For years, Signal has been the epitome of secure messaging thanks to its end-to-end encryption, but there was one major drawback: to chat with someone, you had to share your phone number . That's finally changing with the introduction of usernames, a feature designed to let you connect with others without revealing such sensitive information.
The new feature, which began in testing, has now been rolled out as a stable option , allowing users to find you by an identifier rather than your mobile number. This change comes with settings that let you control who can see your number and who can find you using it , enhancing privacy both when initiating conversations and within chats.
What are Signal usernames and how do they work?
Usernames are here to meet a long-standing need: to stop sharing your personal number as an access key . From now on, you can create a unique identifier that others will use to contact you, and your number will be hidden by default from those who don't have you in their contacts.
It's important to distinguish between two concepts that are separate in Signal: username and profile name . The former is used solely to find you and start a chat; the latter is what's displayed within the conversation and doesn't have to be unique. In fact, the person you're talking to can customize how they label you in their view, as has been the case in the app for some time.
To reduce impersonation and improve control, all usernames must be unique and end in two digits . They can also include numbers and some special characters such as hyphens, underscores, or periods. This combination helps curb spam and allows for the same username to have legitimate variations without conflicts.
Another key aspect is discovery: Signal doesn't have a global username search . You can only start a conversation if you know the other person's exact username, or if they share a direct link or QR code with you. This adds an extra layer of protection, as it prevents mass account searches by username.
Since this feature was launched, your number is no longer visible to strangers by default . Only contacts who already have your number saved will see it. And, if you want, you can go even further and prevent someone who has your number from finding you on Signal by forcing them to use your username.
Create your username, share it and control who finds you
Setting up your identifier is simple and reversible: you can change it as often as you need . If someone tries to contact you using an old alias, they won't find you, which is useful if you want to limit who can locate you over time.
Here's how to create or edit your username: On Android, tap your profile picture, then your name, and enter the @username option ; on iPhone, open Settings from your photo, tap your name at the top, and you'll see the same @username option.
- Android: Profile picture > your name > @username. Choose a unique name with at least two ending digits.
- iPhone: Profile picture > Settings > your name > @username. Make sure to include the two numbers at the end.
To share it, Signal offers direct links and QR codes that take you to your contact with a single tap. You can access both from the same panel where you manage your username, so you never have to reveal your number.
Remember that your username is only for initiating contact . Once you start chatting with someone, they will see your chosen profile name, as usual. Your username does not replace logging in: you still need to register your account with a working phone number.
If you've ever blocked someone, you'll remain blocked even if they change their username . And if you change yours, you won't lose any chats or contacts you've already started; new contact attempts will simply require your current username or one of your shared links/QR codes.
Hide your phone number on Signal: key settings
With the new set of options, you can precisely decide who sees your number and who can reach you by it . You'll find these controls in Settings > Privacy > Phone number.
- Android: Profile picture > Privacy > Phone number. Change “Who can see my number” and “Who can find me by number.”
- iPhone: Profile picture > Settings > Privacy > Phone number. Adjust both options to your liking.
The first option, “Who can see my number,” determines whether your number is displayed in chats to your contacts. It is set to “Nobody” by default, meaning that even if someone contacts you by username, they will not see your mobile number unless you allow it.
The second setting, “Who can find me by number ,” controls whether someone can discover you by typing your phone number into a search or through contact syncing. By default, it's set to “Everyone,” but if you change it to “Nobody,” not even those who have your number saved will be able to find you ; they'll have to use your alias or your link/QR code.
With these two levers, you can maintain a low profile without losing accessibility: keep discovery by number closed and only open what is necessary by username , sharing it with whomever you want and whenever you want.
Getting started with Signal with a privacy focus
If you're signing up from scratch, it's a good idea to fine-tune your privacy settings from the start. Install the app from Google Play or the App Store , open Signal, and allow or deny access to your contacts as you prefer. If you deny access, you can still use the app by manually entering numbers , and you can always change the permission later.
Signing up requires verifying your number with a six-digit SMS . This is a necessary step to limit service to one account per phone and keep the network free from abuse. If you don't want to use your primary line, consider using a legitimate secondary number, following standard security recommendations.
Next, you'll set up your profile and a PIN. Your profile contains your name and optionally a picture; it's shared with contacts and in new chats. Your PIN, on the other hand, protects your information on Signal's servers and allows you to restore your account when you switch devices . Choose a strong code or a secure phrase.
- Android: Complete your profile, create your PIN, and confirm it. You can then adjust who can find you by number.
- iPhone: Create your PIN first, confirm it, and then complete your profile. If you're prompted to migrate from another device via local network, you can deny it if you're not transferring anything.
At this stage, you can tap the "Who can find me by my number?" setting and change it to "Nobody." Keep in mind that if you don't create a username, no one will be able to start chats with you until you choose one . It's recommended that you set your username as soon as possible and share it with your contacts.
An essential reminder of the platform's philosophy: Signal encrypts all content end-to-end and doesn't use SMS or MMS to send messages. You do need an internet connection, but in return, there are no costs for traditional messages, and in terms of data retention, the app only keeps the account creation timestamp and the last connection.
