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How to Add and Import Contacts in Signal Messenger

Signal is a popular encrypted messaging app that allows you to communicate privately with your contacts. While Signal has strong privacy and security features, you still need a network of contacts to message. Here is a guide on how to build up your contact list on Signal.

Adding Contacts Manually

The most straightforward way to add contacts on Signal is to add them one by one manually. Here are the steps:

  • Open the Signal app and tap on the pencil icon in the top-right to start a new message.
  • Tap on the “+” icon next to the To field.
  • You will see options to either add a new contact, select from your existing contacts, or invite someone to join Signal via SMS or email.
  • To add a new contact, tap on “New Contact” and enter the person’s name and phone number. Make sure to include the country code if adding an international contact.
  • Once you enter the phone number, Signal will check if that user already has an account. If yes, it will directly add them to your contacts.
  • If the person is not yet on Signal, it allows you to send them an SMS invite to download the Signal app.

The advantage of adding contacts this way is that it gives you granular control over each contact. The downside is that it can be time-consuming if you want to add many new contacts to Signal.

Syncing Device Contacts

If you have contacts stored locally on your phone that you wish to add to Signal en masse, you can sync your device contacts:

  • Open the Signal app and tap your profile picture in the top-left.
  • Go into Settings > Contacts > Sync Contacts
  • Signal will ask your permission to access contacts. Tap Allow.
  • You will see a list of all contacts from your phone’s address book that are not yet on Signal. Toggle the switch next to each contact you want to add.
  • Tap Sync Contacts at the top to add the selected contacts to Signal.

This is the easiest way to add contacts if you want to migrate many existing phone contacts over to Signal. One thing to note is that if any of the contacts you sync do not have Signal installed, they will see an SMS inviting them to join Signal when you sync your contacts.

Importing Contacts from Other Apps

If you have an existing contact list that you want to import from another app like WhatsApp or Telegram, you can use Signal’s import contact feature:

  • Open the Signal app and go to your profile.
  • Tap Settings > Chats > Import to get import options.
  • You can import contacts from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, TextSecure, RedPhone, and CSV files.
  • Tap the app you wish to import contacts from. Signal will take the needed permissions.
  • Your chat history from that app will NOT be imported – only your contacts.
  • Contacts that are already on Signal will be skipped. New contacts will be added.
  • Once the import is complete, you will see all your new contacts in Signal ready to message!

This makes it easy to transition contacts over from other messaging apps. Do note that you can only import contacts, not previous chat histories.

Inviting Contacts via Share Sheet

An easy way to invite new people to Signal is to use the share sheet in iOS and Android:

  • When viewing a contact’s details or messaging thread in another app, open the share sheet.
  • You will see an option to share via Signal. Tap it.
  • A Signal message composer will open with that contact’s details pre-filled.
  • Tap the Send button to send them an invite via SMS/message.

This allows you to quickly send Signal invites to new contacts without having to manually add their details. It works across various apps like phone contacts, WhatsApp, Telegram, email apps, and so on.

Finding People Nearby

Signal has a feature that lets you discover and connect with people nearby:

  • Open the Signal app and tap your profile picture.
  • Go to Settings > Contacts > Nearby to access this feature.
  • Nearby will be switched off by default. Toggle it on.
  • You will have options to configure distance, duration, and profile sharing settings.
  • Other Signal users who have Nearby turned on and are within your radius will show up here.
  • Tap Invite to connect with them on Signal. If they accept, they are added directly to your contacts.

This can be great for events, conferences, or public gatherings to easily exchange contact info via Signal. Just keep in mind to turn the Nearby feature off again for privacy when you no longer need it.

Things to Remember

Here are some additional pointers when building up your Signal contacts:

  • Check if any existing contacts in your phone already use Signal. If yes, make sure they show up under the Signal contacts list.
  • Start by adding the important contacts you message frequently. This gives you a base roster to have private conversations.
  • When adding contacts manually, make sure to carefully enter the exact phone number with country code to avoid issues.
  • If inviting contacts via SMS, follow up with them to ensure they received the invite and were able to activate Signal successfully.
  • When importing contacts from other apps, check for any failures or duplicates that did not import correctly.
  • Always review permissions when Signal asks to access your contacts or storage. Only allow what is necessary.
  • Organize your Signal contacts into favorites, groups, or custom notifications to manage conversations better.

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