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Signal is a privacy-focused messaging and calling app. Signal-to-Signal messages and voice or video calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, so Signal’s servers can relay them but cannot read their contents. It is available for Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, macOS, and supported Linux distributions.
Signal is private, but it is not anonymous and it does not replace SMS or iMessage. You still need a phone number to register, both people need to use Signal for an encrypted conversation, and a recipient can still copy or photograph anything you send. This guide explains how Signal works, how to set it up securely, and what happens to your chats when you lose or replace a phone.
Signal at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is Signal? | A nonprofit-supported messaging and calling app designed to minimize access to user data. |
| Are messages encrypted? | Yes. Signal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default when both participants use Signal. |
| Does Signal replace texting? | No. Signal no longer sends or receives ordinary SMS or MMS. |
| Is Signal anonymous? | No. Registration still requires a phone number, although optional usernames and phone-number privacy controls reduce how much of that number you share. |
| Can Signal recover lost chats? | Only if you previously configured a supported transfer or backup. Your Signal PIN alone cannot restore message history. |
Signal is best for people who want private conversations by default and can persuade their important contacts to install a separate app. It is a less convenient choice if you need to message any phone number, require centralized business archiving and compliance exports, or expect every device to contain a complete automatically synchronized cloud history.
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Signal supports more than plain text. Depending on the platform and current app version, you can use it for:
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- Text messages and voice messages.
- Photos, videos, files, GIFs, stickers, and reactions.
- One-to-one encrypted voice and video calls.
- Group conversations and group voice or video calls.
- Disappearing messages and encrypted Stories.
- Desktop messaging through linked Windows, macOS, or Linux devices.
- Group-call links for inviting people to a call.
Signal Stories are end-to-end encrypted, expire after 24 hours, and can be shared with selected connections, a custom list, or a group. They are not a public social-media feed by default; you choose the audience when you post. See Signal’s current Stories documentation for the available controls.
Groups and calls
Signal groups can contain up to 1,000 members. Group administrators can manage permissions, remove members, control link-based joining, require approval for people joining through a group link, and share a group link or QR code. Groups also support descriptions and mentions. The official support documentation currently lists a maximum of 75 participants for group video calls; every participant must use a current version of Signal and belong to the same Signal group.
Signal also supports call links. The creator can require approval before someone joins, remove or block participants during the call, and delete the link. Unused call links expire after 90 days. Signal’s current support page lists minimum versions of Android 7.21.5, iOS 7.34.0, and Desktop 7.30.0 for call links, so update the app if the option is missing.
These limits and features can change with new releases. For the current details, check the documentation for group chats, group video calls, and call links.
How private is Signal?
What Signal protects
| Signal protects | How to understand it |
|---|---|
| Message contents | Messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on authorized recipient devices. |
| Call contents | Signal voice and video calls are encrypted between participating devices. |
| Message history from Signal | Signal’s design keeps message history on user devices rather than making a readable copy available to Signal’s servers. |
| Conversation identity checking | Safety numbers let you compare the cryptographic identity for a one-to-one conversation with the identity of the person you intend to contact. |
What Signal does not guarantee
| It does not guarantee | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anonymity | You need a phone number to register, and the person you contact may know who you are. |
| That a profile is genuine | Signal does not authenticate profile names or photos. An impostor can use a familiar name. |
| Protection from an unlocked or infected device | Malware, a malicious app, or someone with access to an unlocked phone can potentially read messages on that device. |
| Control over what a recipient does | A recipient can screenshot, photograph, copy, forward, or otherwise preserve content outside Signal. |
| Complete metadata invisibility | The service still needs technical information for registration, delivery, authentication, push notifications, contact discovery, and abuse prevention. |
Signal’s privacy policy says users register a phone number, profile information is end-to-end encrypted, Signal cannot decrypt messages or calls, encrypted messages may be queued on its servers until delivery, and message history is stored on users’ devices. That is a strong privacy design, but it is not the same as collecting no information or making users untraceable.
How the encryption works in plain English
When you send a Signal message, your device encrypts it before it leaves the device. Signal’s service delivers encrypted data to the recipient’s authorized devices. The server needs to route and queue that data, but it does not have the key needed to turn it back into readable text. The same general principle applies to Signal calls.
The Signal Protocol also uses a ratchet that continually derives fresh message keys. This provides forward secrecy: obtaining one key should not automatically expose the entire historical conversation. Its design also provides post-compromise security: after a temporary compromise, the conversation can recover protection as new ratchet material is established.
