Moving Signal App To Graphene OS

Restoring Your Account Messages

Restoring Your Signal App Account Messages on Graphene OS

Signal chat messages, pictures, files, and other contents are encrypted and stored locally on your device. That’s part of what makes Signal private. Only you have access to your data!

At this stage, Signal supports restoring [moving] your account chat data [contacts / chats / photos / files] from an Android → Android, or iPhone → iPhone, but NOT cross-platform such as Android ← → iPhone. Therefore, if you had an iPhone prior to your new Pixel Graphene phone, you will need to set up Signal on your new Pixel Graphene phone from the start. Then send a message to your contacts letting them know you have installed Signal on a new phone so they know it’s still you :]

If you are moving from an old Android to your new Pixel Graphene [Android] phone, keep reading to restore your Signal account on your new phone.

What if I do not have my old Android phone, restored my Android phone to factory settings, or lost my phone?

You can not "restore" your Signal account if you do not have access to your message history. Signal does not have a copy of your messages. 

Requirements

1] Make sure both devices have:

  • VPN turned off

  • Bluetooth enabled

  • Wi-Fi enabled

  • Wi-Fi Hotspot off

2] Your new device:

  • Can receive a SMS or call to complete registration.

  • Is physically close to your old phone that has your existing Signal message history.

3] Your old device:

  • Can open Signal and view your message history.

  • Is physically close to your new phone.

Steps to move messages

1] On your new device, install and open Signal.

2] Select Transfer or restore account.

3] Choose which way you want to move messages.

  • Select Transfer from Android device on your old phone.

  • On the new phone, install Signal > select Transfer or restore account > enable permissions > select Transfer from Android device > Continue.

  • On the old phone, go to Signal Settings  > Account > Transfer account > Continue.

  • Physically move the new phone near the old phone and accept the alert on the new phone.

  • Confirm the 7-digit code matches on both phones and select Continue on each phone.

  • On the new phone, tap Continue registration and register the device.

  • On the old phone, tap Done to complete.

  • On the old phone, uninstall Signal, typically in Android Phone Settings > Signal > Uninstall or through steps specific to your phone.

Still having trouble?

  • Ensure your VPN and Wi-Fi Hotspot are disabled as these can interfere with Wi-Fi Direct connections.