diff --git a/docs/references/selfhosting.md b/docs/references/selfhosting.md
index 3d255795c..42e2232dc 100644
--- a/docs/references/selfhosting.md
+++ b/docs/references/selfhosting.md
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ for most use-cases.
 }
 ```
 
+The `Encryption key` is an arbitrary passphrase used to encrypt the backups. Keep the passphrase safe; it is
+required to decrypt the backups when restoring the Cloudron.
+
 ## Minio S3
 
 [Minio](https://minio.io/) is a distributed object storage server, providing the same API as Amazon S3.
@@ -219,6 +222,8 @@ The information to be copied to the Cloudron's backup settings form may look sim
 
 <img src="/docs/img/minio_backup_config.png" class="shadow"><br/>
 
+The `Encryption key` is an arbitrary passphrase used to encrypt the backups. Keep the passphrase safe; it is
+required to decrypt the backups when restoring the Cloudron.
 
 # Email
 
diff --git a/webadmin/src/views/settings.html b/webadmin/src/views/settings.html
index dba6d08e1..c917a155f 100644
--- a/webadmin/src/views/settings.html
+++ b/webadmin/src/views/settings.html
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
 
                         <div class="form-group" ng-class="{ 'has-error': configureBackup.error.key }">
                             <label class="control-label" for="inputConfigureBackupKey">Encryption key (optional)</label>
-                            <input type="text" class="form-control" ng-model="configureBackup.key" id="inputConfigureBackupKey" name="prefix" ng-disabled="configureBackup.busy" placeholder="Encryption key for backups">
+                            <input type="text" class="form-control" ng-model="configureBackup.key" id="inputConfigureBackupKey" name="prefix" ng-disabled="configureBackup.busy" placeholder="Passphrase used to encrypt the backups">
                         </div>
 
                         <input class="ng-hide" type="submit" ng-disabled="configureBackupForm.$invalid"/>