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For readers interested in the technical evolution, Signal has deployed PQXDH for post-quantum protection during session establishment and has announced SPQR, or the Triple Ratchet, work intended to extend post-quantum protections during ongoing conversations. These are protocol-level features, not switches that users need to configure. Signal publishes additional technical material in its protocol documentation.
Signal’s encryption protects the conversation while it travels between devices. It does not prove that a profile belongs to the person it claims to be, protect a phone that is already unlocked, or stop a recipient from copying what they see.
Who should use Signal?
Signal is a good fit for:
- People who want private messaging and calling enabled by default.
- Families, journalists, activists, professionals, and ordinary users who want to reduce unnecessary data collection.
- People willing to install and recommend a separate app to their contacts.
- Users who value privacy more than maximum reach, social-network integration, or automatic cloud convenience.
It may be a poor fit if you:
- Need to send messages to arbitrary phone numbers by SMS or MMS.
- Need centralized enterprise administration, mandatory archiving, compliance exports, or conventional business-account management.
- Expect a full chat history to appear automatically on every device.
- Need to conceal your identity from the person you are contacting rather than simply protect the conversation from outsiders.
Signal is a direct private alternative to SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and iMessage, but it is not interchangeable with them. The biggest practical trade-off is reach: a person who does not use Signal cannot receive an encrypted Signal message from you.
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Install and register Signal
Requirements and supported platforms
You need a phone number that can receive an SMS or voice call, an Android or iOS device for registration, and an internet connection after registration. The current official requirements are:
- Android: Android 6.0 or later.
- iPhone and iPad: iOS or iPadOS 15 or later.
- Desktop: Windows 10 or 11, macOS 12 or later, or a supported 64-bit Linux distribution.
Install Signal only from the official app store or Signal’s official installation instructions. The official installation page contains current platform details.
Registration steps
- Install and open Signal.
- Accept the terms when prompted.
- Enter your full phone number, including the country code and international format.
- Confirm that the number is correct.
- Wait for the verification code by SMS. If the SMS does not arrive, request a voice call after the timer allows it.
- Enter the code if Signal does not detect it automatically.
- Create a profile name and optionally add a profile photo.
- Create or confirm your Signal PIN.
- Enable Registration Lock if you want the PIN to be an additional barrier against someone registering your number on another device.
Never share the SMS verification code. Signal will not ask for it through a chat, phone call, email, or supposed support message. Anyone asking for that code is attempting to take over the registration process. The registration guide explains the normal process.
If the registration code does not arrive
- Check the number and country code.
- Confirm that the phone can receive ordinary SMS messages and calls.
- Check blocked, filtered, or spam messages.
- Temporarily review VPN, firewall, DNS-filtering, or network-filtering tools that may interfere with registration.
- Wait before trying again if you have made too many attempts.
- On Android, review battery-optimization and background restrictions for Signal.
- Do not give the code to anyone claiming to be Signal Support.
See Signal’s registration troubleshooting guide if those steps do not resolve the problem.
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Send your first Signal message
- Open Signal.
- Tap the compose or new-message button.
- Choose a Signal contact, or search for the person’s exact Signal username.
- Type your message and send it.
Signal does not send ordinary SMS or MMS. Both people must use Signal for the conversation to be a Signal conversation. If a contact is not registered, you must invite them to install Signal or use another messaging method.
What the message statuses mean
- Sending: Signal is still attempting to send the message.
- Sent: the message reached Signal’s service.
- Delivered: it reached the recipient’s device.
- Read: the recipient opened it, provided both of you have read receipts enabled.
Read receipts are optional. A disappearing-message timer is not a delivery receipt or read receipt. If a message remains sent but not delivered, the recipient may be offline, notifications or background activity may be restricted, battery optimization may be interfering, or a safety-number change may have interrupted delivery. Signal’s message-status guide explains the indicators.
Use usernames and limit phone-number exposure
Signal still requires a phone number during registration, but you do not have to give that number to every new contact. Signal has two separate phone-number privacy controls:
- Who can see my phone number: controls whether people in Signal can see your number in your profile details.
- Who can find me by my number: controls whether someone who knows your number can discover that it is registered on Signal and start a message request.
These settings are not the same. Someone who already has your number saved may already know it regardless of the profile display setting. If you set Who can find me by my number to Nobody, people generally need your exact username, username link, or QR code to initiate contact.
