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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 Set the path, where to store the config.
46 Make sure you have full read/write access to the given directory.
47 (Default: `$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli`))
49 *-a* ACCOUNT, *--account* ACCOUNT::
50 Specify your phone number, that will be your identifier.
51 The phone number must include the country calling code, i.e. the number must start with a "+" sign.
53 This flag must not be given for the `link` command.
54 It is optional for the `daemon` command.
55 For all other commands it is only optional if there is exactly one local user in the config directory.
57 *--service-environment* ENVIRONMENT::
58 Choose the server environment to use:
64 Make request via user dbus.
67 Make request via system dbus.
69 *-o* OUTPUT-MODE, *--output* OUTPUT-MODE::
70 Specify if you want commands to output in either "plain-text" mode or in "json".
71 Defaults to "plain-text"
73 *--trust-new-identities* TRUST-MODE::
74 Choose when to trust new identities:
75 - `on-first-use` (default): Trust the first seen identity key from new users, changed keys must be verified manually
76 - `always`: Trust any new identity key without verification
77 - `never`: Don't trust any unknown identity key, every key must be verified manually
83 Register a phone number with SMS or voice verification.
84 Use the verify command to complete the verification.
86 If the account is just deactivated, the register command will just reactivate account, without requiring an SMS verification.
87 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.
88 If the account was deleted (with --delete-account) it cannot be reactivated.
91 The verification should be done over voice, not SMS.
94 The captcha token, required if registration failed with a captcha required error.
95 To get the token, go to https://signalcaptchas.org/registration/generate.html
96 For the staging environment, use: https://signalcaptchas.org/staging/registration/generate.html
97 Check the developer tools for a redirect starting with signalcaptcha:// Everything after signalcaptcha:// is the captcha token.
101 Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice.
104 The verification code.
106 *-p* PIN, *--pin* PIN::
107 The registration lock PIN, that was set by the user.
108 Only required if a PIN was set.
112 Disable push support for this device, i.e. this device won't receive any more messages.
113 If this is the master device, other users can't send messages to this number anymore.
114 Use "updateAccount" to undo this.
115 To remove a linked device, use "removeDevice" from the master device.
118 Delete account completely from server.
119 Cannot be undone without loss.
120 You will have to be readded to each group.
122 CAUTION: Only delete your account if you won't use this number again!
124 === deleteLocalAccountData
126 Delete all local data for this account.
127 Data should only be deleted if the account is unregistered.
129 CAUTION: This cannot be undone.
131 *--ignore-registered*::
132 Delete the account data even though the account is still registered on the Signal servers.
136 Update the account attributes on the signal server.
137 Can fix problems with receiving messages.
139 *-n* NAME, *--device-name* NAME::
140 Set a new device name for the main or linked device
142 === updateConfiguration
144 Update signal configs and sync them to linked devices.
145 This command only works on the main devices.
147 *--read-receipts* {true,false}::
148 Indicates if Signal should send read receipts.
150 *--unidentified-delivery-indicators* {true,false}::
151 Indicates if Signal should show unidentified delivery indicators.
153 *--typing-indicators* {true,false}::
154 Indicates if Signal should send/show typing indicators.
156 *--link-previews* {true,false}::
157 Indicates if Signal should generate link previews.
161 Set a registration lock pin, to prevent others from registering this number.
163 REGISTRATION_LOCK_PIN::
164 The registration lock PIN, that will be required for new registrations (resets after 7 days of inactivity)
168 Remove the registration lock pin.
172 Link to an existing device, instead of registering a new number.
173 This shows a "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." URI.
174 If you want to connect to another signal-cli instance, you can just use this URI.
175 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.
177 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
178 Optionally specify a name to describe this new device.
179 By default "cli" will be used.
183 Link another device to this device.
184 Only works, if this is the master device.
187 Specify the uri contained in the QR code shown by the new device.
188 You will need the full URI such as "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." (formerly "tsdevice:/?uuid=...") Make sure to enclose it in quotation marks for shells.
