If you want to download Signal for PC, keep in mind it's not a standalone account like Telegram Desktop — Signal Desktop is a companion app that links to the Signal account already on your phone by scanning a QR code. That's the tradeoff for what you get: a nonprofit-run, fully open-source messenger where encryption is on by default for every chat and call, not an opt-in feature. Once paired, messages sync automatically between your phone and the desktop app.
Why Signal Desktop Requires Your Phone
Signal ties every account to a phone number and uses the mobile app as the primary device, with desktop and other linked devices treated as secondary clients that mirror it.
This design is part of why Signal Foundation, a nonprofit, can guarantee end-to-end encryption for literally everything, including group chats and voice/video calls, rather than encrypting only direct messages like some competitors.
Who ends up using Signal
Signal Desktop is chosen by privacy-conscious users and professionals who already rely on Signal's mobile app for end-to-end encrypted conversations.
- Privacy-focused users who want every chat and call encrypted by default, not as an opt-in setting
- Journalists and activists needing a desktop messenger with a nonprofit, non-commercial backer
- Remote teams that already use Signal on mobile and want to type from a full keyboard
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about Signal before you request the link: it covers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, so pick the right build for the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, Signal is open source, so the installer is free with no trial timer, feature lock, or upsell screen to click past. It's developed and maintained by Signal Foundation.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
- Linuxmost current 64-bit distributions; look for a native .deb/.rpm/AppImage or a package in your distro's own repository
- Androida recent Android build installed from the Play Store or the developer's own APK
- iOSa recent iOS release installed from the App Store
It's a lightweight tool, so there's no serious CPU/RAM/storage requirement beyond what its OS already needs to run comfortably.
Quick steps
- Install Signal on your phone first if you haven't already, and set up your account
- Download and install Signal Desktop for your PC's operating system
- Open Signal on your phone, go to linked devices, and scan the QR code shown by the desktop app
Signal: the honest trade-offs
- End-to-end encryption applies to every chat and call with no opt-in required
- Developed by a nonprofit with no ad-driven business model
- Fully open-source client and protocol, open to independent security review
- Requires an active phone with the mobile app for initial pairing in most setups
- Fewer social and discovery features than mainstream chat apps like Telegram
The download here points to Signal's official signal.org release channel, so you're getting the exact build the Signal Foundation publishes.
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Keeping Signal up to date
Since Signal is open source, most Linux distributions keep it current through their own package manager. On Windows/macOS, re-running the installer from the official site (or an updater built into the app, if it has one) gets you the latest release. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main Signal page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Signal Desktop without a smartphone?
Signal now supports standalone registration on desktop in some cases, but it was designed around phone pairing and works most reliably that way.
Does Signal Desktop keep working if my phone is off?
Yes, once linked, Signal Desktop can send and receive messages independently for a period even if your phone is offline, though initial setup requires it.