How usernames work
Usernames are optional. They are exact identifiers rather than public profile handles: Signal does not provide a directory where people can browse or search all usernames. Usernames include at least two digits at the end. Share the exact username, its QR code, or its username link from your profile. The recipient of a username-based request sees your profile name and photo, not necessarily your username.
A username does not remove the phone-number requirement for registration. Changing or deleting a username does not notify existing contacts. Also, a person you block may continue to see a phone number that was visible to them when you blocked them.
Review these controls from your profile or Signal’s Settings, usually under Privacy and Phone Number. Labels can vary slightly by platform and app release. Signal explains the behavior in its phone-number privacy guide and its username details.
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Verify a sensitive contact with a safety number
Every one-to-one Signal conversation has a unique safety number. It is a cryptographic fingerprint for the security identity of that conversation. Verifying it helps detect whether you are communicating with the intended account rather than an account that merely uses a familiar name.
Verification procedure
- Open the one-to-one conversation.
- Open the contact’s profile or chat settings.
- Choose the safety-number view.
- Compare the displayed number with the contact in person, or scan the QR code while you are together.
- If meeting is impossible, compare it through a trusted second channel, such as a previously verified phone number.
- Mark the contact as verified after the comparison succeeds.
A safety-number change commonly occurs when someone changes phones or reinstalls Signal. It is not automatically proof of an attack. However, an unexpected or repeated change deserves investigation before you send sensitive information. Contact the person through a trusted channel and verify the new number. Messages sent before an undelivered safety-number change may need to be resent. See Signal’s safety-number explanation.
Signal PINs, Registration Lock, and other security codes
Signal uses several different credentials. Confusing them is one of the easiest ways to lose access or misunderstand what is protected.
| Credential or control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SMS verification code | Proves control of the phone number during registration. Never share it. |
| Signal PIN | Helps recover profile information, settings, contacts, and block lists. It does not restore chat history. |
| Registration Lock | Uses the Signal PIN as an additional barrier against someone re-registering your account on another device. |
| Device passcode or biometric lock | Protects the phone and, where configured, local access to Signal. |
| Secure Backup recovery key | Unlocks and restores an encrypted Secure Backup. It is separate from the Signal PIN. |
| Android on-device backup passphrase | Unlocks an encrypted local Android backup. It is separate from Secure Backups and the Signal PIN. |
Signal cannot reset or recover a forgotten PIN. With Registration Lock enabled, forgetting the PIN can result in a lockout lasting up to seven days. Choose a strong PIN and store it in a password manager or another secure location. Do not store it in the same unprotected place as your phone.
Enable Registration Lock from the account or privacy area of Signal’s settings after registration. The exact menu name can vary with the app version. Signal’s PIN documentation describes the recovery consequences.
Disappearing messages: useful, but not magic
You can enable disappearing messages for an individual conversation or set a default for new conversations. In a one-to-one chat, either participant can generally manage the timer; in a group, administrators may restrict who can change it. Signal supports a custom timer of up to four weeks.
The timer starts counting after sending for messages you send and after reading for messages you receive. When the timer expires, Signal deletes the message from the device’s storage. This reduces retained history; it does not guarantee that the content no longer exists.
A recipient can photograph the screen with another device, make a screenshot where permitted, copy the text, forward it, or record the conversation. Do not use disappearing messages to send information to someone you consider an adversary. The feature is best treated as a way to reduce routine data retention, not as a defense against a malicious recipient. See Signal’s disappearing-message guidance.
Make voice and video calls
One-to-one calls
- Open the conversation.
- Tap the phone icon for a voice call or the camera icon for a video call.
- Grant microphone and camera permissions when prompted.
- Use the on-screen controls to mute, switch cameras, turn video off, or end the call.
Group calls and call links
Start a group call from a Signal group chat. For a call that is easier to share with people at different times, create a call link from the calling area, share it, and choose whether participants need approval. Keep in mind that anyone who obtains a call link may attempt to join, so do not post a sensitive link publicly. Remove or block unwanted participants and delete links that are no longer needed.
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Signal Desktop is not a separate way to register a new account. It must be linked to a working Signal account on a phone. Linking a device and transferring history are separate decisions: you can link a computer for new conversations without necessarily importing all older chats.
Desktop linking steps
- Install and open Signal Desktop. It will show a QR code.
