Set and manage disappearing messages

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.
• Changes to the timer will sync with your linked devices.

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.

Steps to enable or change:

1. Decide to enable or change the default for all chats or enable for a specific chat
   • For the default, on your phone go to Signal Settings > Privacy > Default timer for new chats.
   • For a specific one-to-one chat, on any device go to chat settings > Disappearing messages.
   • For a specific group chat,
     • admins may select who can change the timer.
     • on any device go to chat settings > Disappearing messages.
2. Select a time or choose a custom time of up to 4 weeks.
3. Next,
   1. For Android, tap Save.
   2. For iOS, tap Set.
   3. For Desktop, the timer automatically applies.
4. The chat header will include a timer icon .
5. An alert in your chat thread will display the new disappearing message time.
   
   

Steps to disable:

1. Decide to disable it for all new chats or for a specific chat.
   • For the default for new chats, Go to Signal Settings > Privacy (Android & iOS) or Preferences (Desktop) > Default timer for new chats.
   • For a specific one-to-one chat, on any device go to chat settings > Disappearing messages.
2. Select Off which is listed at the top.
3. Next,
   1. For Android, tap Save.
   2. For iOS, tap Set.
   3. For Desktop, the timer automatically applies.
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.