Signal getting working (include taking your chats with you)

Using /e/OS Applications
1

I wanted to move with Signal to my new Fairphone4 WITH all chats.

Here is how I made it!
First of all:

  1. Download the newest version of signal (NOT from any store!):
    Signal >> Signal Android APK

  2. Create a data backup from your old smartphone, do NOT forget to note alle the numbers (pass key)!

  3. Copy the data backup from your old to you new phone

  4. Insert your SIM-Card into your new phone, you will need it to activate it.

  5. Start Signal and choose to restore Signal with your local backup
    (if this does NOT work, you don`t have the newest Signal Version. You can not use the Signal Version from /e (too old version))

  6. You will need to enter your Signal Code and you will get 1 SMS with a veryfy code, type it

Danke :slight_smile:
(Hope this will help others saving time)

1 Like
2

Hi @sternbogen, thanks for sharing this. In case you are still around, I was wondering what was the OS of your old phone? I’m looking to transfer signal chats from an iPhone to a Fairphone 5 and am worried that the backup might only work between two Android phones.

Thanks - Leonos.

3

When I wrote this, I switched from android to e/ having no problems, taking everything with me (text, pictures, …)

On my last holiday (1 month ago) a cheap car charger killed my FP4 …
But I made a backup a few weeks before (same like described top), so i could restore all until the the backup. So it worked again!

Now you can even use the signal installer from App Lounge / Murena open appstore, the version are good enough :slight_smile:

And you do NOT need a google account (spying you) or something :slight_smile:
MFG
Steffen

1 Like
4

This is documented in the Signal documentation (Help). Transfer of a back up from IOS to android or vice versa is presently not supported.

5

e/ or murena is not IOS …

6

Thanks @sternbogen , and sorry to learn about your troubles but it’s nice to see you could fix it.
@ElJee indeed that is what the signal docs say, unfortunately, between iOS and Android. I was hoping /e/OS might be an exception… Hopefully Signal will be able to implement cross-platform account transfers soon.

7

I transfered all my Signal chats from stock Android 11 to /e/os (Android 13). Ir works perfeclty and I loose anything.