Signal requests permissions to enable certain features, such as sharing a photo or displaying your contacts. You can verify how these permissions are used by looking through the source code. Signal is fully open source and always will be. The code has been audited both by third-party security firms and individual researchers. This is one of many reasons that we are committed to Open Source; it helps to ensure that careful scrutiny is possible.

• Android
• iOS
• Desktop

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Android

• OS Notification Options
• Permissions

OS Notification Options

To manage or disable smart reply that appears in notifications:

• For Android 10 and 11, go to Android phone Settings app > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Advanced > enable or disable Suggested actions and replies.

• For Android 12 and higher, go to Android phone Settings app > Notifications > enable or disable Enhanced notifications.

To manage lock screen notification options:

• Go to Android phone Settings app > Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Advanced

 

Permissions

To manage permissions on phones running Android 6.0 or later:

• Go to Android phone Settings app > Apps & Notifications (depending on your device, this may look different) > Signal > App Permissions (depending on your device, this may look different) > Turn permissions on.

 

Permissions Requested

Identity
find accounts on the device	Allows Signal to find accounts and to check for Signal contacts. These accounts can be viewed in the Accounts section of your Android System Settings.
read your own contact card	Access to your contact cards allows Signal to associate your phone number with your name.
modify your own contact card	Signal can add new phone numbers to existing contacts and create brand new contacts as well.

 

Calendar
read calendar events plus confidential information	See below.
add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge	Calendar permissions will allow you to share your calendar events in messages to your friends.

 

Contacts
find accounts on the device	Allows Signal to find accounts and to check for Signal contacts. These accounts can be viewed in the Accounts section of your Android System Settings.
read your contacts	Access to your contacts lets Signal associate incoming phone numbers with names and display contact information when you are selecting who to compose a message to.
modify your contacts	Signal can add new phone numbers to existing contacts and create brand new contacts as well.

 

Location
approximate location (network-based)	See below.
precise location (GPS and network-based)	Allows you to share your current location in messages with your friends. Also used to support an account transfer through Wi-Fi direct.

 

SMS
read your text messages (SMS or MMS)	See below.
receive text messages (MMS)	See below.
receive text messages (SMS)	See below.
send SMS messages	See below.
edit your text messages (SMS or MMS)	Signal was capable of functioning as a complete replacement to your phone’s stock messaging application. In order to do this, it needed to be able to send and receive text messages (both SMS and MMS). You can now export your existing SMS messages to another SMS/MMS app, and these permissions allow that database to be written to. Read more about SMS removal here.

 

Phone
directly call phone numbers	See below.
reroute outgoing calls	Allowed call handling for both insecure and private calls. Read more about insecure communication being removed here.
read call log	This functionality is used to display a list of recently used contacts when you are composing a new message from a share action.
read phone status and identity	Allows Signal to determine your phone number and Device ID. These are used to register for Signal. Allowed call handling while on a private call and an insecure call comes in. Read more about insecure communication being removed here.

 

Photos/Media/Files
read the contents of your USB storage	See below.
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage	Signal stores its encrypted database on your phone. When you receive an incoming picture, video, or audio message, these are also stored locally on your phone. These permissions are necessary to enable backup functionality.

 

Storage
read the contents of your USB storage	See below.
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage	Signal stores its encrypted database on your phone. When you receive an incoming picture, video, or audio message, these are also stored locally on your phone. These permissions are necessary to enable backup functionality.

 

Camera
take pictures and videos	Signal includes a direct capture feature where you can take a picture within the app and quickly send it in a message. This permission is necessary for video calls.

 

Microphone
record audio	Allows you to be heard on voice and video calls, and to record voice notes.

 

Wi-Fi connection information
view Wi-Fi connections	Signal messages are sent and received over the internet and do not use traditional SMS/MMS. This also allows Signal to determine when services are not available. Was required to receive SMS, MMS, and Signal messages under various network conditions (e.g. 3G, WiFi, LTE, etc.). Read more about SMS removal here.

 

Device ID & call information
read phone status and identity	Allows Signal to determine your phone number and Device ID. This is used to register for Signal.

