Multiple instances

[Ganneff]

• I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates

Multiple instances of SignalDesktop needed

Basically, if you own multiple phone numbers, with different Signal Apps running for them (multiple phones, app cloner, doesn't matter, just multiple Signal Accounts for different purposes), it seems to be impossible to use the SignalDesktop app, as that only runs as one instance.

With the chromium app you can simply open another browser profile and voila, a second desktop instance of Signal with a different assigned phone number.

While one can consider running this in VMs or Containers, that seems overkill for such a basic feature, so it would be nice if SignalDesktop can support it directly.

Greetings,
Ganneff

[scottnonnenberg]

If you're interested in running the development version, it has a NODE_APP_INSTANCE environment variable allowing you to run multiple instances.

[Ganneff]

On 14850 March 1977, Scott Nonnenberg wrote: If you're interested in running the development version, it has a `NODE_APP_INSTANCE` environment variable allowing you to run multiple instances.

Not too much currently, but I hope it makes it into the next stable release, then it would be usable, thanks. Until then the chromium app works nicely.

…

-- bye, Joerg

[conorsch]

Super useful, thanks for the prompt feedback @scottnonnenberg. Will be watching for the env var support to land in stable.

[rdump]

On macOS, one attempted workaround was opening another instance (-n flag) of the standalone Signal Desktop, via: open -n -a ~/Applications/Signal.app

Unfortunately, this results in the originally running instance being brought to the front, and the use of the same settings as the original instance's signal account. Signal is not properly doing -n.

The next workaround might be to rename the app, but there's more to it than the container name nowadays.

Until NODE_APP_INSTANCE or a workalike lands on macOS, what else might we tweak in a copy of Signal Desktop so it doesn't inherit the settings from another signal account?

[dontspammexyz]

How to run multiple Signal Desktop instances on Windows 10 to use Signal for private phone and for work phone?

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

The easiest way to do it is with one production instance and one beta instance. Beta install instructions are here: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop

[Filbuntu]

Any update on this?
I would like to run two to three Signal accounts (private/work) at the same time in the Signal (Desktop) App. The option of the production & beta instance running at the same time is an option but not ideal. Wire supports to log in to Wire with up to 3 accounts and this feature has been there for years.
Thanks for working on this!

[nkr0]

There is a workaround I use for this. On Linux, Signal stores everything related to an account in $HOME/.config/Signal. Create multiple folders in there, named Signal-1, Signal-2, etc. Restore the name of whichever profile you want to use to Signal, and that will get activated. There should be similar folders on other OS.

Something along the same lines could be implemented in the app, by just listing a set of profiles and allowing to user to pick. Just have to change the associated folder. And perhaps password protect. But, better not. That might give users the wrong idea that it is OK to just login on public computers and leave it there. Stuff inside $HOME/.config/Signal is not encrypted.

[Filbuntu]

Thank you, @nkr0, for sharing your workaround. Can you access the different Signal accounts/profiles at the same time with this workaround? Or rather be able to switch from one to the other?

[nkr0]

No, it's only one profile at a time. You are basically hiding profiles from the chrome-app by renaming the directories. To switch you'll have to close the app, set the folder name of the profile you want to use, and then reopen the app.

But the fact that this works means, this feature can be implemented. Even simultaneously for multiple profiles. Just need tabs in the desktop app.

[Filbuntu]

Thank you for the quick and helpful response. Indeed an encouraging step!
Hopefully this feature can be implemented soon!

[Ganneff]

It is a disgrace on how much they don't care about feature requests, instead adding useless silly emoticon crap, but for those who need to cope without the developers help, the current best way (IMO) on linux is:

• install the signal app for your distribution as normal. .deb package for me.
• Use flatpak and install signal there too.

Voila, two seperate signal apps able to run at the same time without interfering, no rename orgy and no need to run a beta release.

(For a phone using android, there is AppCloner, clone it as Signal2 and have two instances (only one can do SMS)).

[tsdmgz]

I used to be able to run multiple instances by specifying a configdir, but I can't remember how I did it anymore. Another way is to specify HOME. Drawback there is any links you click will launch from a different profile. You'll probably have to copy and paste the link

HOME=~/signal-profiles/phone-number-1 ~/opt/Signal/Signal
or something like that

[nkr0]

@tsdmgz sweet!! this is the best method so far. I googled a bit and found the configdir method. signal-desktop --user-data-dir=$HOME/.config/Signal-1. Using ~ didn't work for me as an alias for $HOME.

Also, using this method you can run multiple instances simultaneously.

Note: if you are creating a .desktop shortcut, you've to enter the full path in the file. Neither $HOME nor ~ gets expanded in that.