Frequently asked questions
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Do I need a phone number or email to sign up?
No. Your identity is a key pair generated on your device. No phone number, email or real name is needed.
What if I forget my recovery phrase?
It cannot be recovered. Your private key and recovery phrase exist only on your device; neither the nodes nor we have a copy. Write it down as soon as you create your identity and keep it offline.
Can the nodes read my chats?
No. Messages are encrypted on your device before they are sent; nodes only relay and store ciphertext. The entry node you connect to can see your IP address, when you send, and who your messages are addressed to — see Security & Privacy.
Where do messages go when my contact is offline?
They wait as ciphertext on several nodes for up to 30 days. Your contact collects them when they come back; the storage nodes cannot tell who sent them or who they are for.
Can I be signed in on several devices at once?
Not at the moment. An account is active on one device at a time; signing in on a new device takes over the account.
Will my chat history move to a new phone?
Your contacts can be restored on the new phone from an encrypted backup. Chat history on the old phone is not transferred.
How do disappearing messages work?
When turned on in a direct chat, messages are destroyed a set time after the other person has read them. They cannot stop someone from taking a screenshot or photographing the screen with another device.
Can I run my own node?
Not yet. The node network is permissioned: a node needs a certificate from an approved operator to join. Plans to open it to more operators will be announced here.
Which languages are supported?
Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean.