Signal Desktop is an open-source instant messaging application that provides the same end-to-end encrypted communication features as the Signal app on mobile phones. It allows users to send encrypted messages, make voice calls, and conduct video calls directly from their computers.
Official Introduction to Signal Desktop
Signal Desktop is now available as a new standalone application, and the Chrome app version is no longer recommended. The new desktop version of Signal runs independently from your web browser. If you are a Firefox or Safari user, you no longer need to install Chrome to send and receive Signal messages on your computer. Even if you are a Chrome user, launching the browser will no longer equate to opening Signal Desktop.
Signal Desktop Features
- Easy-to-install instant messaging with end-to-end encryption
To install Signal on your desktop, you are required to pair it with the Signal app on your iOS or Android smartphone to ensure your messages are always synchronized. To do this, open the app on your phone, go to "Settings" > "Linked Devices," and use the scanner to scan the QR code displayed on the startup screen of the desktop application.
To ensure the security of your communications, Signal uses the Signal Protocol, which combines pre-keys, the Double Ratchet algorithm, and the 3-DH handshake. This ensures that third parties cannot intercept or decipher your messages.
As proof of its effectiveness, the Signal Protocol is used by some of the most popular messaging platforms—including WhatsApp, Google Allo, and Facebook Messenger—serving over one billion users worldwide.
- Minimalist user interface with real-time synchronization to the mobile app
Regarding the desktop user interface, Signal features a minimalist yet efficient dual-panel GUI designed to make finding contacts and starting conversations as easy as possible.
The Signal desktop app also offers multiple UI themes and the ability to import all your contacts from your mobile device. Additionally, you can customize alerts for new messages and toggle audio notifications on or off.
Moreover, since the desktop app is paired with your mobile phone, you can start a conversation on one device and seamlessly continue it on another, as both remain synchronized whenever an active internet connection is available.
- An easy-to-use and privacy-focused messaging app for Mac
For more information on how to use the desktop application, you can visit the Signal Knowledge Base website, where detailed guides on all app features are available.
Taking all of the above into account, the Signal desktop application is one of the best tools available to ensure secure communication with friends and family through a protected channel, safeguarded against man-in-the-middle attacks and equipped with all the tools needed to verify the identity of the person you're communicating with.