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Signal provides two separate layers of local protection: screen lock prevents others from opening Signal on your device, and the Signal PIN protects account recovery data stored on Signal’s servers.

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Screen lock

Screen lock requires you to authenticate — using your device biometrics (fingerprint or face) or your device passcode — before you can access Signal. This is independent of your device’s own lock screen.

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Setting up screen lock

1

Open Settings

In Signal, tap your profile icon or the three-dot menu, then tap Settings.
2

Go to Privacy

Tap Privacy.
3

Enable screen lock

Toggle Screen lock on. Signal will prompt you to authenticate using your device biometrics or passcode to confirm.
4

Set the timeout

Under Screen lock inactivity timeout, choose how long Signal can remain in the background before requiring authentication again. Options range from immediate to one hour, or you can set it to never time out.
Screen lock uses Android’s BiometricPrompt API and falls back to your device passcode if biometrics are unavailable. If your device has no secure lock screen configured, screen lock cannot be enabled.

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Signal PIN

The Signal PIN is a 4-digit (or longer) numeric or alphanumeric code that protects data stored in Signal’s Secure Value Recovery (SVR) infrastructure. This includes:
  • Your account registration lock — preventing anyone else from re-registering your phone number on Signal without your PIN.
  • Recovery data for linked devices — allowing a new device to restore your account.
  • Encryption keys for certain account metadata synced via Signal’s storage service.
The PIN does not encrypt the messages stored on your device; local message storage uses separate keys protected by your device’s security hardware.
Your PIN is not recoverable by Signal. If you forget your PIN and have registration lock enabled, you will be locked out of your account for 7 days before you can re-register. Write your PIN down and store it somewhere safe.

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Setting your PIN

Signal prompts you to create a PIN during registration. If you skipped that step or need to create one later:
1

Open Settings

Tap your profile icon, then tap Settings.
2

Go to Account

Tap Account.
3

Tap Signal PIN

Tap Signal PIN, then tap Create new PIN (or Change PIN if you already have one).
4

Choose a PIN type

Choose Numeric (digits only) or Alphanumeric (letters and numbers). Numeric PINs must be at least 4 digits; alphanumeric PINs must be at least 4 characters.
5

Enter and confirm your PIN

Enter your chosen PIN, then enter it again to confirm. Signal saves it to the SVR service.

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Changing your PIN

1

Go to Account settings

Settings → Account → Signal PIN.
2

Tap Change PIN

Tap Change PIN and authenticate with your current PIN.
3

Enter your new PIN

Enter and confirm your new PIN. Signal updates the value stored in SVR immediately.

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PIN reminders

To help you remember your PIN, Signal periodically prompts you to enter it. Reminders start daily after you set or change a PIN, then gradually decrease in frequency as you demonstrate you remember it — from once a day, to every three days, once a week, every two weeks, and finally once a month. Successfully entering your PIN at each reminder resets the interval forward; skipping or entering it incorrectly moves the interval back. You can dismiss a reminder by entering your PIN or by tapping Skip. Tapping Skip schedules the next reminder at a shorter interval.

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Registration lock

Registration lock prevents anyone who obtains your phone number from re-registering it on Signal without your PIN. Without registration lock, someone who gains access to your phone number (for example, through a SIM swap) could register Signal and push you off your account. To enable or disable registration lock:
  1. Go to Settings → Account → Signal PIN.
  2. Toggle Registration lock on or off.
You must have a Signal PIN set before you can enable registration lock. If you disable registration lock and then forget your PIN, you can re-register immediately without a waiting period.

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If you forget your PIN

If you forget your PIN:
If registration lock is not enabled, you can re-register your phone number on a new device immediately. Your PIN-protected account data (linked device keys, storage service data) will not be restored, but your messages stored in a local backup can still be recovered.
If registration lock is enabled, Signal will not allow re-registration for 7 days from the moment you attempt it. This waiting period is a security measure that gives you time to regain access to your original device or PIN before a potential attacker can take over.After the 7-day waiting period expires, you can complete registration. Your previous account data and PIN-protected information will no longer be accessible.
If Signal is asking for your PIN at the screen lock prompt, this is the app screen lock — not the Signal PIN. Use your device biometrics or device passcode instead. The Signal PIN is only entered during registration or in Account settings.
Store your PIN in a password manager or write it down in a secure physical location. Signal’s support team cannot recover a forgotten PIN.