192 Show a list of linked devices.
196 Remove a linked device.
197 Only works, if this is the master device.
199 *-d* DEVICE_ID, *--device-id* DEVICE_ID::
200 Specify the device you want to remove.
201 Use listDevices to see the deviceIds.
205 Uses a list of phone numbers to determine the statuses of those users.
206 Shows if they are registered on the Signal Servers or not.
207 In json mode this is outputted as a list of objects.
209 [NUMBER [NUMBER ...]]::
210 One or more numbers to check.
214 Send a message to another user or group.
217 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
220 Send the message to self without notification.
222 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
223 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
225 *-m* MESSAGE, *--message* MESSAGE::
227 Currently, signal-cli reads the message from stdin if `-m` is missing, but this will change in a future version and the explicit flag `--message-from-stdin` should be used instead.
229 *--message-from-stdin*::
230 Read the message from standard input.
232 *-a* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]], *--attachment* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]::
233 Add one or more files as attachment.
235 *--sticker* STICKER::
236 Send a sticker of a locally known sticker pack (syntax: stickerPackId:stickerId).
237 Shouldn't be used together with `-m` as the official clients don't support this.
238 e.g.: `--sticker 00abac3bc18d7f599bff2325dc306d43:2`
241 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.
242 e.g.: `-m "Hi X!" --mention "3:1:+123456789"`
244 *--quote-timestamp*::
245 Specify the timestamp of a previous message with the recipient or group to add a quote to the new message.
248 Specify the number of the author of the original message.
251 Specify the message of the original message.
254 Specify the mentions of the original message (same format as `--mention`).
256 *-e*, *--end-session*::
257 Clear session state and send end session message.
259 === sendPaymentNotification
261 Send a payment notification.
264 Specify the recipient’s phone number.
266 *--receipt* RECEIPT::
267 The base64 encoded receipt blob.
270 Specify a note for the payment notification.
274 Send reaction to a previously received or sent message.
277 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
279 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
280 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
282 *-e* EMOJI, *--emoji* EMOJI::
283 Specify the emoji, should be a single unicode grapheme cluster.
285 *-a* NUMBER, *--target-author* NUMBER::
286 Specify the number of the author of the message to which to react.
288 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
289 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
296 Send a read or viewed receipt to a previously received message.
299 Specify the sender’s phone number.
301 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
302 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
305 Specify the receipt type, either `read` (the default) or `viewed`.
309 Send typing message to trigger a typing indicator for the recipient.
310 Indicator will be shown for 15seconds unless a typing STOP message is sent first.
313 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
315 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
316 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
319 Send a typing STOP message.
323 Remotely delete a previously sent message.
326 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
328 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
329 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
331 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
332 Specify the timestamp of the message to delete.
336 Query the server for new messages.
337 New messages are printed on standard output and attachments are downloaded to the config directory.
338 In json mode this is outputted as one json object per line.
340 *-t* TIMEOUT, *--timeout* TIMEOUT::
341 Number of seconds to wait for new messages (negative values disable timeout).
342 Default is 5 seconds.
343 *--ignore-attachments*::
344 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
348 Join a group via an invitation link.
351 The invitation link URI (starts with `https://signal.group/#`)
355 Create or update a group.
356 If the user is a pending member, this command will accept the group invitation.
358 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
359 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
360 If not specified, a new group with a new random ID is generated.
362 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
363 Specify the new group name.
365 *-d* DESCRIPTION, *--description* DESCRIPTION::
366 Specify the new group description.
368 *-a* AVATAR, *--avatar* AVATAR::
