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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.

Steps to get started

  1. Confirm that your phone is running Android 4.4 or later.
  2. Install and open Signal.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.

What else should I know?

  • 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.
  • Signal can also serve as your unified messenger for insecure SMS/MMS messages in addition to Signal messages. Insecure SMS/MMS messages are sent through your mobile provider.

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

 

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.

Steps to get started

iPhone/iPod

  1. Confirm that your iOS device is running iOS 10.0 or later.
  2. Install and open Signal.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.

iPad

  1. Confirm that your iPad is running iOS 10.0 or later.
  2. Install and open Signal.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to
    • link the iPad to your phone or
    • select the unlink icon unlink.png in the top right to register this iPad as a separate device and number.
      ipad-separate-device-icon.png

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

What else should I know?

  • 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.

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

 

Desktop

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

Steps 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 64-bit: 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
    • MacOS 10.10 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.

What else should I know?

  • All messaging on Signal Desktop is private.
  • Signal messages are synchronized with Signal on your mobile phone.

Can I install Signal Desktop without a mobile device?

Signal Desktop must be linked with either Signal Android or Signal iOS to send and receive messages.

Having issues updating Desktop? Follow these troubleshooting steps.

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