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11 signal-cli - A commandline interface for the Signal messenger
15 *signal-cli* [--config CONFIG] [-h | -v | -a ACCOUNT | --dbus | --dbus-system] command [command-options]
19 signal-cli is a commandline interface for libsignal-service-java.
20 It supports registering, verifying, sending and receiving messages.
21 For registering you need a phone number where you can receive SMS or incoming calls.
22 signal-cli was primarily developed to be used on servers to notify admins of important events.
23 For this use-case, it has a dbus and a JSON-RPC interface, that can be used to send messages from other programs.
25 For some functionality the Signal protocol requires that all messages have been received from the server.
26 The `receive` command should be regularly executed.
27 In daemon mode messages are continuously received.
32 Show help message and quit.
35 Print the version and quit.
38 Raise log level and include lib signal logs.
40 *--log-file* LOG_FILE::
41 Write log output to the given file.
42 If `--verbose` is also given, the detailed logs will only be written to the log file.
45 Scrub possibly sensitive information from the log, like phone numbers and UUIDs.
48 Set the path, where to store the config.
49 Make sure you have full read/write access to the given directory.
50 (Default: `$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli`))
52 *-a* ACCOUNT, *--account* ACCOUNT::
53 Specify your phone number, that will be your identifier.
54 The phone number must include the country calling code, i.e. the number must start with a "+" sign.
56 This flag must not be given for the `link` command.
57 It is optional for the `daemon` command.
58 For all other commands it is only optional if there is exactly one local user in the config directory.
60 *--service-environment* ENVIRONMENT::
61 Choose the server environment to use:
67 Make request via user dbus.
70 Make request via system dbus.
72 *-o* OUTPUT-MODE, *--output* OUTPUT-MODE::
73 Specify if you want commands to output in either "plain-text" mode or in "json".
74 Defaults to "plain-text"
76 *--trust-new-identities* TRUST-MODE::
77 Choose when to trust new identities:
78 - `on-first-use` (default): Trust the first seen identity key from new users, changed keys must be verified manually
79 - `always`: Trust any new identity key without verification
80 - `never`: Don't trust any unknown identity key, every key must be verified manually
86 Register a phone number with SMS or voice verification.
87 Use the verify command to complete the verification.
89 If the account is just deactivated, the register command will just reactivate account, without requiring an SMS verification.
90 By default the unregister command just deactivates the account, in which case it can be reactivated without sms verification if the local data is still available.
91 If the account was deleted (with --delete-account) it cannot be reactivated.
94 The verification should be done over voice, not SMS.
97 The captcha token, required if registration failed with a captcha required error.
98 To get the token, go to https://signalcaptchas.org/registration/generate.html
99 For the staging environment, use: https://signalcaptchas.org/staging/registration/generate.html
100 Check the developer tools for a redirect starting with signalcaptcha:// Everything after signalcaptcha:// is the captcha token.
104 Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice.
107 The verification code.
109 *-p* PIN, *--pin* PIN::
110 The registration lock PIN, that was set by the user.
111 Only required if a PIN was set.
115 Disable push support for this device, i.e. this device won't receive any more messages.
116 If this is the primary device, other users can't send messages to this number anymore.
117 Use "updateAccount" to undo this.
118 To remove a linked device, use "removeDevice" from the primary device.
121 Delete account completely from server.
122 Cannot be undone without loss.
123 You will have to be readded to each group.
125 CAUTION: Only delete your account if you won't use this number again!
127 === deleteLocalAccountData
129 Delete all local data for this account.
130 Data should only be deleted if the account is unregistered.
132 CAUTION: This cannot be undone.
134 *--ignore-registered*::
135 Delete the account data even though the account is still registered on the Signal servers.
139 Update the account attributes on the signal server.
140 Can fix problems with receiving messages.
142 *-n* NAME, *--device-name* NAME::
143 Set a new device name for the primary or linked device
145 === updateConfiguration
147 Update signal configs and sync them to linked devices.
148 This command only works on the primary devices.
150 *--read-receipts* {true,false}::
