Signal is a popular encrypted messaging app with a focus on privacy. It is an alternative to WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger and others. There is a lot to like in the app, and if you change it, it can even replace your SMS app.
Like its competitors, Signal is mainly used to send instant messages to other people who use the app. However, the Android app has an extra feature: it can be set as your device’s default SMS messaging app. Unfortunately, the functionality is not available on the iPhone.
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Not only will you be able to communicate with your Signal contacts, but you will also be able to send and receive text messages with your phone number. All of your conversations can be in one place. Lets do this.
Attention: SMS messages sent through Signal are “insecure”, which means that they are not encrypted as messages between Signal users.
First, open the Signal app on your Android device. Then, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the app.
Select “Settings” from the menu.
At the top of the Settings menu, tap “SMS and MMS”.
Then, you’ll see “SMS disabled” at the top. Select it to continue to make it the default.
A pop-up window will ask you to choose your default SMS application. Select “Signal” and tap “Set as default”.
That’s it. Sending an SMS message is the same as sending a signal message. The contact list will show people in Signal at the top, indicated in blue.
If for some reason you want to send an SMS to a Signal contact, you can do that too. Start typing a message as you normally would.
This time, instead of touching the send button, touch and hold it.
You now have the option to switch to “Insecure SMS”. As mentioned earlier, SMS messages are not encrypted like signal messages.
The send button will now be gray with an unlock icon. Touch it to send the SMS message.
All ready! Now you can keep all your conversations, whether by signal or SMS, in one place. Remember that you will not be able to access SMS through the Signal Desktop application.
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