How to Make Signal Your Primary SMS App

You may use apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram as your main instant message app. But, when your Internet is not cooperating, and you end up sending a normal text message, you use the one that came with your phone. But if you’re already using Signal, you can turn the app into your main SMS app.

This is an option you’ll need to enable manually since it’s not on by default. But, the good news is that it won’t take you very long. So, it’s something you can do even if you’re in a hurry.

How to Turn Signal Into Your Default SMS App

Before you get started, keep in mind that they will not be secure by sending SMS through Signal. That means that your messages will not be encrypted as the messages Signal users send to each other. When you send the messages, you’ll see an open lock, reminding you that what you’re about to send is not secure.

To make Signal your primary text message, you’ll need to:

• Go to Settings by tapping on the dots at the top right
• Chats
• SMS and MMS
• Use as default SMS app
• Choose the Signal option

When you send a message to someone on Signal, the send button will be in blue, meaning that the message you’re going to send is secure. But, if your contact is not on Signal, the send button will be in grey.

If the send button for a contact is in blue, tap on it, and the option to send an insecure message will appear. If Signal doesn’t send messages at any point, there are various tips you can try to fix the problem.

How to Send Messages on Signal

Now that Signal is the app you send all messages on, it’s important to know how to use all the features Signal offers when sending a message. For example, did you know that you can send an image that can only be viewed once? You can do this by tapping on the camera icon, and once you’ve chosen the image you want to send, tap on the arrow that’s in a circle.

By tapping on the image icon to the right, you can choose what you want the photo quality to be. You can choose from Standard, which is faster and uses less data. The High option is slower, and it’ll use more data. At the top, you’ll see more options to do things such as:

• Download the image
• Add text
• Draw on it
• Blur out faces – This option has a button you can toggle on for the app to do the job for you or choose to do it yourself.
• You can add stickers and enlarge them
• You can also crop the image

If there’s a message you want to send to various contacts at once, you can do that by tapping on the camera icon on the app’s main page. Tap on the arrow to the right of the message bar and choose the contacts you want to send it to. After that, add your image, edit it, and add your message. Simply tap on the blue send button with the lock at the bottom right to send the message.

To forward a message, long-press on the message you want to forward. At the top, you’ll see options, including the one to forward a message. If you want to forward more than one message, tap on the icon with three dots with a line to the side, choose your messages, and forward them.

If you’re using the desktop client for Signal, you’ll need to select the three dots when you hover over the message you want to forward. Select the Forward option and then choose the chats. You can only choose a maximum of five people.

Conclusion

When WhatsApp came out with those terms and conditions, no one was happy with Signal; all of a sudden became everyone’s favorite app. The downloads skyrocketed as well as Telegrams. Now you know everything there is know on how to send messages on Signal and even edit your images. Did you leave WhatsApp behind to start using Signal, or are you using both? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share the article with others on social media.