- On your phone, open Signal and go to Settings > Linked devices.
- Tap Link a new device.
- Authenticate with your phone’s biometric or device-unlock code if prompted.
- Scan the QR code shown on the computer.
- Choose whether to transfer message history if Signal offers that option.
- Send a test message from the linked device.
Signal’s official linked-device documentation currently lists up to five linked devices and says a linked device must reconnect with the primary phone periodically. Review Settings > Linked devices regularly and remove anything unfamiliar.
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iPad linking is supported in the official documentation. Availability of linking another iPhone may depend on the current iOS release and rollout state: the US App Store listing currently mentions another iPhone, while the general linked-device support article lists Desktop, iPad, and Android. Use the Linked devices menu in your current app rather than assuming every account has identical options. See the official linked-device guide and the current US App Store listing.
Backups and moving to a new phone
Signal’s backup situation has changed. Older guides often say that Signal has no backups at all; that is no longer accurate. Signal now offers optional Secure Backups, while direct device transfers and Android on-device backups remain separate options.
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Secure Backups
Secure Backups are optional and end-to-end encrypted. They are protected by a 64-character recovery key that Signal cannot reset or recover. The current plans provide:
- Free: all text messages and the most recent 45 days of media.
- Paid: up to 100 GB of media for US$1.99 per month.
View-once messages and messages scheduled to disappear within the next 24 hours are excluded. Restoration occurs during initial Signal setup. If you lose the recovery key, the backup is unrecoverable, including by Signal.
Enable Secure Backups
- Open Signal Settings.
- Choose Backups.
- Tap Setup and then Enable Backups.
- Record the 64-character recovery key in a password manager or another secure, separate location.
- Confirm the key when Signal asks you to do so.
- Choose the free or paid plan.
Do not enable a backup and then discard the recovery key. An encrypted backup without its key is intentionally inaccessible. Read the current Secure Backups documentation before relying on the feature, because plan availability and app behavior can change.
Direct phone-to-phone transfer
Direct transfer requires both phones and works only within the same platform:
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It moves the history rather than making an independent copy. After completion, the old phone’s Signal history is deleted. Direct transfer does not solve an Android-to-iPhone migration; cross-platform migration requires Secure Backups.
Android on-device backups
Android can also create encrypted local backup files protected by a passphrase. These backups are separate from Secure Backups, are not available on iOS, and cannot be restored to an iPhone. Keep both the backup file and its passphrase safe if you use this method.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Correct method or expectation |
|---|---|
| Replacing a phone on the same platform while the old phone still works | Use direct transfer or restore from Secure Backup. |
| Moving from Android to iPhone, or iPhone to Android | Use Secure Backup; direct transfer is same-platform only. |
| Old phone is lost or destroyed | Only a Secure Backup that was enabled beforehand can restore its history. |
| Android local backup | Use the encrypted Android on-device file and its passphrase; it cannot restore to iPhone. |
| Recovering profile settings and contacts | Use the Signal PIN, but do not expect chat history to return. |
| Restoring encrypted chat history | Use a Secure Backup recovery key or an eligible device transfer. |
| Only a linked Desktop remains | It is not a replacement primary phone and cannot necessarily restore history to a new phone. |
If you reinstall Signal without a backup or eligible transfer, the old message history is not automatically restored. A linked computer does not function as a full phone backup. Signal’s backup and transfer comparison and message-history restoration guide should be checked before replacing or wiping a device.
If you change your phone number
Do not simply uninstall Signal, discard the old phone, and assume that your account identity and history will migrate. Preserve the old device where possible, make a supported backup first, and use Signal’s current in-app phone-number-change process. Number changes, safety numbers, registration state, and history behavior can depend on the platform and account state, so check the current official support guidance before proceeding.
Privacy settings worth changing immediately
After registration, work through this checklist:
- Use a strong device passcode. Signal cannot protect messages from someone who can freely unlock the phone.
- Enable Signal’s Screen Lock where available, using the device’s authentication method.
- Enable Screen Security or Hide Screen in App Switcher. This can hide Signal previews in the app switcher and prevent screenshots on your own device where supported.
- Review phone-number visibility and discoverability. If you do not want people who know your number to find you on Signal, consider setting discoverability to Nobody and share an exact username instead.
- Enable Registration Lock and store the Signal PIN securely.
- Configure Secure Backups only if you can safely preserve the recovery key.
