Signal Goes (More) Private: Messaging Without Sharing Your Phone Number

Signal, the messaging app that’s all about keeping your privacy safe, has a new feature: usernames! This update lets you skip the whole phone number thing and connect with people on Signal using a special username instead.

What are Signal Usernames?

Unlike usernames on other apps, Signal usernames aren’t meant to be public. They’re more like secret contact keys. Here’s how it works:

Privacy First: Your phone number stays hidden by default. People you chat with won’t see it unless they already have it saved in their contacts.

Start a Chat Easily: Share your username with someone to start a conversation without exchanging numbers.

Not a Public Directory: Signal doesn’t have a searchable username list. People need your exact username to find you.

Temporary Handles: Usernames can be changed anytime, so they’re great for groups or events.

How to Use Signal Usernames

1. Getting started with usernames is easy:
2. Open Signal and go to your Profile settings.
3. Look for the “Username” option.
4. Create a unique username that ends with two or more numbers (this helps keep people from pretending to be you).

That’s it! Share your username with anyone you want to chat with on Signal.

Is it Goodbye To Phone Numbers?

Not quite. Signal still needs a phone number to register to help stop spam. But usernames give you more control over who sees your phone number inside the app.

Signal is Taking Privacy a Step Further

The username feature shows that Signal is moving towards even more private messaging. It’s a convenient way to connect while keeping your phone number hidden. With Signal’s strong encryption, this update makes it an even better choice for people who want to keep their conversations private.