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You can usually check whether someone is reachable on Signal by searching a phone number you already know or checking your contacts—but only if their privacy settings allow number discovery. If they cannot be found that way, they must share their exact Signal username. Neither a missing result nor the absence of typing or read indicators proves that someone is not using Signal or is currently offline.
How to check whether someone is on Signal
- Check your Signal contacts. If the person is in your phone’s address book and their settings allow discovery by number, Signal may show them as a contact who uses the app. Signal says its private contact-discovery process lets the app identify eligible contacts without revealing your address book to Signal’s service; contact-join notifications are generated on your phone. Signal explains how contact discovery works.
- Search a phone number you already know. In Signal, start a new message and enter the number. If the account is discoverable by number, you may be able to start a conversation. Signal’s “Who can find me by my number” setting controls this; its support says the default is “Everybody,” but a person can choose “Nobody.” Signal’s phone-number privacy guide describes the setting.
- Ask for their exact username if number search does not work. A username can be used to initiate contact without sharing a phone number, but it is not a profile name or a searchable public handle. Signal does not offer a username directory, and the username includes numbers, so you need the exact identifier the person shares. Signal’s deeper dive on usernames and phone-number privacy explains the distinction.
Why a person may not appear in search
A missing result does not settle whether someone has Signal. They may have set “Who can find me by my number” to “Nobody,” you may have an incorrect or outdated number, or you may not have the exact username needed to reach them another way. Signal does not provide a public directory that can resolve an unknown username.
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Number discoverability and number visibility are separate privacy controls. Someone can limit who sees their number in profile details while still allowing discovery by number, or restrict discovery separately. A person who already has the number saved may know it regardless of the profile visibility setting. Signal’s phone-number privacy guide covers both controls.
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Phone-number search vs. username search
| Method | What you need | What can prevent it | Does it require revealing a phone number? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone-number search or contact matching | A phone number already known to you or saved in your contacts | The person can set “Who can find me by my number” to “Nobody” | You use their number to search; number visibility in profile details is a separate control |
| Username search | The exact Signal username, including its numbers, shared by the person | You do not have the exact username; Signal has no searchable username directory | No. Signal describes a username as a way to initiate contact without sharing a phone number |
Do typing indicators or read receipts show that someone is online?
No. Typing indicators and read receipts provide limited information about a conversation; they are not a reliable online-status indicator. Typing indicators are optional and appear only when both people have them enabled. Read receipts also require both people to enable them. Signal states that “Both you and your contact must have this feature enabled to see this status” for typing indicators, and “Both you and your contact must have it enabled to see this status” for read receipts.
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If an indicator is absent, that does not prove the person is offline, inactive, or not using Signal. Their settings may be off, or the conditions for showing the indicator may not be met. Signal’s typing-indicator guidance and read-receipt guidance explain these requirements.
Finding an account is not verifying a person’s identity
A Signal profile is not proof that its owner is the person you intend to contact. Signal says profile names are not verified. For an identity-sensitive conversation, compare safety numbers—ideally in person—or confirm the person through another trusted channel. Signal’s guidance on protecting yourself on Signal explains identity checks.
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What to do if you still cannot find them
- Confirm that the phone number is correct and current, including its country code if needed.
- Ask the person to check their number-discovery setting or share their exact Signal username with you.
- Do not treat a missing result as evidence that the person has no Signal account.
- Avoid third-party “Signal tracker” claims. Signal’s official guidance describes in-app contact discovery and shared usernames, not an external tool that reliably reveals hidden accounts or current online presence.
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