How do I import or export messages?

How can I recover old messages?
There is no message recovery or backup through Signal.  If you have completed an export in the past you can import plaintext messages.

What messages can I export? 
The export is of your SMS and Signal messages in plain text. The exported Signal messages will not be encrypted. The export does not include your group or media messages. 

How do I move messages to my new phone using an export?
See steps below for exporting messages from an old phone and importing messages into Signal on a new phone.

1. Create a backup of your plain text SMS messages 

• Open Signal.
• Tap on the Menuor .
• Tap Import / export.
• Choose Export plaintext backup.
• Select Export to confirm exporting the file named "SignalPlaintextBackup.xml."

2. Locate the file "SignalPlaintextBackup.xml"
Connect your phone to your computer and look through the folders.  It may be in the top-most level of your Internal Storage.  

• Go to your Android Phone Settings > Storage > USB settings tab.
• This brings you to Internal Storage, scroll to the bottom and choose Explore.
• Press and hold on "SignalPlaintextBackup.xml".
• Copy, email or save it.

3. Choose where to place your export file on your new phone

• Repeat step 1 above on your new phone to find where on your new device the file should be saved.  
• Replace the .xml file on your new device from the export of your old device.

4. Import into Signal

• Open Signal.
• Tap on the Menuor .
• Tap Import / export.
• Choose Import plaintext backup

Note: If viewing the XML file in another app or view, the time is displayed in Unix time.  

Learn what to do if you have a new phone or number.