- Review Linked devices and remove anything you do not recognize.
- Disable read receipts or typing indicators if you prefer not to reveal those activity signals.
- Use disappearing messages selectively. They reduce retained history but cannot stop copying.
- Keep Signal and your phone’s operating system updated.
- Never share SMS codes, Signal PINs, backup keys, passwords, or payment information.
Signal’s Screen Security feature hides previews and, where supported, prevents screenshots on your own device. It cannot stop another participant from capturing their own screen with another device. On Windows 11, Signal Desktop enables screen security by default to help prevent screenshot capture by tools such as Microsoft Recall.
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Recognize scams, impersonation, and unwanted contacts
Signal does not authenticate profile names or photographs. A message request using the name of a friend, company, journalist, or Signal employee may be an impersonation.
Use the message-request choices Block, Report, or Accept. For a sensitive conversation, verify the person through a trusted channel and compare the safety number before sharing information.
Never provide:
- An SMS registration code.
- Your Signal PIN or Registration Lock PIN.
- Your Secure Backup recovery key.
- A password, payment detail, or identity document requested unexpectedly.
Signal support will not ask for codes, PINs, recovery keys, or payment through a chat. Signal’s genuine Official Chat is one-way, is created by Signal rather than arriving as a normal message request, and has an Official Chat label. It does not ask for credentials. Read the guidance on phishing and impersonation and Official Chat identification.
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Common problems and what to do
A message is sent but not delivered
Check whether the recipient is online and whether either phone restricts Signal’s background activity, notifications, or battery use. A safety-number change can also interrupt delivery. Ask the recipient to open Signal, update it, and check the conversation. If the message was sent before an undelivered safety-number change, verify the contact and resend it.
You lost your phone
Register Signal on a replacement phone as soon as you regain control of the number, then restore from a Secure Backup if one was already configured. A direct transfer cannot work without the old phone. A linked Desktop cannot substitute for the primary phone or guarantee recovery of its history.
You forgot the Signal PIN
Signal cannot recover it. If Registration Lock is not enabled, you may be able to register again but will not recover old message history from the PIN. If Registration Lock is enabled, the required waiting period can be up to seven days.
A safety number changed unexpectedly
Do not assume either an attack or a harmless reinstall. Contact the person through another trusted channel, compare the new safety number, and only then continue a sensitive conversation.
You are being contacted by fake Signal support
Stop responding, do not share any code or key, report and block the account, and review Linked devices. Genuine Signal support does not need your registration code, PIN, or recovery key.
Signal compared with other messaging choices
The right app depends on which trade-off matters most:
- Signal: privacy-first encrypted messaging and calls, minimal reliance on readable server-side history, and optional usernames; everyone in the conversation must adopt it.
- WhatsApp: broad reach in many regions and strong convenience, but it belongs to a larger commercial ecosystem with different data and account trade-offs.
- iMessage: convenient and encrypted within Apple’s ecosystem, but not a universal cross-platform messaging service.
- Telegram: cloud convenience and large-group features, but readers must understand that encryption behavior is not identical for every Telegram conversation.
- SimpleX, Session, or Threema: alternatives for people prioritizing different identity, registration, or infrastructure models.
No alternative is universally best. If your priority is private everyday conversations with contacts who will install the same app, Signal is a strong choice. If your priority is reaching every phone number or maintaining a centrally managed business archive, its design may be inconvenient.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Before you rely on Signal: a five-minute checklist
- Install the official app and register using a phone number you control.
- Set a strong device passcode and enable Signal’s local screen lock.
- Choose phone-number visibility and discoverability deliberately.
- Create a Signal PIN, enable Registration Lock, and store the PIN safely.
- Enable Secure Backups only after deciding where the 64-character recovery key will be stored.
- Review Linked devices and remove anything unfamiliar.
- Verify safety numbers for contacts involved in sensitive conversations.
- Use disappearing messages for reducing retention, not for defeating a recipient who may capture content.
- Keep the app and operating system updated.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Signal is a private messaging and calling app, not an anonymous SMS replacement. Its end-to-end encryption protects message and call contents from Signal and other outsiders, but it cannot authenticate a profile, secure a compromised phone, or control a recipient’s behavior. For a sensible setup, enable Registration Lock, protect the PIN, configure a Secure Backup and preserve its recovery key, review linked devices, and verify safety numbers before sensitive conversations.
Quick Recap
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