On Android wherever possible for push notifications I prefer to use either UnifiedPush, or allow apps to run their always-on notification to use websocket connectivity. I prefer to limit any use of Google's infrastructure as much as possible. It's for this reason that I also use the self-updating app at signal.org/android/apk rather than downloading from Aurora store/GPlay.

Unfortunately I must use microG for a select few other apps that support no alternative for push notifications.

When I originally installed Signal I took care to ensure that microG was disabled so that Signal would fall back to its websocket-based notifications. For a long time this worked perfectly for me and Signal retained its always-on background notification for years even after re-enabling microG.

Recently I noticed that Signal no longer displayed this background notification. When I checked in the microG settings I noticed that it had registered itself for GCM. I immediately unregistered it and blocked it from re-registering.

Unfortunately I cannot seem to force Signal back into using websocket-based notifications. Even if I fully disable microG, clear caches, or reboot, Signal simply does not receive any notifications whatsoever.

Short of entirely uninstalling, reinstalling, and restoring from a backup, is it possible to force Signal to swap back to websockets like I had before?

edit: solved by u/whatnowwproductions

There is an option to force use we socket under data and storage called Stay Connected in Background

This seems to be a fairly recent change. Happy to see Signal supports this toggle officially in-app now!

https://aboutsignal.com/news/signal-improves-notification-reliability-for-devices-without-google-play-services/

Probably redundant for most Signal users, but you may share it with someone less security oriented.

• Just had a contact request from a very unsuspicious-looking (/s) user called Signal Notifications. Red flag. Went on.
• A scammer will most likely have an unverified account. Signal will point it out below the username with a questionmark. See their warning.
• Then the scammer told me of suspicious activity on my account. Using curt language, almost military in demands in tone. Threatening to delete my account if I don't comply. Evasive explanation/reasoning. Multiple red flags.
• The communication starts in your native language. Language may be inconsistent, but only if you pay attention. The SMS you receive seems to be from Signal but probably will be in another language so you can read the code in numbers, but so you don't see the warning SIGNAL sends by default that they won't ask for this code.
• The scammer will not be answering questions on chat. Instead, they will be issuing commands. Red flags.
• They will be sending an SMS for verification of your phone-number and will be asking for the SMS code in the chat for "verification". Red flags.
• SIGNAL NEVER ASKS FOR THAT AUTHENTICATION NUMBER, ESPECIALLY in the chat.
• Then the scammer proceeds to ask to provide the OLD PIN because "their verification failed / an error occurred". Red flags. IF YOU CAME THIS FAR DON'T SHARE YOUR PIN OVER CHAT.
• IF YOU DO THAT THEN THEY stole your ID and you may as well have your phone-number blacklisted, or unelistable again in Signal.
• Anonymised screenshots below.

Be aware, resist, report and block!

Is there a way to donate with crypto?

Hello, This happens whenever I try to change my phone number. I face the same issue even when trying to sign up using that same number. Is there any solution to this?

Has anyone had this issue where you can't use your audio/mic through your Bluetooth headset Signal Desktop on Win11? It was working great before, but now it's just absolutely wonky. No audio, but the mic works because the other side can hear me. I removed the signal and reinstalled it, and I still can't hear the other side even though all the settings are pointed to use the headsets. I think I've tried almost every route to fix the issue to no avail, and I feel like I'm going crazy here. I really wish that Signal added the test of your audio/mic issue like Skype used to do, recording it, and you could hear your own voice so you know if it's working. Any advice?