How to Change Your Signal Number Without Deleting Your Chats

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – If you’re a Signal user, you may have noticed that changing your phone number on your account erases all your existing chats, groups and messages. Well, that is now a thing of the past. Signal has rolled out a new feature, called Switch Number, which allows you to switch numbers without losing all your data in the secure messaging app.

Also: How to set messages that disappear by default on Signal

How to Change Your Number in Signal Without Deleting Old Threads

If you keep your existing phone, but get a new number, Signal’s new number change feature will allow you to keep your profile and all your existing messages and groups on your device.

1. In the latest version of the Signal mobile app, tap on your profile.
2. Go to Settings (iOS only) > Account > Edit Phone Number.
3. You cannot undo this. Select Continue.
4. Enter your old number then your new number.
5. Select Continue or Done.
6. Confirm that the new number is correct.
7. Select Edit number.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the process.

Once you’ve updated your number, any contacts you’ve matched with in Signal will see a new message in your feed that notifies you’ve changed the phone number, along with a link to update the map of contact. Most importantly, you won’t lose your existing conversation threads or groups.

Is there anything you need to know about Signal’s change number feature?

Change number is supported if you keep the same phone and just change the number. It is not supported if you don’t have your old device, lost your phone or erased your phone. Indeed, the new feature is intended for users who keep their current phone. If you’re upgrading to a new phone and want to keep all your data, you’ll need to use Signal’s end-to-end encrypted device-to-device transfer feature (tutorial here) on Android or iOS to transport your contacts and data. chat history on your new device.

Want to know more?

See Signal’s blog post for more details. Signal also has a support page here.

Written by Maggie Tillman.