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Linked Devices

You can link a Desktop, iPad, iPhone, or Android device (tablet or phone) to your primary Signal Device. All Signal communication on linked devices is private, just like your smartphone.

Note:

  • A device can only be linked a device during the registration flow, which appears when you first install or reinstall the Signal app on that device.
  • All your chats and the last 45 days of media can be synchronized from your mobile phone when you link a device. Read more on the blog post here.
  • If your device became unlinked, you will have the option to erase your current  data and sync what is currently on your mobile phone to that device.
  • After linking a device, your phone has to come online at least once every 30 days. Otherwise, your linked devices will become unlinked. 
  • Linked devices will also become unlinked after 45 days of inactivity.
  • Once linked devices are unlinked, you can only relink them again using your registered primary device. 
  • There is a limit of 5 linked devices per account.

View Linked Devices

You can review your linked devices list anytime by going to Signal Settings profile_avatar.png > Linked devices on your primary device. 
 

Unlinking Devices

For unlinking devices follow the steps here.
 

How To Link a Device To Your Phone

  1. Install Signal Desktop from our website here, install Signal iOS from the Apple App Store here, or install Signal for your Android device here. 
  2. Open Signal on the device you want to link:
    1. To view the QR code on Desktop, open Signal.
    2. To view the QR code on iPad, open Signal and select Continue > Add as New Device.
    3. To view the QR code on an iPhone, open Signal and select Continue > 3-dot menu (top left corner) > Link Device.
    4. To view the QR code on an Android device, open Signal and select Continue > 3-dot menu (top left corner) > Link Device.
  3. On your phone, open Signal and navigate to Signal Settings profile_avatar.png > Linked devices > Link a new device. 
  4. Entering your biometrics or the same code used to unlock your device (not your Signal PIN) will open the in-app camera and allow you to continue with linking a device. 
  5. Use your phone to scan the QR code.
  6. Select either Transfer Message History or Don't Transfer.
    • If Don't transfer is selected and you change your mind later, you'll need to reinstall Signal on the device you want to link and choose the transfer option.
  7. Send a message from the linked device.

Having issues? Follow these troubleshooting steps.

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