What is it?
The official Signal chat is a single, official channel in Signal used to deliver important updates directly to users within the app itself.
There is only one official Signal chat. It is named simply "Signal" and shows the "Official Chat" label beneath the name (shown as "Official chat" on Android and desktop, and "Official Chat" on iOS). It is used to share feature updates and product announcements from Signal.
The Signal official chat is one-way only. You cannot reply, send messages, or place calls. It is not used for customer support and exists solely to share information from Signal. It is muted by default, so it will not flood you with notifications, and you can block it if you would prefer not to receive these messages.
How to recognize the official Signal chat
Because unofficial accounts may imitate official communication, it is important to know how to identify the genuine chat. The clearest signs are listed below, starting with the ones a scammer cannot fake.
- It is placed in your chat list by Signal. It never arrives as a message request you have to accept, and it never shows "Unconfirmed name" or "No groups in common."
- It is one-way only. There is no reply box and no call buttons. If you can type a reply or place a call, it is not the official chat.
- It never asks you for anything. It does not provide customer support and never asks for personal information, payments, or account credentials such as verification codes, your PIN, or your recovery key.
- It has no disappearing message timer and is never a group chat.
- Its name is exactly "Signal," with the "Official Chat" label shown beneath ("Official chat" on Android and desktop, "Official Chat" on iOS). Impersonators usually add extra words such as "Support," "Team," or "Notifications" (for example "Signal Support" or "Signal | Support & Notifications"). A name with extra words is not the official chat.
- It shows Signal's official badge (the blue seal next to the "Signal" name). A similar-looking check can be faked in a name, so use this together with the points above rather than on its own.
- It always shows a unique background pattern reserved for the official chat. You cannot change it. So if a chat doesn't show the pattern, it is not the official chat. Caution: a scammer could send you an image of the pattern and try to get you to set it as your own wallpaper. Signal never asks you to set a chat background, so never apply a wallpaper that someone sends you.
Where it appears: the official chat is created by Signal, so you do not add it and cannot remove it the way you would a normal conversation. It may appear in a different position in your chat list depending on the device. For example, it might be the first chat on your phone but the tenth on a linked desktop or iPad. Because its position can vary, identify it by the signs above rather than by where it sits in your list.
Official chat vs. an impersonator at a glance
| Official Signal Chat | Message from someone claiming to be Signal |
| ✅ Named exactly "Signal," with the "Official Chat" label beneath | ❌ If the name adds words like "Support," "Team," or "Notifications," it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Placed in your chat list by Signal | ❌ If you had to tap "Accept" to open it, it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Never shows "Unconfirmed name" / "No groups in common" | ❌ If you see "Unconfirmed name" or "No groups in common," it is not the official chat |
| ✅ One-way only | ❌ If you can type a reply or place a call, it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Never asks for codes | ❌ If it asks for a code, PIN, or recovery key, it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Never has a disappearing message timer | ❌ If you see a disappearing message timer, it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Will never be a group chat | ❌ If it is a group chat, including a group with just you and one other person, it is not the official chat |
| ✅ Shows the official badge | ❌ If there is no official badge, treat it as suspicious |
| ✅ Always shows a unique background pattern reserved for the official chat (you cannot change it) | ❌ If it does not show that reserved background pattern, it is not the official chat |
The official badge is not the same as the safety number "verified" mark. The official chat shows a blue seal next to the "Signal" name with the "Official Chat" label beneath it. A few things can look similar but do not mean a chat is official:
- A checkmark, or any other emoji or symbol, next to the name (for example a green check) is added by a person, not by Signal. Anyone can put symbols in their display name, so a check in the name is not the official badge.
- The grey shield with "Verified" in smaller text is shown by Signal, but only because you verified that contact's safety number. You can set it on any chat, including a scammer's, so on its own it does not mean a chat is official.
|
✅ Official chat badge Blue seal + "Official Chat" label. Shown only on the one official chat. |
❌ Safety number "Verified" (not official) Green check added to the name by a person, plus a grey shield "Verified" from safety number verification. Both can appear on any chat, including a scammer's. |
What it looks like
|
✅ Official Signal chat
Dark theme |
❌ Phishing attempt
❌ Example of a scam |
A note on platforms: the exact buttons in the chat header and how you reach chat settings differ slightly between Android, iOS, and desktop. These differences are normal and platform-specific. The official name ("Signal"), the badge, the "Official Chat" label, and the reserved background pattern are the same on every platform, so rely on those rather than on the surrounding buttons.
Signal has only one official announcement chat. Any other account claiming to represent Signal should be treated with caution.
If you receive messages that appear to be from Signal but seem unusual, request personal information, or ask you to take action outside the app, they are not legitimate.
Click here for more information on how to stay safe from phishing, scams or impersonation.
What does a support impersonation scam look like?
Scammers may:
- Create a fake profile using names like “Signal Support,” “Signal Team,” or “Signal | Support & Notifications,” and may paste the Signal logo into the chat to look official.
- Ask for your account verification code, PIN, or recovery key, claiming it is needed due to a problem or confirmation.
- Send links to “verify” or “restore” account access, or ask you to open a link or scan a QR code to link a device, which can connect their device to your account and read your messages.
- Name says a variation of "Signal," which is a display name anyone can set.
- Arrived as a message request ("Accept" / "Block") from an unknown number.
- Shows "Unconfirmed name" and "No groups in common."
- Call buttons are present and a reply box (if a message request is accepted) are present whereas the official chat has neither.
- Creates urgency and asks you to share a verification code or recovery key.
Reminder: Never type, paste, or send your recovery key, PIN, verification code, or payment information into any chat, even one that looks official.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of scam where attackers impersonate trusted contacts or services with the goal of stealing information through emails, links, or calls.
Warning Signs:
- Unexpected messages or calls requesting sensitive information, like SMS codes or passwords.
- Sense of urgency: “Your account will be locked / lost unless...”
- Suspicious links or misspelled addresses. Official links are only on signal.org.
When in doubt, verify through official channels.
How can I tell the difference between a Signal screen and a phishing message?
Signal may occasionally display legitimate in-app screens asking you to:
- Enter your Signal PIN
- Confirm your recovery information
- Set up or enable encrypted backups
These screens appear as part of the Signal app interface itself and are not sent as chat messages.
By contrast, phishing attempts usually arrive as messages, emails, websites, phone calls, or other communications asking you to share your verification code, PIN, recovery key, or other credentials.
I saw a PIN or recovery key prompt inside Signal. Is my account compromised?
Not necessarily. Signal may occasionally show legitimate reminders related to account recovery or backups. Seeing these reminders alone does not indicate that your account has been compromised.
Can Signal ever ask me for my verification code, Signal PIN, and/or Backup Recovery Key?
- Signal may ask you to enter your PIN within legitimate app flows.
- Signal will never contact you via message, email, phone call, support chat, or another person and ask you to disclose your PIN, verification code, or recovery key.