Transfer Signal chats to a new cell phone – here’s how – 2024-05-13 21:57:12

2024-05-13 21:57:12

Do you have a new cell phone and want to transfer your Signal chat history to it? Whether for Android or iOS – you can get the instructions here.

Changing your own smartphone is not always easy. After all, over time data accumulates on the devices, which should not be missing on the new mobile phone.

While many apps now use the cloud to simplify the process, some still require the user to intervene manually. But your data can also be transferred to a new cell phone using the signal messenger.

How to transfer your Signal account to a new Apple phone

In order for your account and chats from Signal Messenger to be transferred to a new iPhone, a few conditions must be met on both cell phones involved. First make sure that iOS version 12.4 or higher and the latest version of Signal Messenger are installed on the devices. From iOS 14 onwards, give the app permission to access the local network under “Settings > Signal”.

Also activate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, deactivate power saving mode in the operating system settings and make sure that the two smartphones are in close proximity to each other.

Then follow these five steps to transfer your data:

1. Open the Signal app, freshly installed from the App Store, on your new iPhone.
2. Set up Messenger. Grant the application the requested permissions and verify your phone number.
3. Tap “Transfer from iOS Device.”
4. On your old iPhone, launch the Camera app and scan the QR code displayed on the new device. Next, select “Open in Signal” from the notification bar.
5. Allow the Signal app to access your camera and use it to scan the QR code again.

The messenger automatically starts the data transfer. Once this is complete, your Signal account can only be used on the new phone you transferred it to. All data and chat history on your old iPhone will be deleted.

How to copy your Signal chats to a new Android phone

In order to transfer your chat histories from Signal to a new Android phone without going through a backup, you also need the latest version of the Messenger app and at least version 5.5 of the Google operating system. Here too, active WLAN and Bluetooth radio modules as well as physical access to both devices are required.

Next, follow these six steps to copy your Signal chats to your new phone:

1. Launch Signal on your new Android phone and select “Transfer or Restore Account.”
2. Grant the app the requested permissions.
3. Tap “Transfer from Android Device.”
4. Open the Signal app on your old phone and navigate to Settings > Account > Transfer Account > Continue.
5. Allow the application on both devices to access your location.
6. Check whether the seven-digit code displayed matches on both phones and confirm this with “Continue”.

Your data will now be transferred. Then continue registration on the new device and verify your phone number. After you complete the process, you will get access to your previously held conversations.

The operating system and phone number must match

Unfortunately, with Signal it is not yet possible to transfer user data from Android to iOS or vice versa. In principle, this is only possible if you keep the respective operating system.

And even in the context of a phone number change, copying of Signal chats is currently not possible, so you always have to register a new cell phone using the same number. Only after you have transferred your Signal account can you change your phone number in the app under “Settings > Account > Change phone number”.