Techniques for indicating backscattering timing

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. In some examples, an energy transfer device may indicate timing information for backscattering a signal. The energy transfer device may transmit, to an energy harvesting device, a message including timing information that indicates when the energy harvesting device is to begin backscattering of a wireless signal. The energy transfer device may transmit the wireless signal. The energy harvesting device may monitor for and receive the wireless signal based on the message. The energy harvesting device may transmit a backscattered signal based on application of a backscattering function to the wireless signal in accordance with the timing information.