Signal Desktop Download: Private Messaging on Your Computer

Typing long messages on a phone gets old fast. Signal Desktop puts your Signal conversations on your computer, with the same end-to-end encryption as the mobile app.

What can you do in Signal Desktop?

• Encrypted chats: Messages, photos, files and voice notes are end-to-end encrypted.
• Voice and video calls: Call contacts directly from your computer, including group calls.
• Disappearing messages: Set chats to delete messages automatically after a chosen time.
• Synced with your phone: New messages appear on both devices.

Linking it to your phone

1. Install Signal on your phone first; the desktop app works as a linked device.
2. Get Signal Desktop from signal.org. Windows users can also install it from the Microsoft Store; Linux users can add Signal’s apt repository or use the AppImage.
3. Open Signal Desktop and scan the QR code it shows with the Signal app on your phone (Settings → Linked devices).

Linux and funding

The Linux apt instructions are for 64-bit Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu and Mint. Signal is run by a non-profit, shows no ads and is funded by donations.

Managing linked devices

Your phone stays the main Signal device, and Signal allows up to five linked devices per account. You can review them at any time on the phone under Settings → Linked devices; if a computer appears that you do not recognize, unlink it straight away. Linked devices also drop off on their own: the phone has to come online at least once every 30 days, and a linked device that has been inactive for 45 days is unlinked. When you link, you can transfer your chats and the last 45 days of media from the phone, or start with an empty history. Signal Desktop is offered on signal.org and in the Microsoft Store, so treat installers hosted anywhere else with suspicion.