 

Other
send WAP-PUSH-received broadcast	This was used for SMS/MMS delivery receipts. Read more about SMS removal here.
receive data from internet	See below.
view network connections	Signal messages are sent and received over the internet and do not use traditional SMS/MMS. This also allows Signal to determine when services are not available. Was required to receive SMS, MMS, and Signal messages under various network conditions (e.g. 3G, WiFi, LTE, etc.). Read more about SMS removal here.
create accounts and set passwords	Allows Signal to create an account on your device, viewable at System Settings > Accounts.
pair with Bluetooth devices	Allows use of a Bluetooth connection while on a call.
send sticky broadcast	This is so Signal can run reliably and smoothly with other apps on your phone. For example, if you have low battery then you can still receive messages, or if you are attaching an image then you are requesting access to a photograph on your device.
change network connectivity	See below.
connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi	Signal messages are sent and received over the internet and do not use traditional SMS/MMS. This also allows Signal to determine when services are not available. Was required to receive SMS, MMS, and Signal messages under various network conditions (e.g. 3G, WiFi, LTE, etc.). Read more about SMS removal here. Also used to support an account transfer through Wi-Fi direct.
disable your screen lock	Allows Signal to keep the phone unlocked while on a call.
full network access	Signal messages are sent and received over the internet and do not use traditional SMS/MMS. This also allows Signal to determine when services are not available. Was required to receive SMS, MMS, and Signal messages under various network conditions (e.g. 3G, WiFi, LTE, etc.). Read more about SMS removal here.
change your audio settings	Used for sound notifications.
read sync settings	Allows the app to receive messages on time.
run at startup	Enables Signal to handle the receipt of messages when the phone first starts up but before the user has launched Signal. Without this, there may be a delay in receiving messages.
set wallpaper	Allows the app to set the wallpaper. For example, if someone sends you an image you can set it as wallpaper directly from Signal.
use accounts on the device	Allows Signal to add an account on your device, viewable at System Settings > Accounts.
control vibration	Used for vibrating notifications.
prevent device from sleeping	Allows Signal to keep the phone active when it is performing certain tasks such as delivering or receiving a message.
toggle sync on and off	This is used to make sure your contacts are up to date and is the standard way in modern Android to handle syncing, viewable at System Settings > Accounts.

 

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iOS          

To manage permissions on your iPhone:

• Go to  iPhone Settings > Signal

Permissions Requested

Location	Allows you to share your current location in messages with your friends.
Contacts	This lets you communicate with your contacts and display contact names.
Photos	This enables the app to send pictures or videos that are already stored on your phone.
Local Network	This allows Signal to directly transfer your account to a new phone. With the setting enabled, it will not be used unless you explicitly choose to initiate a transfer to a new device.
Microphone	This enables recording voice notes and allows you to be heard on voice and video calls.
Camera	Required to place video calls and record pictures or video.
Notifications	Allows you to know when you've received a message or call.
Background App Refresh	Allows Signal to receive messages and calls on time. Without this, there may be a delay in sending and receiving messages. Disable Low Power Mode for this to work.
Cellular Data	Allows Signal to receive messages and calls on time. Without this, there may be a delay in sending and receiving messages.

 

Other iPhone Settings

Low Power Mode	This can interfere with the ability to receive messages and calls on time or completing an account transfer to a new phone.	Go to iPhone Settings > Battery > Disable Low Power Mode
Restrictions	These restrictions can interfere with the ability to modify other permissions or receive messages and calls on time. Without this, there may be a delay in sending and receiving messages.	Go to iPhone Settings > Restrictions > Disable Restrictions
Screen Time	These restrictions can interfere with the ability to modify other permissions or receive messages and calls on time. Without this, there may be a delay in sending and receiving messages.	Go to iPhone Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed > Add Signal

 

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Desktop

To manage permissions go to Signal Desktop preferences:

Signal Settings  >  Preferences... > Permissions 

1. Allow access to the microphone
   This enables recording voice notes, allows you to be heard on voice and video calls.
2. Allow access to the camera
   This allows you to be seen on video calls.

OS Permissions Requested

Camera	This enables you to be seen on video calls.	macOS: Choose the Apple menu  > System Preferences > click Security & Privacy > select Privacy > Select Camera > Select the checkbox next to Signal. Signal will need to restart for this setting to apply.
Microphone	This enables recording voice notes, and allows you to be heard on video and voice calls.	macOS: Choose the Apple menu  > System Preferences > click Security & Privacy > select Privacy > Select Microphone > Select the checkbox next to Signal. Signal will need to restart for this setting to apply.
Notifications	Allows you to know when you've received a message or call.	macOS: Choose the Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Notifications > Select Signal in the left column and choose among the options.
Screen Recording	Allows you to share the entire screen or separate application window.	macOS Catalina version 10.15 or later: Choose the Apple menu  > System Preferences > click Security & Privacy > select Privacy > Select Screen Recording > Select the checkbox next to Signal. Signal will need to restart for this setting to apply.