Signal has officially stopped sharing phone numbers in the name of privacy

After a successful pre-beta period, popular encrypted messaging app Signal has officially said goodbye to phone numbers for good, in the name of privacy.

This means you can now connect with other people via the popular encrypted messaging app by using a username instead. You’ll still need a phone number to register with the service, but this “will no longer be visible in Signal” for anyone using the latest version of the app who hasn’t previously saved it to their phone’s contacts, according to the provider.

The new privacy-enhancing feature is currently only available to beta users and is expected to roll out to everyone in the coming weeks.

Use Signal username

“Signal’s mission and sole focus is private communications. For years, Signal kept your messages private, your profile information (like your name and profile photo) private, your contacts private, your groups private, and much more. Now we are” go take it a step further by making your phone number on Signal more private,” the provider wrote in a message blog post to announce the new feature.

The provider now allows you to choose whether or not you share your telephone number with people you chat with via the app. You can do that instead create a unique username to connect with anyone on Signal. Your telephone number will then no longer be visible to other users.

This username, the provider explains, is not the profile name that appears in chats or a permanent username visible to the people you chat with in Signal, but rather a way to start a chat with another user .

Simply put, Signal usernames “don’t function like usernames on social media platforms” and the app doesn’t provide a searchable directory for them. Signal also ensures that these are not stored in plain text, meaning the provider cannot easily see or produce the usernames of certain accounts.

To create a username, go to Settings and click on the Profile tab. This must be unique and contain two or more numbers at the end – a choice intended to minimize spoofing, the provider said. The username can be changed as often as you want, but can also be deleted completely. You can even generate a QR code or link that directs people to your username so they can quickly connect with you on Signal.

Moreover, the provider also adds another new privacy setting that gives you control over who can find you based on your phone number on Signal. Selecting “Nobody” prevents other users from finding you unless they have your exact unique username. Please note that even the people who have your phone number saved in their contact list will not be able to initiate a conversation with you.

Signal is known for its deep commitment to the privacy and security of its users and began testing the username option in November last year. This move is yet another attempt to reduce the personal information a user must share in order to engage in private communications.

The update is now only available to beta users. This means other users will have to wait a few more weeks to benefit from this privacy boost. Once fully rolled out, your phone number will become private by default. You can change this option by going to the Settings tab and clicking Privacy & phone number.

It’s worth noting that both you and the people you chat with will need to be using the latest version of the app to take advantage of these new protections.