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Evgeny @ SimpleX Chat
d00513ed27
* docs: user guide for the 7.1 apps * docs, website: guide order, badge benefits, message expiry; soft line breaks on the site * docs: guide videos for the first profile, invitations, joining and the address * docs: guide screens with the iPhone status bar * docs: guide shows full and cut screens only * docs: guide pages corrected in place, keeping master's structure * docs: group chat and SimpleX address pictures in the iPhone frame * docs: plainer wording in the guide * docs: guide checked against how SimpleX explains its features * docs: guide answers on profiles, channel privacy, SOCKS and names * docs: android guide picture from the emulator in the pixel 7 frame
126 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
126 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Chat profiles
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---
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# Chat profiles
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## Creating additional chat profiles
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SimpleX Chat allows creating as many chat profiles as you like. Same as the first
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profile, they are stored on your device and shared only with your contacts. You
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can use different profiles, for example for family and work, or one with a
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pseudonym. All of them receive messages at the same time.
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To create an additional SimpleX Chat profile:
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- Tap your profile image in the chat list toolbar to open the profile menu.
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- Select "Your chat profiles".
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- Tap on "Add profile".
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- Unlock via fingerprint or PIN, if you have [SimpleX
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Lock](./app-settings.md#simplex-lock) enabled.
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- Create a new profile by inputting your display name, and optionally a bio and
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a profile image.
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- Tap on "Create profile".
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## Hiding and muting chat profiles
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v4.6 added the ability to mute and to hide chat profiles.
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<img src="./images/chat-profiles-hide-profile.png" alt="Hide profile screen with the fields Password to show and Confirm password" width="300">
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These actions are available via long-press (Android), swipe right (iOS) or
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right-click (desktop) on the profile in the list.
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To show hidden profiles, enter the full password in the search bar of "Your chat
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profiles". Tap the profile to use it, or choose "Unhide" to unhide it.
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## Switching between profiles
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- Tap on your user profile image in the lower left-hand of the screen (upper
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left, when the toolbar is at the top).
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- Select which profile you want to use.
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You can also switch profile via "Your chat profiles" in the same menu.
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## Incognito mode
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This feature is unique to SimpleX Chat – it is independent from chat profiles.
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When you choose "Incognito" for a new connection, your currently chosen profile
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name and image are hidden from this contact, group or channel. It allows
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anonymous connections with other people without any shared data – a new random
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profile name will be generated for each connection. When you share an incognito
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profile with somebody, this profile will also be used for the groups they invite
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you to.
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To choose incognito mode:
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- When you create a 1-time link, tap your profile under "Share profile" and
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choose "Incognito".
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- When you connect via a link, tap your profile under "Your profile" in the new
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chat and choose "Incognito", before you tap "Connect", "Join group" or "Join
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channel". For some links, the app asks you to choose "Use current profile" or
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"Use new incognito profile" instead.
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- When you create a group, turn on "Incognito".
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The app remembers your last choice for the next connection.
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## Edit your profile
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To edit your profile:
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- Tap your profile image in the chat list toolbar to open the profile menu.
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- Select your profile.
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- Input your desired profile name and/or update your bio. You can also add or
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edit a description.
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- You can also set and change profile image.
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- Tap on "Save (and notify contacts)" (iOS) or "Save and notify contacts"
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(Android and desktop).
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## Move your chat profiles to another device
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SimpleX Chat stores all user data on client devices using a portable encrypted
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database format that can be exported and transferred to any supported device.
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You can move all profiles with "Migrate to another device" in the app settings:
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the app uploads the encrypted database, and the new device downloads it after
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you scan a QR code or paste a link, see [Migrate to another
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device](./managing-data.md#migrate-to-another-device). You can also export the
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database to a file and import it on the new device.
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To export your SimpleX Chat data:
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- [Open the app settings](./app-settings.md#opening-the-app-settings).
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- Select "Chat data", then "Database passphrase & export".
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- Stop chat by toggling "Chat is running" (tap "Stop” in the confirmation dialog).
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- Confirm it with fingerprint or PIN, in case you have [SimpleX Lock](./app-settings.md#simplex-lock) enabled.
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- If you didn't set it before, [set a
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passphrase](./managing-data.md#database-passphrase) in "Database passphrase".
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Initially, the database is encrypted with a random passphrase that is stored
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in Keychain (iOS), with Keystore (Android) or in the app settings as plaintext
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(desktop).
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- Tap on "Export database" - it won't allow exporting unless you have set a passphrase.
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- Save the file on your device or share it via any available option.
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To import your SimpleX Chat data in the app on another device:
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- Transfer the database file to the new device.
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- Install SimpleX Chat app.
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- Create chat profile with any name by following the steps in [Create your first
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chat profile](./README.md#create-your-first-chat-profile) – you will replace
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it soon.
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- Open the app settings
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- Select "Chat data", then "Database passphrase & export".
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- Stop chat by tapping the switch on "Chat is running".
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- Tap "Import database".
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- Select the .zip file of the exported chat data.
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- Tap "Import” in the confirmation dialog.
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- Start chat via toggle or close and start the app – you will be prompted to enter the passphrase for your chat database.
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**Please note**:
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1. Currently you cannot move some of the profiles, only the whole database containing all profiles can be moved.
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2. You must not use the exported database on more than one device at a time, as it may disrupt some of the connections. You also must always use the latest version of the chat database - using the old one is also likely to disrupt your connections.
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3. There is no way to recover lost passphrase - make sure to store it securely.
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