Signal is a cross-platform messaging app. Like its competitors, Signal also offers a desktop version of the app to send and read messages from their computers.
The Signal Desktop app out there for Windows does not offer an option to sign out of it. At least, the present version, which is 1.40.01 as of writing this article, does not provide a sign out or log out option. Most users will not need to sign out of the desktop version, but some users might like to have that option.
The desktop version of the messaging app might get a sign out option in future versions. Until then, however, you can use this workaround to sign out of the Signal Desktop app on Windows 10 or Mac.
Log out of Signal Desktop app in Windows 10 or Mac
Although the Signal Desktop does not let you log out, one can log out of the Signal Desktop using the Signal app installed on the smartphone. The smartphone version of the app provides an option to sign out of the desktop version. So, you can sign out of Signal Desktop even without touching your computer. Here is how.
Step 1: On your smartphone, launch the Signal app.
Step 2: Navigate to Signal settings > Linked devices page to see all linked devices. Your computer name should appear at the top of this page.
Step 3: To sign out of the Signal desktop version, tap on the Edit option present at the page’s top-right.
Step 4: You should now get a red ‘-‘ icon next to the desktop entry. Tap on the red ‘-‘icon and then tap the red Unlink button.
Step 5: Finally, when you get the following confirmation, tap Unlink to unlink the Signal desktop version and sign out of it.
If you open the Signal Desktop on your computer now, you will get the “Relink your Signal Desktop to your mobile device to continue messaging” message. However, note that the Signal Desktop continues to display your contacts and messages even after unlinking it. If you want to clear them, please uninstall Signal from your computer.
To sign in again, click on the Relink button and scan the QR code using the Signal app on your smartphone (Signal settings > Linked devices > Add new device).