151 Indicates if Signal should send read receipts.
153 *--unidentified-delivery-indicators* {true,false}::
154 Indicates if Signal should show unidentified delivery indicators.
156 *--typing-indicators* {true,false}::
157 Indicates if Signal should send/show typing indicators.
159 *--link-previews* {true,false}::
160 Indicates if Signal should generate link previews.
164 Set a registration lock pin, to prevent others from registering this number.
166 REGISTRATION_LOCK_PIN::
167 The registration lock PIN, that will be required for new registrations (resets after 7 days of inactivity)
171 Remove the registration lock pin.
175 Link to an existing device, instead of registering a new number.
176 This shows a "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." URI.
177 If you want to connect to another signal-cli instance, you can just use this URI.
178 If you want to link to an Android/iOS device, create a QR code with the URI (e.g. with qrencode) and scan that in the Signal app.
180 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
181 Optionally specify a name to describe this new device.
182 By default "cli" will be used.
186 Link another device to this device.
187 Only works, if this is the primary device.
190 Specify the uri contained in the QR code shown by the new device.
191 You will need the full URI such as "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." (formerly "tsdevice:/?uuid=...") Make sure to enclose it in quotation marks for shells.
195 Show a list of linked devices.
199 Remove a linked device.
200 Only works, if this is the primary device.
202 *-d* DEVICE_ID, *--device-id* DEVICE_ID::
203 Specify the device you want to remove.
204 Use listDevices to see the deviceIds.
208 Uses a list of phone numbers to determine the statuses of those users.
209 Shows if they are registered on the Signal Servers or not.
210 In json mode this is outputted as a list of objects.
212 [NUMBER [NUMBER ...]]::
213 One or more numbers to check.
217 Send a message to another user or group.
220 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
223 Send the message to self without notification.
225 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
226 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
228 *-m* MESSAGE, *--message* MESSAGE::
231 *--message-from-stdin*::
232 Read the message from standard input.
234 *-a* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]], *--attachment* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]::
235 Add one or more files as attachment.
236 Can be either a file path or a data URI.
237 Data URI encoded attachments must follow the RFC 2397.
238 Additionally a file name can be added:
239 e.g.: `data:<MIME-TYPE>;filename=<FILENAME>;base64,<BASE64 ENCODED DATA>`
241 *--sticker* STICKER::
242 Send a sticker of a locally known sticker pack (syntax: stickerPackId:stickerId).
243 Shouldn't be used together with `-m` as the official clients don't support this.
244 e.g.: `--sticker 00abac3bc18d7f599bff2325dc306d43:2`
247 Mention another group member (syntax: start:length:recipientNumber) In the apps the mention replaces part of the message text, which is specified by the start and length values.
248 e.g.: `-m "Hi X!" --mention "3:1:+123456789"`
250 *--quote-timestamp*::
251 Specify the timestamp of a previous message with the recipient or group to add a quote to the new message.
254 Specify the number of the author of the original message.
257 Specify the message of the original message.
260 Specify the mentions of the original message (same format as `--mention`).
263 Specify the url for the link preview.
264 The same url must also appear in the message body, otherwise the preview won't be displayed by the apps.
267 Specify the title for the link preview (mandatory).
269 *--preview-description*::
270 Specify the description for the link preview (optional).
273 Specify the image file for the link preview (optional).
275 *-e*, *--end-session*::
276 Clear session state and send end session message.
278 === sendPaymentNotification
280 Send a payment notification.
283 Specify the recipient’s phone number.
285 *--receipt* RECEIPT::
286 The base64 encoded receipt blob.
289 Specify a note for the payment notification.
293 Send reaction to a previously received or sent message.
296 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
298 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
299 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
301 *-e* EMOJI, *--emoji* EMOJI::
302 Specify the emoji, should be a single unicode grapheme cluster.
304 *-a* NUMBER, *--target-author* NUMBER::
