Stories are ephemeral posts of photo, video, or text that can be shared with your contacts and groups. They automatically expire after 24 hours.
- How are stories on Signal different?
- Who can I share a story with?
- Who are my Signal connections?
- Can I prevent specific people from seeing my story?
- How do I create a story or add to a story?
- How do I delete a story?
- How do I view stories?
- How do I know who has seen my story?
- Will people know I viewed their story?
- How do I manage if someone can reply to my story?
- How do I see replies to stories?
- How do I hide someone's story if I don't want to see it?
- How do I unhide someone's story if I want to see it again?
- How do I turn off stories?
- How do I turn stories back on?
- What if I need help?
How are stories on Signal different?
Like everything else in Signal, stories are private which means they are end-to-end encrypted and only viewable to you and the people you choose to share them with. No tracking, no surveillance, and – importantly – no endless stream of annoying ads.
Who can I share a story with?
You can customize who you share your stories with. There are three types of stories you can share.
Story Type |
Shares with … |
My Story |
|
Custom Story |
|
Group Story |
|
Who are my Signal connections?
- Everyone in your phone’s contact list who uses Signal.
- Anyone you’ve had a 1:1 conversation with in Signal even if you haven’t added them as a contact.
- Anyone whose message request you’ve accepted in Signal.
- On your phone, go to Signal Settings > Stories > My Story > select view.
Can I prevent specific people from seeing my story?
You can hide stories from specific connections.
- On your phone, go to Signal Settings (profile) > Stories > My Story > select All Except… or Only Share With...
How do I create a story or add to a story?
- Select the Stories tab .
- Tap your avatar with the + icon.
- Create the story with photo or text.
- Tap next.
- Select My Story, select + New, or an existing group.
- Select + New to send to a custom list of specific people or to an existing group chat.
- Select the Stories tab .
- Select My Stories.
- Tap the three dot menu for more options .
- Select delete.
- Confirm you are using the latest version of Signal.
- You may need to swipe close the app and wait 2 hours for this feature to show.
- Select the Stories tab .
- Tap on a contact or group to start viewing the stories for that contact or group
- Optional: Send an emoji or reply.
- Replies to a connection appear in your direct chat with them.
- Replies to a group appear in the story only.
How do I know who has seen my story?
- You’ll only see who has seen your stories if view receipts were enabled at the time the story was viewed. On you phone, go to Signal Settings > Stories > confirm view receipts are enabled.
- Select the Stories tab > My Stories > Tap on your story > select Views at the bottom before the story elapses.
- For Stories sent to “My Story” or to a custom of list, look for replies in a direct chat with your connection.
- For Stories sent to your group, view the group story and select Replies or Views.
Will people know I viewed their story?
- Yes, if you have view receipts turned on.
- On your phone, go to Signal Settings > Stories > tap view receipts to turn it on or off.
- You must have view receipts enabled to see if others viewed your stories.
How do I manage if someone can reply to my story?
- On your phone, go to Signal Settings > Stories > My Story > tap Replies & Reactions to turn it on or off.
How do I see replies to stories?
My Story or Custom Story |
|
Group Story |
|
How do I hide someone's story if I don't want to see it?
- You will only receive stories from people who are in your Signal connections.
- Select the Stories tab > tap and hold on the contact or group name > choose hide story.
How do I unhide someone's story if I want to see it again?
- Select the Stories tab > scroll to the bottom of the stories > tap and hold on the contact or group name > choose hide story.
We know that not everyone wants to see or share stories in Signal. That’s fine! It’s easy to opt out of them entirely.
- If you don’t want to see stories at all, go to Signal Settings > Stories (on mobile) or Privacy (on desktop) > Turn Off Stories.
- Nobody will know you’ve disabled.
- You won’t see group stories for groups you’re in.
How do I turn stories back on?
- On your phone, go to Signal Settings > Stories (on mobile) or Privacy (on desktop) > Turn On Stories.
- You will only see stories that are sent after you have turned it on.
In Signal on your phone, tap your profile > Help > Contact us > tell us details and send us an email.