How to Use the Signal App: Tips & Tricks – Online Tech Tips

If you want to keep your conversations secure, you cant do much better than the secure messaging app Signal. Thanks to Signals end-to-end encryption, no onenot even Signalcan listen to your calls or read your messages.

You dont have to adjust any settings to get a high level of security from Signalthose features are built-in. However, you can make a few tweaks to get even more out of the app. Well show you how to use Signal and offer some tips and tricks youll want to try.

Signal has a lot going for it.

With Signal, you can make voice calls, video calls, group calls, and SMS/text messages all with end-to-end encryption. People like Edward Snowden and Elon Musk rely on Signal (instead of other messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger) to keep their messages out of the hands of hackers.

Get Signal for Android devices from the Google Play Store. iPhone or iPad users should visit the Apple app store to install Signal. Or visit signal.org/install from your phones browser.

Once youve installed the Signal app, youll be prompted to register with your phone number. Youll verify via a text message verification code, create a PIN, and fill out your profile. Feel free to use a nickname!

After youve installed the encrypted messaging app on your phone, consider using Signals desktop app, too. Signal desktop apps are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you choose to use the desktop or iPad apps, youll link to them with your phone app.

In the top right corner of Signal on Androidor by tapping your profile icon in the top-left cornertap Settings > Linked Devices. On iOS, tap Signal Settings > Link New Device. Then use the app of your choice to scan the QR code on the desktop app.

Tap Settings > Privacy to access options, including:

Disappearing message options are under Settings > Privacy, as well. When you enable the Default timer for new chats, all new chats you start will disappear after the recipient has seen them.

On Android, go to Settings > Privacy, and under App security, toggle on Screen lock to apply Androids screen lock or fingerprint to open the Signal app.

Verify the session with a safety number to confirm that no third party is intercepting your conversation. Open a conversation and tap the name of the person youre communicating with. From there, tap View safety number. Ask your contact to do the same.

You can either compare the safety numbers you see to make sure they match the numbers your contact sees, or, if youre in the same place as your conversational partner, you can scan the QR code on their phone.

Signal users on iPhones who use Signal for voice calls might want to disable syncing their call history to the iCloud. Verify that syncing is disabled by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Show Calls in Recents and making sure youve chosen the Disabled option.

To create a group chat, tap the pencil icon and then tap New group. Select group members from your contact list. Then tap the arrow icon to proceed. Give the group a name and tap Create. Invite more friends to the group by tapping Invite friends. You can choose an admin to approve new members and enable and share a link to the group chat. Share the link via Signal, another messaging app, or a QR code.

Choose a wallpaper or theme for a chat by tapping More (3 dots) > Conversation/Group settings > Chat color & wallpaper. From there, you can choose a chat color and wallpaper. For wallpapers, you can choose a Signal preset or select a photo.

Android users can add GIFs and stickers to chats by tapping the GIF button to the left of the message field.

iPhone users can add a sticker by tapping the button to the right of the message field. To add a GIF, iPhone users should tap the plus icon and then tap GIF.

In the Signal desktop application, select File > Create/Upload Sticker Pack. You can add up to 200 stickers to create a custom sticker pack. Then, anyone to whom you send a sticker from the pack you made (or anyone you share the link with) can view the sticker pack.

Select a conversation and tap the plus icon next to the message field. From there, tap Gallery to choose an image from your camera roll. To send a different kind of file, tap File and browse to the file you want to send. Tap the Send icon to send the file. You can also send a contact or a location.

Signal lets you blur portions of the image when you send photos or videos, like faces or other sensitive areas.

Sending a note to yourself is like sending a message to anyone else. First, tap the pencil icon to begin a new message. Then, scroll to or search for Note to self in the contacts list. If you enable any linked devices, your notes will be synced across all of them.

You can use Signal to make in-app payments to a contact, but youll need to activate the payments feature first. Go to Settings > Payments and tap the Activate payments button. This feature uses MobileCoin, which Signal describes as a new privacy-focused digital currency. Learn more about Signals in-app payments and MobileCoin.

Some countries have blocked Signal. If you have an Android phone, you can use a proxy. Go to Settings > Data and storage > Use proxy. Then, toggle on the feature and enter a proxy address.

Signal recommends finding proxy addresses using one of these methods:

These basic tips should help you set up and use Signal quickly. Do you use Signal every day? What are your impressions?

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How to Use the Signal App: Tips & Tricks - Online Tech Tips