Signal replace Chrome Web app with Windows desktop app

1 min. read

Published on October 31, 2017

published on October 31, 2017

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Despite what some Chromebook boosters may say Google’s Chrome Web Apps have never managed to generate a real user base, despite hundreds of millions of Chrome browser installs.

This may explain why Signal decided to deprecate their Chrome app and replace it with a proper Signal Desktop app.

The app means non-Chrome users do not have to install the browser just to use the secure messaging service, and you are no longer reliant on the browser to manage your session.

The app is launching on:

Windows 64-bit: 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
MacOS 10.9 and above
Linux distributions supporting APT, like Ubuntu or Debian

Given the wide distribution, it is still likely built on web technology like Electron. Like WhatsApp Web the app does not function completely independently, still needing to be paired with a phone first.

If you’re already using the Signal Desktop Chrome App, you can export your data and import it into the new Signal Desktop app as part of the setup process.

Users can find download links for the app here.

Via Engadget.com