70,47 @@
     isBackground,
     checkIfPrimaryDevice,
     canPerformBackupOperation,
+    handlerStarted,
+  ]);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (
+      !staffCanSee ||
+      !canPerformBackupOperation ||
+      !handlerStarted ||
+      backupUploadInProgress.current ||
+      !!latestBackupInfo
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    void (async () => {
+      backupUploadInProgress.current = true;
+      const isPrimaryDevice = await checkIfPrimaryDevice();
+      if (!isPrimaryDevice) {
+        backupUploadInProgress.current = false;
+        return;
+      }
+
+      try {
+        const promise = createUserKeysBackup();
+        void dispatchActionPromise(createUserKeysBackupActionTypes, promise);
+        await promise;
+      } catch (err) {
+        const message = getMessageForException(err) ?? 'unknown error';
+        Alert.alert('Error creating User Keys backup', message);
+        console.log('Error creating User Keys backup:', message);
+      }
+      backupUploadInProgress.current = false;
+    })();
+  }, [
+    canPerformBackupOperation,
+    checkIfPrimaryDevice,
+    createUserKeysBackup,
+    dispatchActionPromise,
+    handlerStarted,
+    latestBackupInfo,
+    staffCanSee,
   ]);
 
   return null;