Feature Request: Show warning somewhere that Desktop is unlinked after 30 days of inactivity

[JohnDohe]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates

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Bug Description

I had to re-link my Mac Signal desktop app after 30 days of inactivity. This caused my Mac desktop Signal app to lose the texts in that 30 day period - they would not sink: "For your security, conversation history isn't transferred to new linked devices." BUT my desktop Mac is NOT a "new device"! Its the same device as that listed in my iPhone7+'s Signal app! I should be able to simply re-activate the same device?

Steps to Reproduce

1. Load Signal app into a desktop pc or mac.
2. Link it to a cellphone.
3. Sync desktop Signal
4. Do not use Signal desktop for more than 30 days Thats it. When Signal desktop is brought up in the desktop it will require you to re-link and you will lose the texts sent using the iPhone Signal app and/or another pc or mac running the Signal that texted anything via Signal in that 30 day period.

Actual Result:

See steps 1-4 above.

Expected Result:

Just re-activate the linked device that is already there in the iPhone's Signal Linked Devices list.

Screenshots

Platform Info

Signal Version:

v1.34.1

Operating System:

Mojave 10.14.6

Linked Device Version:

iOS: 13.4.1

Link to Debug Log

https://debuglogs.org/6e0a12bd5a0a603721d940bece7345674c66b14cdb453d110220512d2b4a8ad8

[kenpowers-signal]

Hi, @JohnDohe. Devices are de-registered from the Signal Service after 30 days of inactivity, at that point any messages queued up for delivery to that device are dropped. Once you re-link your Desktop instance is essentially a brand new device and will not receive any messages from the period of time it was offline.

I've marked this as a bug so we can put a more clear message in the product.

[elmicha]

Maybe you can add a feature that opens the Signal desktop instance every 29 days, if it has not been opened in the meantime? Or save some token somewhere to re-recognize the desktop device? Or just keep the device link on your service for more than 30 days, e.g. a year? If I sell my device and don't factory reset or wipe it, and the buyer is a bad guy - does it really take him more than 30 days to reconnect and read all my messages?

[reetp]

I go through periods of not using the desktop app. Could be several weeks at a time.

The link is still there in the mobile app. The OLD messages are still visible in the desktop client (why if you have broken the link?). Nothing to say that this would happen - just.... silence, and puzzlement.

Technically the message is wrong as this WAS a linked device, so it most definitely is NOT new, hence the confusion. But SIGNAL broke it. Not me. (and I am pretty sure this didn't use to happen).

But the reality is it seems that quite a few don't want the link broken (there are several bugs on same or similar issues).

Perhaps an option for the user to decide when to break the link?

30 days, 3 months, never ?

And a notification in the app that this is going to happen??

[reetp]

Note this IS a bug too because:

• Old messages are still viewable - if the link is broken they should be discarded

• The existing message is wrong and misleading

These would be feature requests:

• Notification of pending link deletion on the phone app

• Choice of deletion period

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[JohnDohe]

This remains a problem.

Signal techies should fix this somehow.

[indutny-signal]

This is on our radar. Assigning to myself to keep the bot away.

[JohnDohe]

When do you see it being implemented?

Stan

Dr. Stanley J. Zawada CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE- This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed and may contain confidential and or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer. Please note that any view or opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of any individual, entity or Corporation and/or affiliates. Finally, the recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The individual, entity and/or Corporation accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. © Copyright Stanley J. Zawada 2021. All rights reserved.

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On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 3:11 PM Fedor Indutny @.***> wrote:

This is on our radar. Assigning to myself to keep the bot away.

— You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/issues/4328#issuecomment-928191527, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABO6WYV6YANPMRRWEUZQXY3UEC6VZANCNFSM4NVEKJZA . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675 or Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub.

[bllngr]

So, @indutny-signal, any update on this? I just had to relink a previously working device, and only after finding this bug report I understand why. It's not uncommon to have multiple devices linked, and open the clients only every few weeks. Can you please at least include a warning somewhere?

[indutny-signal]

This is still on our list, but we didn't get to it yet. Sorry! Your linked device should be now good for 30 days of being offline (instead of 14 days previously). Hope that it helps a bit!

[JohnDohe]

Hello M. Fedor Indutny,

Thank you for the update!

Another request: I need to be able to link more than five (5) devices.

How to link more than five (5) devices?

Thank you!

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On Mon, Nov 28, 2022 at 12:19 PM Fedor Indutny @.***> wrote:

This is still on our list, but we didn't get to it yet. Sorry!

Your linked device should be now good for 30 days of being offline (instead of 14 days previously).

Hope that it helps a bit!

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/issues/4328#issuecomment-1329463781, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABO6WYVIBRJ3TSEGO5M5FNTWKTSSRANCNFSM4NVEKJZA . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.***>

[kojid0]

Wouldn't it be a solution to simply allow the user to transfer the chat history anytime, if desired? Should only be possible if the user has set up a PIN and could be further protected by 2FA?

[JohnDohe]

Wouldn't it be a solution to simply allow the user to transfer the chat history anytime, if desired? Should only be possible if the user has set up a PIN and could be further protected by 2FA?

I routinely use more than 5 devices, in more than one location. It would be a hassle to continually transfer. So, no, not the most desirable solution.