Recommended security and privacy features
Beyond usernames, Signal includes a multitude of controls that should be enabled or at least reviewed. The goal is to reduce leaks through the interface, permissions, or daily operations , without sacrificing usability.
Record lock
- Why: Prevents someone from registering your number on another phone without your PIN. It's a layer of protection against unauthorized takeovers, especially useful if you switch phones.
- What to do: On Android, go to Profile Picture > Account (create a PIN if you don't have one) and turn on "Registration Lock." On iPhone, go to Profile Picture > Settings > Account and turn on the lock. Occasionally you will be asked for your PIN to remember it..
Verify security numbers
- Why: Confirm that no one has tampered with the encryption keys, which is key if you handle sensitive information.
- What to do: Open the chat, tap the contact's name, and select "View security number." You'll see a 60-digit string and a QR code. Check that it matches your contact by reading numbers or scanning the code; then mark as verified.
Disappearing messages and “view once”
- Why: Limits the persistence of information on devices. Although someone can capture a screen, reducing history minimizes risks.
- What to do: Set a default time in Privacy > Disappearing Messages. You can also set it per chat: open the conversation, tap the name, and select "Disappearing Messages." For one-off photos/videos, activate “view once” mode tapping the icon above the text box until it displays “1”.
Notifications: what is displayed
- Why: Notifications can reveal the sender or text on the lock screen, or feed “smart” summaries.
- What to do: Under Notifications > Show, choose from hiding all to showing name and content. Fine-tune what you see according to your context.
Lock screen and hide in the app switcher
- Why: If you leave your phone unlocked, you can require additional authentication to open Signal and prevent previews in the app switcher.
- What to do: Activate “Screen Lock” under Privacy. On Android, in the same section, activate “Screen Security” to hide content on the switch (and prevent screenshots on your device). On iPhone, Settings > Privacy and “Hide Screen in App Switcher.”
Groups: Permissions, Links, and Member Control
- Why: In large groups it's easy to lose control of who comes in and what changes. Restricting actions avoids surprises.
- What to do: Create a group from the pencil icon > “New group”. You can approve new members, enable a join link and reset it if it leaks. Under Permissions, limit who can change the name or add people. Review the membership list periodically.
Change your phone number
- Why: Signal treats your number as your account identifier. If you get a new line or want to migrate to a secondary line, there is a guided process.
- What to do: Android: Profile picture > Account > Change phone number, and follow the steps for both the old and new numbers. iPhone: Profile picture > Settings > Account > Change phone number. Confirm and complete the verification.
Stories and audience control
- Why: As with social media, Stories exist for a limited time, but you can choose who sees them.
- What to do: In Stories > My Story, you can choose whether all your contacts, a specific list, or just a few people can see them. You can hide them from specific people and disable display receiptsIf you're not interested, turn off Stories altogether.
Link Previews
- Why: Previews can leak to the site you are sharing a link to and, in rare cases, reveal relationships if there are unique tokens.
- What to do: They're disabled by default. If you enabled them, uncheck them in Chats > "Generate link previews."
Incognito keyboard and keyboard cleaning
- Why: Some third-party keyboards collect data. On Android, Signal's "incognito keyboard" asks the keyboard not to record input.
- What to do: Activate “Incognito Keyboard” in Privacy. Take advantage of this Eliminate keyboards that you don't use or don't trust. from the system settings (Android: System > Keyboard; iPhone: General > Keyboard > Keyboards).
Use a proxy if Signal is blocked
- Why: In regions where Signal is restricted, a voluntary proxy can allow access, while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
- What to do: Android: Data & Storage > Use Proxy, turn it on and add the address. iPhone: Privacy > Advanced > Proxy. You will see a green check mark if the connection is correct.The proxy provider can see your IP, but not your content.
Hide your IP address on calls
- Why: By default, in peer-to-peer calls your IP may be exposed to the other party. Always retransmit the call the hidden one, with slight loss of quality.
- What to do: Android: Privacy > Advanced > “Always forward calls.” iPhone: Settings > Privacy > Advanced > “Always forward calls.”
Review paired devices
- Why: You can use Signal on a computer or tablet. It's weird, but it's convenient. Review and unlink devices you don't recognize or that you no longer use.
- What to do: Android: Paired Devices. iPhone: Settings > Paired Devices. Remove any suspicious devices with “Unpair”.
Start chats and calls, call links
- Why: Daily operations also have their tricks: you can call, video call and create call links with encryption, in addition to sharing all types of files.
- What to do: Tap the pencil icon to start a chat, choose a contact, or type a number. From the conversation, you can call or video call; on Android, also from the Calls tab. Note that both of you need internet access and the app installed.
With this comprehensive suite of features—usernames, granular control over who can see and find you, and dozens of additional settings— Signal reinforces its position as a truly private messenger . By properly configuring your username, sharing your link/QR code judiciously, and disabling number discovery, you'll significantly reduce your mobile line's exposure. Add to that a strong PIN, log blocking, and disappearing messages, and you have a secure, flexible, and convenient messaging experience.