305 Specify the number of the author of the message to which to react.
307 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
308 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
315 Send a read or viewed receipt to a previously received message.
318 Specify the sender’s phone number.
320 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
321 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
324 Specify the receipt type, either `read` (the default) or `viewed`.
328 Send typing message to trigger a typing indicator for the recipient.
329 Indicator will be shown for 15seconds unless a typing STOP message is sent first.
332 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
334 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
335 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
338 Send a typing STOP message.
342 Remotely delete a previously sent message.
345 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
347 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
348 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
350 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
351 Specify the timestamp of the message to delete.
355 Query the server for new messages.
356 New messages are printed on standard output and attachments are downloaded to the config directory.
357 In json mode this is outputted as one json object per line.
359 *-t* TIMEOUT, *--timeout* TIMEOUT::
360 Number of seconds to wait for new messages (negative values disable timeout).
361 Default is 5 seconds.
362 *--ignore-attachments*::
363 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
365 *--send-read-receipts*::
366 Send read receipts for all incoming data messages (in addition to the default delivery receipts)
370 Join a group via an invitation link.
373 The invitation link URI (starts with `https://signal.group/#`)
377 Create or update a group.
378 If the user is a pending member, this command will accept the group invitation.
380 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
381 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
382 If not specified, a new group with a new random ID is generated.
384 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
385 Specify the new group name.
387 *-d* DESCRIPTION, *--description* DESCRIPTION::
388 Specify the new group description.
390 *-a* AVATAR, *--avatar* AVATAR::
391 Specify a new group avatar image file.
393 *-m* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
394 Specify one or more members to add to the group.
396 *-r* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--remove-member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
397 Specify one or more members to remove from the group
399 *--admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
400 Specify one or more members to make a group admin
402 *--remove-admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
403 Specify one or more members to remove group admin privileges
405 *--ban* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
406 Specify one or more members to ban from joining the group.
407 Banned members cannot join or request to join via a group link.
409 *--unban* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
410 Specify one or more members to remove from the ban list
413 Reset group link and create new link password
415 *--link* LINK_STATE::
416 Set group link state: `enabled`, `enabled-with-approval`, `disabled`
418 *--set-permission-add-member* PERMISSION::
419 Set permission to add new group members: `every-member`, `only-admins`
421 *--set-permission-edit-details* PERMISSION::
422 Set permission to edit group details: `every-member`, `only-admins`
424 *--set-permission-send-messages* PERMISSION::
425 Set permission to send messages in group: `every-member`, `only-admins`
426 Groups where only admins can send messages are also called announcement groups
428 *-e* EXPIRATION_SECONDS, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
429 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
430 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
434 Send a quit group message to all group members and remove self from member list.
435 If the user is a pending member, this command will decline the group invitation.
437 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
438 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
441 Delete local group data completely after quitting group.
445 Show a list of known groups and related information.
446 In json mode this is outputted as an list of objects and is always in detailed mode.
449 Include the list of members of each group and the group invite link.
452 Filter the group list by one or more group IDs.
456 Show a list of known contacts with names and profiles.
457 When a specific recipient is given, its profile will be refreshed.
460 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
462 *-a*, *--all-recipients*::
463 Include all known recipients, not only contacts.
466 Specify if only blocked or unblocked contacts should be shown (default: all contacts)
469 Find contacts with the given contact or profile name.
473 List all known identity keys and their trust status, fingerprint and safety number.
475 *-n* NUMBER, *--number* NUMBER::
476 Only show identity keys for the given phone number.
480 Set the trust level of a given number.
481 The first time a key for a number is seen, it is trusted by default (TOFU).
482 If the key changes, the new key must be trusted manually.
485 Specify the phone number, for which to set the trust.
487 *-a*, *--trust-all-known-keys*::
488 Trust all known keys of this user, only use this for testing.
490 *-v* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER, *--verified-safety-number* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER::
491 Specify the safety number of the key, only use this option if you have verified the safety number.
492 Can be either the plain text numbers shown in the app or the bytes from the QR-code, encoded as base64.
496 Update the profile information shown to message recipients.
497 The profile is stored encrypted on the Signal servers.
498 The decryption key is sent with every outgoing messages to contacts and included in every group.
500 *--given-name* NAME, *--name* NAME::
503 *--family-name* FAMILY_NAME::
506 *--about* ABOUT_TEXT::
