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Installing Signal

Fast, simple, secure. Signal is privacy that fits in your pocket (or on your desk).

Download Signal here or follow the installation steps for your platform.

Android

Signal Android users can send private messages and make secure calls to other Signal users anywhere in the world for free over the internet.

  • All Signal-to-Signal communication is private and end-to-end encrypted.
  • Signal-to-Signal messages are secure and free to send and receive using any internet connection enabled on your phone, including WiFi and mobile data.

How to get started

  1. Confirm that your phone is running Android 5.0 or later.
    Note: Android tablets are not supported.
  2. Install and open Signal from the Google Play Store.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.

Having issues installing on an Android phone? Follow these troubleshooting steps.

Reinstalling? Follow these steps to restore from a previously created backup or transfer from an existing phone.

iOS

Signal iOS users can send private messages and make secure calls to other Signal users anywhere in the world for free over the internet.

  • All communication on Signal iOS is private and end-to-end encrypted.
  • Signal can use whichever internet connection is enabled on your phone, including WiFi and mobile data.

How to get started

iPhone/iPod

  1. Confirm that your iOS device is running iOS 12.2 or later.
  2. Install and open Signal from the Apple App Store.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.

Having issues installing on an iPhone? Follow these troubleshooting steps.

Reinstalling on a new device? Follow these steps to transfer from another iOS device.

iPad linked to a phone

  1. Confirm that your iPad is running iPadOS 12.2 or later.
  2. Install and open Signal from the Apple App Store.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to link the iPad to your phone.
    Note: Chat history is not transferred from the phone.

Already using an iPad? Update to the latest version or follow these troubleshooting steps for linking.

iPad as a separate device

  1. Confirm that your iPad is running iPadOS 12.2 or later.
  2. Confirm you can receive SMS (not iMessage) or phone calls to that number.
  3. Install and open Signal from the Apple App Store.
  4. Select the unlink icon unlink.png in the top right.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.
    ipad-separate-device-icon.png

Desktop

You can link Signal Desktop to your mobile device to send and receive Signal messages from your laptop or desktop computer.

  • All messaging on Signal Desktop is private.
  • Signal messages are synchronized with Signal on your mobile phone after it is linked. Your previous message history will not appear.

How to get started

  1. Confirm Signal is installed and working on your Android phone or iPhone.
  2. Confirm that your OS supports Signal Desktop:
    • Windows 10 and 11.
    • macOS 10.13 and above.
    • Linux 64-bit distributions supporting APT, like Ubuntu or Debian.
  3. Download and open Signal Desktop.
    • Windows: Follow prompts from the install link.
    • macOS: Move Signal to the Applications folder. Non-admin users should search for ~/Applications using Spotlight and move Signal's install file into that directory.
    • Linux: Follow the instructions to configure the Signal repository and install the Signal package.
  4. Link Signal Desktop with your phone.

Can I install Signal Desktop without a mobile device?

No. Signal Desktop must be linked with either Signal Android or Signal iOS to send and receive messages.

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