Signal has long been the go-to messaging app for privacy-conscious users, but one of its biggest limitations was the inability to link two phones to the same account. That changes today. The secure messenger now allows users to link multiple Android devices and iPhones to a single Signal account, making it far easier to stay in sync across all of the mobile devices you use every day.
This update expands Signal's existing companion device feature in a meaningful way. Previously, the secure messenger could easily work across PCs, iPads, and other tablets. Now, with version 8.20 on Android and version 8.22 on iPhone and iPad, users can attach an additional Android phone or iPhone to their primary Signal account. The rollout comes with an option to copy previous messages to the newly linked device, and it also brings improvements designed for foldables and large-screen Android devices.
Signal's steady push toward multi-device flexibility
Signal launched in 2014 as a successor to TextSecure and RedPhone, early encryption projects developed by security researcher Moxie Marlinspike. The app quickly became a favorite among surveillance-averse users and organizations, thanks to its use of the end-to-end encrypted Signal Protocol. Today, Signal is operated by the Signal Foundation, a nonprofit that relies on grants and donations. The organization's structure means there is little incentive to monetize user habits, and the service remains free to download and use.
Over the years, Signal's growth has been steady rather than explosive. It gained millions of users during moments when other messaging apps changed privacy policies, but it has avoided flashy features in favor of cryptographic robustness. Signal supports disappearing messages, incognito keyboard, registration lock, and a range of other privacy controls. It has also become standard-issue in the world of encrypted communications, frequently recommended by civil liberties groups and digital security trainers.
However, one important limitation remained: Signal was not designed for people who carry more than one phone. Plenty of users have a work device and a personal device, or a phone and a backup phone. Linking desktop clients and iPads was already possible, but a true second phone was not supported until now. That is what makes the new update so significant.
How phone linking works in Signal
Linking a phone is similar to linking a desktop or tablet. First, open Signal on your primary device and navigate to Settings, then Linked Devices. Select Link New Device to generate a QR code.
Source:The Verge News