507 New profile status text.
509 *--about-emoji* EMOJI::
510 New profile status emoji.
512 *--avatar* AVATAR_FILE::
513 Path to the new avatar image file.
518 *--mobile-coin-address*::
519 New MobileCoin address (Base64 encoded public address)
523 Update the info associated to a number on our contact list.
524 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
525 If the contact doesn't exist yet, it will be added.
528 Specify the contact phone number.
530 *--given-name* NAME, *--name* NAME::
533 *--family-name* FAMILY_NAME::
536 *-e*, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
537 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
538 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
542 Remove the info of a given contact
545 Specify the contact phone number.
548 Delete all data associated with this contact, including identity keys and sessions.
552 Block the given contacts or groups (no messages will be received).
553 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
555 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
556 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be blocked.
558 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
559 Specify the group IDs that should be blocked in base64 encoding.
563 Unblock the given contacts or groups (messages will be received again).
564 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
566 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
567 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be unblocked.
569 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
570 Specify the group IDs that should be unblocked in base64 encoding.
574 Send a synchronization message with the local contacts list to all linked devices.
575 This command should only be used if this is the primary device.
579 Send a synchronization request message to the primary device (for group, contacts, ...).
580 The primary device will respond with synchronization messages with full contact and group lists.
582 === uploadStickerPack
584 Upload a new sticker pack, consisting of a manifest file and the sticker images.
585 Images must conform to the following specification: (see https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360031836512-Stickers#sticker_reqs )
587 - Static stickers in PNG or WebP format
588 - Animated stickers in APNG format,
589 - Maximum file size for a sticker file is 300KiB
590 - Image resolution of 512 x 512 px
592 The required manifest.json has the following format:
597 "title": "<STICKER_PACK_TITLE>",
598 "author": "<STICKER_PACK_AUTHOR>",
599 "cover": { // Optional cover, by default the first sticker is used as cover
600 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
601 "contentType": "<optional>",
602 "emoji": "<optional>"
606 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
607 "contentType": "<optional>",
608 "emoji": "<optional>"
616 The path of the manifest.json or a zip file containing the sticker pack you wish to upload.
620 signal-cli can run in daemon mode and provides an experimental dbus or JSON-RPC interface.
621 If no `-a` account is given, all local accounts will be exported as separate dbus objects under the same bus name.
624 Export DBus interface on user bus.
625 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
628 Export DBus interface on system bus.
629 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
631 *--socket [SOCKET]*::
632 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a UNIX socket (default $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/signal-cli/socket).
633 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
635 *--tcp [HOST:PORT]*::
636 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a TCP socket (default localhost:7583).
637 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
639 *--ignore-attachments*::
640 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
642 *--send-read-receipts*::
643 Send read receipts for all incoming data messages (in addition to the default delivery receipts)
645 *--no-receive-stdout*::
646 Don’t print received messages to stdout.
649 Specify when to start receiving messages (on-start, on-connection, manual)
653 Register a number (with SMS verification)::
654 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT register
656 Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice::
657 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT verify CODE
659 Send a message to one or more recipients::
660 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]] [-a [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]]
662 Pipe the message content from another process::
663 uname -a | signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send --message-from-stdin [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]]
666 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -n "Group name" -m [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]
668 Add member to a group::
669 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID -m "NEW_MEMBER"
671 Accept a group invitation::
672 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID
675 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT quitGroup -g GROUP_ID
677 Send a message to a group::
678 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" -g GROUP_ID
680 Trust new key, after having verified it::
681 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -v SAFETY_NUMBER NUMBER
683 Trust new key, without having verified it. Only use this if you don't care about security::
684 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -a NUMBER
688 * *1*: Error is probably caused and fixable by the user
689 * *2*: Some unexpected error
690 * *3*: Server or IO error
691 * *4*: Sending failed due to untrusted key
695 The password and cryptographic keys are created when registering and stored in the current users home directory, the directory can be changed with *--config*:
697 `$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli/` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli/`)
701 Maintained by AsamK <asamk@gmx.de>, who is assisted by other open source contributors.
702 For more information about signal-cli development, see
703 <https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli>.