How do I install Signal Desktop?

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Masha Kolenkina
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Get started with Signal Desktop

  1. Install and register Signal Android or Signal iOS on your phone.
  2. Confirm that Signal Desktop is supported for your OS.
    • Windows 64-bit: 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
    • MacOS 10.9 and above
    • Linux 64-bit distributions supporting APT, like Ubuntu or Debian. Note some users will need to unset /tmp as noexec.
  3. Download and Install Signal Desktop. 

 Steps to install on Mac

  1. Open the install file.
  2. Move Signal into your Applications folder. If your Mac user is not an admin, open ~/Applications and move Signal to the user specific Application folder. 
    1.movetoapplicationsfolder.png
    or non-admin users, open search/finder, type ~/Applications, open the directory and move Signal's install into your user folder. 
           step2findernonadminuserdirectory.png
    Then wait for the move to complete.
    2.preparingmovetoapplications.png
  3. Open Signal, accept the prompt and continue with a new install or import. 
    3.confirmmovetoapplication.png

 Steps to install on Windows

  1. Open the install file.
  2. Open Signal and continue with a new install or import.

 Steps to install on Linux

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Confirm you have APT.
  3. Enter the following into your terminal. 
    $ curl -s https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt/keys.asc | sudo apt-key add - 
$ echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list 
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install signal-desktop


Steps for a new install of Signal Desktop

  1. Choose to set up a new install.
    4_8.welcomescreenstep1importscreenstep1.png
  2. Confirm you have installed and registered Signal on your Android phone or iPhone.
    5.welcomescreenstep2.png
  3. Open Signal on your phone and navigate to Settings > Linked devices. Use your phone to scan the Signal Desktop QR code. 
    6.welcomescreenstep3.png
  4. Name this version of Signal Desktop. This name will appear on your phone under Signal > Settings > Linked Devices. 
    7.welcomescreenstep4.png
  5. On Signal Desktop, search for a contact name or enter a number to start messaging.


Steps for importing 

    1. If you've previously used the "old" Signal Desktop and completed an export, then choose to set up a Chrome App export.
      4_8.welcomescreenstep1importscreenstep1.png
    2. Select Choose directory and locate your Chrome App export.
      9.importscreen2.png
    3. Send a message from your new Signal standalone app to confirm it is working.


Steps for uninstalling the "old" Signal Desktop 

    1. Go to chrome://extensions/.
    2. Find Signal.
    3. Click on the trashcan on the right.
    4. Select Remove.

 

Learn more on how to use features of Signal Desktop. 

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