Signal is moving closer to offering accounts that do not require a phone number during signup. In the X post, recent updates to the service’s server code show that the company is preparing changes to support accounts without linked phone numbers.
The reported changes focus on more than just removing the phone number requirement. According to the post, Signal is also working on security features and regional account management for users who choose the new option.
The feature is not available yet. However, the latest technical changes suggest that development is still moving forward.
According to the post, the option will be limited when it first arrives. It will only apply to new accounts created without a phone number. Existing accounts will continue to work as they do today.
The report also says users who create a phone number-free account will not be able to add a phone number later. Likewise, people who already have a phone number linked to their accounts will not be able to remove it and switch to the new setup.
Signal looks for new ways to stop spam
Signal’s biggest challenge is preventing abuse if phone numbers are no longer required.
According to the post, Signal’s Technical Director previously explained that phone numbers currently serve as a natural barrier against spam. They help make it harder for bad actors to create large numbers of fake accounts. Without that barrier, the company needs another way to keep the service safe.
Signal’s broader privacy expansion also includes new protections for iOS users, with encrypted iPhone backups rolling out as part of a limited test for select beta testers, a feature that could significantly reduce the risk of exposing encryption keys.
According to the post, Signal is considering different options that could replace the current protection. One possibility includes charging a small fee or using another mechanism that would make mass account creation more difficult.
Earlier statements from the company also suggested the feature could arrive sometime this year. According to the post, the latest backend updates indicate that work is continuing toward that goal. At this stage, no release date has been announced.
Early design appears focused on new accounts only
The reported changes suggest that Signal wants both account types to exist together instead of replacing the current system. According to the post, new users will eventually have the choice to register without a phone number, while existing users can continue using phone number-based accounts.
The report also indicates that the feature is expected to remain optional rather than mandatory. By limiting the feature to new accounts, Signal may avoid forcing current users to change how their accounts work.
According to the post, the company is also making server-side adjustments related to security and regional management before introducing the new signup process. Those changes suggest the work involves more than simply removing one requirement during registration.
Users share mixed reactions to the planned feature
The reported changes have already sparked different opinions from users online.
Reacting to the news, X user Adam Z Lein argued that email could already solve many of the problems Signal is trying to address. He also suggested that Signal’s current anti-spam protections are weaker than they should be.
Another user, Bullseye, praised SimpleX Chat instead. According to the translated post, the user said the service offers no tracking and does not require phone numbers, IDs, or email addresses.
Jzue Romero questioned whether the change would make a difference. According to the translated post, the user asked why Signal should be considered safer if it allegedly exposes the same information as WhatsApp, adding that Signal was once viewed as the more secure option.
Another commenter, Richie, pointed to Threema as an example of a messaging service that already works without requiring a phone number. According to the translated post, the user noted that Threema instead charges users to download the software.
Meanwhile, DAJERPLAY claimed the upcoming feature resembled one already offered by Session. For now, Signal has not released the feature publicly. According to the post, development is still ongoing as the company works to balance user privacy with protections against spam and abuse.
