Use disappearing messages to keep your message history tidy. The message will disappear from your devices after the timer has elapsed. This is not for situations where your contact is your adversary — after all, if someone who receives a disappearing message really wants a record of it, they can always use another camera to take a photo of the screen before the message disappears.

• Disappearing messages can be managed by anyone in the chat.
• The setting applies to any new messaging after the timer has been set or modified.

Here's how to set and manage disappearing messages:

• Android
• iOS
• Desktop

What does a disappearing message look like? 

 Each and every disappearing message will have a timer countdown icon that is visible at the bottom of the message bubble.

When does the timer start?

• For a sent disappearing message, the timer starts after you've sent it. This is not a delivery receipt or read receipt.
• For a received disappearing message, the timer starts after you've read it.

What happens when the disappearing message timer reaches the end?

The message is deleted from disk.

 

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Android

Steps to enable:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the contact name or header to view chat settings.
3. Tap Disappearing messages.
4. Set your message timer anywhere from 5 seconds to 1 week and choose OK.
5. The chat header will include a timer icon .
6. The chat will include an alert that it is enabled.

 Steps to change the time:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the timer icon  in the header.
3. Tap Disappearing messages.
4. Scroll to select a new message time and choose OK.
5. An alert in your chat thread will display the new disappearing message time.
   
   

Steps to disable:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the timer icon  in the header.
3. Scroll to the top to select Off and choose OK.
4. The chat header will not include a timer icon.
5. The chat will include an alert that the timer is  Off.
6. All messages sent after this change will not disappear. 
7. Any sent or received message will not contain a timer icon. 
   
   

 

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iOS

Steps to enable:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the contact name or header to view chat settings.
3. Tap Disappearing Messages. When enabled the button slides to the right and displays a blue background.
4. Use the slider to set your message timer anywhere from 5 seconds to 1 week. 
5. Tap back  in the top left to return to your chat.
6. The chat header will include a timer icon .
7. The chat will include an alert that it is enabled.

Steps to change the time:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the contact name or header to view chat settings.
3. Slide through the timer options to select a new time.
4. Tap back  in the top left to return to your chat.
5. The alert in your chat will display the new disappearing message time. 
   
   

Steps to disable:

1. Open the chat with your contact.
2. Tap the contact name or header to view chat settings.
3. Tap Disappearing Messages. When disabled the button slides to the left and there is no color and the slider underneath will disappear.
4. The chat header will not include a timer icon.
5. The chat will include an alert that the timer is disabled.
6. All messages sent after this change will not disappear. 
7. Any sent or received message will not contain a timer icon. 
   
   

 

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Desktop

If the disappearing messages feature is enabled on your linked mobile device, it will also be enabled on Signal Desktop.

Steps to enable:

1. View the chat with your contact.
2. Select more  to view chat settings.
3. Select Disappearing messages.
4. Set your message timer anywhere from 5 seconds to 1 week.
5. The chat header will include a timer icon .
6. The chat will include an alert that it is enabled.

Steps to change the time:

1. View the chat with your contact.
2. Select more  to view chat settings.
3. Select Disappearing messages.
4. Select a new message time.
5. You will see the alert in your chat with the disappearing message timer.
6. The chat will include an alert that it is enabled.
   
   

Steps to disable:

1. View the chat with your contact.
2. Select more  to view chat settings.
3. Select Disappearing messages.
4. Select Off.
5. The chat header will not include a timer icon.
6. The chat thread will include an alert that the timer is  Off.
7. All messages sent after this change will not disappear. 
8. Any sent or received message will not contain a timer icon.