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Te Reo Māori English

Te Reo translation is a DRAFT pending native speaker review. Corrections welcome

WhatsApp → Signal + Village Chat

Move your personal messages to Signal. Use Village Chat for community coordination. Two tools, two jobs, both encrypted.

About 45 minutes Weekend project
1

Back up important WhatsApp conversations

10 minutes

Open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup, and tap Back up. Then open your most important chats one by one, tap the contact name, tap Export chat, and email them to yourself. This preserves your history as text files. Do this for 3-5 key conversations.

What you should see

Exported chat files arrive in your email inbox. Open one to confirm the messages are readable.

2

Install Signal and register

5 minutes

Download Signal Private Messenger from your phone's app store. Open it and enter your phone number — use the same number as WhatsApp. Wait for the SMS verification code (1-2 minutes) and enter it. Choose a profile name and optionally add a photo. Allow contacts access so Signal can find people you already know.

What you should see

Signal's main screen shows your chat list. Some contacts already using Signal appear automatically.

3

Invite your key contacts

10 minutes

Tap the compose button (pencil icon) to see which contacts already use Signal. For those who do not, tap "Invite to Signal" to send them a download link. Focus on the 10-15 people you message most. Post a WhatsApp status saying you are moving to Signal, with your phone number so people can find you there.

What you should see

Invitations sent. Within a day or two, some contacts begin appearing in your Signal contact list.

4

Set up Signal features

5 minutes

Go to Signal Settings → Privacy and enable Screen Lock for extra security. Enable Disappearing Messages as default for new chats if you prefer messages to auto-delete. Set up a PIN under Settings → Account → Signal PIN — this protects your account if you change phones. Try a voice or video call with a contact to test the quality.

What you should see

Screen Lock is on. PIN is set. Disappearing messages are enabled if desired. A test call connects clearly.

5

Run both apps in parallel

Ongoing — 2 to 4 weeks

Keep WhatsApp installed while contacts migrate. When someone messages you on WhatsApp, reply on Signal if they have it. Use Signal for all new conversations. For community groups, use Village Chat — it handles group threads, file sharing, and encrypted direct messages. After most contacts have moved, you can uninstall WhatsApp.

What you should see

Your daily messaging gradually shifts from WhatsApp to Signal. Community discussions happen in Village Chat.

Troubleshooting

Not receiving the SMS verification code
Wait 5 minutes, then tap "Call me instead" in Signal. The code will be read out by an automated voice call. Make sure your phone number includes the correct country code.
None of my contacts are on Signal
This is normal at first. Keep WhatsApp for now and gradually move conversations as people join. Start with family and close friends — they are most likely to switch for you. It builds over time.
Cannot transfer old messages from WhatsApp
WhatsApp does not allow message export to Signal. This is by design — it locks you in. The exported chat files from Step 1 preserve your history. New conversations start fresh in Signal.
Signal looks different from WhatsApp
Signal intentionally keeps a simpler interface. It has all the core features: text, voice, video, groups, file sharing, stickers. It lacks Stories and business accounts. The simplicity is a privacy feature — less data to collect.

What to do next