Set color gradients on messages, choose unique wallpapers for individual chats or just set one default background to apply to all chats.

Who can see the colors and wallpaper that I chose?
Only you. This displays on your screen only.

Why doesn’t the color of someone’s name in a group chat match their avatar color?
A color is randomly assigned to the name to ensure highest contrast between users in the group. This should improve readability and accessibility.

Color & wallpaper requirements:

You must be using the latest version of Signal available for that device:

• Android v5.13.7 or later
• iOS v5.14.0 or later
• Desktop 5.4.0 or later supports message bubble color. Chat background colors are not yet available.

Follow these steps to manage colors and themes:

• Android
• iOS
• Desktop

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Android

• Message Bubble Color
• Wallpaper
• Theme

To change sent message bubble colors:

1. Decide to edit the default for all chats or edit a specific chat
   • For the default, go to Signal Settings > Appearance
   • For a specific chat, go to chat settings
2. Select Chat Color & Wallpaper > Chat Color
3. Select a color or make your own
   • Auto matches the color to the wallpaper
   • Select the to create a custom color
     1. Tap Solid or Gradient
        • For Gradient, select and drag a point to change the direction of the gradient
        • Tap a point to edit just that color
     2. Drag along the color sliders
   • Tap and hold on a custom color to edit, duplicate, or delete
4. Tap Set
   
   • For the default, all the chats that previously did not have a specific color will display this change for your phone only
   • For a specific chat, this change is on your phone only

Can I change received message bubble colors?

• No. This is no longer supported. We know it will take a moment to adjust to this change. This should improve readability and accessibility.
• Contact message bubble colors are not sufficient for lager group chats. There are limits to color options and multiple people within the group would have the same color, even in small groups!
• New features like default colors, custom colors, and gradients are only options for sent message bubbles. It is not sustainable for Signal to maintain both the old behavior and new options. The old behavior would have to disable more color and gradient options while improving readability, which would also increase the surface area for bugs.

To set the chat background or wallpaper:

1. Decide to edit default for all chats or edit a specific chat
   • For default, go to Signal Settings > Appearance
   • For a specific chat, go to chat settings
2. Select Chat Color & Wallpaper > Set Wallpaper
3. Choose from photos or select a color
4. Tap Set
   • For default, all the chats that previously did not have a specific wallpaper will display this change for your phone only
   • For a specific chat, this change displays immediately for your phone only

To change the theme:

1. In Signal, tap your profile  > Appearance > Theme
2. Pick System, Light or Dark

 

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iOS

• Message Bubble Color
• Wallpaper
• Theme

To change sent message bubble colors:

1. Decide to edit the default for all chats or edit a specific chat
   • For the default, go to Signal Settings > Appearance
   • For a specific chat, go to chat settings
2. Select Chat Color & Wallpaper > Chat Color
3. Select a color or make your own
   • Auto matches the color to the wallpaper
   • Select the to create a custom color
     1. Tap Solid or Gradient
        • For Gradient, select and drag a point to change the direction of the gradient
        • Tap a point to edit just that color
     2. Drag along the color sliders
   • Tap and hold on a custom color to edit, duplicate, or delete
4. Tap Set
   
   • For the default, all the chats that previously did not have a specific color will display this change for your phone only
   • For a specific chat, this change is on your phone only

To set the chat background or wallpaper:

1. Decide to edit default for all chats or edit a specific chat
   • For default, go to Signal Settings > Appearance
   • For a specific chat, go to chat settings
2. Select Chat Color & Wallpaper > Set Wallpaper
3. Choose from photos or select a color
4. Tap Set
   • For default, all the chats that previously did not have a specific wallpaper will display this change for your phone only
   • For a specific chat, this change displays immediately for your phone only

To change the theme:

iOS 13 & iOS 14

1. In Signal, tap your profile  > Appearance > Theme
2. Pick System, Light, or Dark

iOS 11 & iOS 12

1. In Signal, tap your profile  to view Signal Settings
2. Tap the moon icon in the top-right corner

 

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Desktop

• Message Bubble Color
• Wallpaper
• Theme

To change sent message bubble colors:

1. Decide to edit the default for all chats or edit a specific chat
   • For the default, go to Signal Settings  
   • For a specific one-to-one chat, go to chat settings
   • For a specific group chat, go to chat settings > Group settings
2. Select Chat Color
3. Select a color or make your own
   
   • Select the to create a custom color
     1. Tap Solid or Gradient
        • For Gradient, select and drag a point to change the direction of the gradient
        • Select a point to edit just that color
     2. Drag along the color sliders
   • Double click a custom color to edit, duplicate, or delete
4. Select Save
   
   • For the default, all the chats that previously did not have a specific color will display this change for your desktop only
   • For a specific chat, this change is on your desktop only

Wallpaper:

1. • Chat background colors are not yet available.

To change the theme:

1. In Signal, tap your profile >  Preferences...
2. Under Theme, pick System, Light, or Dark