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Set up a private messenger

15–20 minutes · Signal on Android or iOS; a registration phone number

Reviewed 2026-09-05 · Revision 1

  1. Install Signal from its official download page. Register and create a Signal PIN; record it in your password manager.
  2. Open Settings → Privacy → Phone Number. Choose who can see your number and who can find you by it. If you disable number discovery, create a username and share it with your contact.
  3. Start a conversation. Compare safety numbers with the person over a trusted channel before sharing sensitive information.
  4. Review linked devices and remove any you do not recognise. Agree on disappearing messages if both participants want them.

Check the result

Ask your contact to open your profile and confirm what number information they can see. Send and receive a test message.

Limits

Registration still requires a phone number. A recipient can copy messages; a timer cannot prevent that.

Sources