Arch Linux

zilverling

Member

From: Bennekom, Netherlands

Registered: 2009-08-19

Posts: 84

Can one use signal-desktop without linking to a mobile device?

As I cannot use my mobile phone for Signal (outdated Android version) I am investigating if I can connect with a Signal group from my desktop computer under Archlinux.

I found the signal-desktop application in the Community repository. It installs without problems, but when I start the app it asks me to link my phone to the Signal Desktop app. But as my phone doesn't allow running Signal, and it runs an outdated Android version how/what to connect. Isn't it just possible to run Signal as a kind of messenger client on an internet-connected desktop machine?

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,321

Re: Can one use signal-desktop without linking to a mobile device?

No, that is not possible. Have you tried to install the apk from signal on your device without the app store? https://signal.org/android/apk/

You could try to run the android version in anbox, but form what I read it doesn't work well and crashes often.

The signal TOS forbid the use of third-party clients with their server, but there is one that could work: https://wiki.mobian-project.org/doku.php?id=axolotl

Last edited by progandy (2021-06-21 13:36:19)

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zilverling

Member

From: Bennekom, Netherlands

Registered: 2009-08-19

Posts: 84

Re: Can one use signal-desktop without linking to a mobile device?

@progandy: Thanks for your suggestions.

I have never installed any flatpak or snap package, but I will play around with that and see if I can get axolotl running on my machine. Will report back on my findings in this thread.