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Manage Contacts, Nicknames and Notes

Signal contacts

For contacts saved to your phone's contact list, a contact icon contact-circle-outline-32.png displays by their name in a one-to-one chat. 

Saved_Contact_-_ios.png

Saved Contact

  • contact icon contact-circle-outline-32.png displays by the name
Unsaved_Contact_-_ios.png
 Unsaved

Who appears in the contact list?

  1. Other Signal users who are saved to your phone's contact list.
    • For linked iPads, the phone's contact app will be used.
  2. Other Signal users who are not saved to your phone and you share a group with, have previously messaged or have explicitly approved.
    • Your Signal PIN recovers these unsaved Signal users when you reinstall.

Edit your contact's name

  • Save this person to your phone's contact list to change how you see their name.
  • Open your phone's contacts app and edit the contact entry to change the name.
  • Save the change.
  • This contact icon contact-circle-outline-32.png will appear by your contact's name in a one-to-one chat.

Set or edit a custom nickname and note

Set a custom nickname and note for anyone you're chatting with on Signal, even if they aren't in your system contacts. They are end-to-end encrypted and protected by your Signal PIN so they can be securely restored if you lose your phone too.

  1. In a 1:1 chat, tap on the chat header to see chat settings. 
    In a group chat, tap on the person's avatar.
  2. Tap on the compose-outline-24.png Nickname field
  3. Choose to set a first name, last name, or note.
  4. Tap Done or Save.
  5. The name and note only appear for you.

View a custom note

If you have set a custom note, you can view the note by going to chat details.

  1. In a 1:1 chat, tap on the chat header to see chat settings. 
    In a group chat, tap on the person's avatar.
  2. Tap on the arrow next to a person’s name to see more information about them.
  3. View the information on the last line next to Note.png the note icon.
  4. Tap on the arrow next to Note.png Note to view the entire note.

Edit your contact's photo

  1. Save this person to your phone's contact list and assign an image so you can see it instead of their profile photo.
    • For linked iPads, you must edit the photo on the phone's contacts app.
  2. Enable the setting to view the saved contact info.

Edit your contact's number

  1. Open your phone's contacts app and edit the contact entry.
  2. Add the + and the country code to your contact's number.
    • For numbers from Brazil, the number should start with +55 followed by the city code. For example, +55 21 (mobile number).
    • For numbers from Argentina, the number should start with +549 followed by the city code. For example, +549 11 (mobile number).
    • For numbers from Côte d'Ivoire, the number should start with +225 followed by the two digit provider code. For example, +225 07 (8-digit mobile number).
  3. Save the number.
  4. Then refresh your contact list.

Refresh your Signal contact list

  • On your phone, in Signal, tap compose-outline-24.png Compose to view your Signal contact list and pull down on your contact list to refresh.
  • On Signal Desktop, go to Signal Settings profile_avatar.png > settings_desktop.png Preferences... > Chats > Import now.

Remove someone from your Signal contact list

  • Remove this contact from your phone's address book.
  • Open Signal, tap compose-outline-24.png Compose to view your Signal contact list.
  • Long press on their name or click on the three dots next to their name.
  • Select Remove.
  • Select Remove in the alert or pop-up to confirm.
  • After removing, you will no longer see profile updates and you will need to accept a message request if they message you.

Alert: Contacts can not be processed

  • Your phone's address book has too many contacts for Signal to process right now.
  • Try deleting entries from your phone's contact list.
  • Feel free to contact us to share feedback about this experience. Go to Signal Settings profile_avatar.png > Help > Contact Us > tell us details, include a debug log, and send the email.

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