369 Specify a new group avatar image file.
371 *-m* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
372 Specify one or more members to add to the group.
374 *-r* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--remove-member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
375 Specify one or more members to remove from the group
377 *--admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
378 Specify one or more members to make a group admin
380 *--remove-admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
381 Specify one or more members to remove group admin privileges
383 *--ban* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
384 Specify one or more members to ban from joining the group.
385 Banned members cannot join or request to join via a group link.
387 *--unban* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
388 Specify one or more members to remove from the ban list
391 Reset group link and create new link password
393 *--link* LINK_STATE::
394 Set group link state: `enabled`, `enabled-with-approval`, `disabled`
396 *--set-permission-add-member* PERMISSION::
397 Set permission to add new group members: `every-member`, `only-admins`
399 *--set-permission-edit-details* PERMISSION::
400 Set permission to edit group details: `every-member`, `only-admins`
402 *--set-permission-send-messages* PERMISSION::
403 Set permission to send messages in group: `every-member`, `only-admins`
404 Groups where only admins can send messages are also called announcement groups
406 *-e* EXPIRATION_SECONDS, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
407 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
408 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
412 Send a quit group message to all group members and remove self from member list.
413 If the user is a pending member, this command will decline the group invitation.
415 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
416 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
419 Delete local group data completely after quitting group.
423 Show a list of known groups and related information.
424 In json mode this is outputted as an list of objects and is always in detailed mode.
427 Include the list of members of each group and the group invite link.
430 Filter the group list by one or more group IDs.
434 Show a list of known contacts with names and profiles.
435 When a specific recipient is given, its profile will be refreshed.
438 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
440 *-a*, *--all-recipients*::
441 Include all known recipients, not only contacts.
444 Specify if only blocked or unblocked contacts should be shown (default: all contacts)
447 Find contacts with the given contact or profile name.
451 List all known identity keys and their trust status, fingerprint and safety number.
453 *-n* NUMBER, *--number* NUMBER::
454 Only show identity keys for the given phone number.
458 Set the trust level of a given number.
459 The first time a key for a number is seen, it is trusted by default (TOFU).
460 If the key changes, the new key must be trusted manually.
463 Specify the phone number, for which to set the trust.
465 *-a*, *--trust-all-known-keys*::
466 Trust all known keys of this user, only use this for testing.
468 *-v* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER, *--verified-safety-number* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER::
469 Specify the safety number of the key, only use this option if you have verified the safety number.
470 Can be either the plain text numbers shown in the app or the bytes from the QR-code, encoded as base64.
474 Update the profile information shown to message recipients.
475 The profile is stored encrypted on the Signal servers.
476 The decryption key is sent with every outgoing messages to contacts and included in every group.
478 *--given-name* NAME, *--name* NAME::
481 *--family-name* FAMILY_NAME::
484 *--about* ABOUT_TEXT::
485 New profile status text.
487 *--about-emoji* EMOJI::
488 New profile status emoji.
490 *--avatar* AVATAR_FILE::
491 Path to the new avatar image file.
496 *--mobile-coin-address*::
497 New MobileCoin address (Base64 encoded public address)
501 Update the info associated to a number on our contact list.
502 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
503 If the contact doesn't exist yet, it will be added.
506 Specify the contact phone number.
509 Specify the new name for this contact.
511 *-e*, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
512 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
513 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
517 Remove the info of a given contact
520 Specify the contact phone number.
523 Delete all data associated with this contact, including identity keys and sessions.
527 Block the given contacts or groups (no messages will be received).
528 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
530 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
531 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be blocked.
533 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
534 Specify the group IDs that should be blocked in base64 encoding.
538 Unblock the given contacts or groups (messages will be received again).
539 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
541 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
542 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be unblocked.
544 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
545 Specify the group IDs that should be unblocked in base64 encoding.
549 Send a synchronization message with the local contacts list to all linked devices.
550 This command should only be used if this is the master device.
554 Send a synchronization request message to the master device (for group, contacts, ...).
555 The master device will respond with synchronization messages with full contact and group lists.
557 === uploadStickerPack
559 Upload a new sticker pack, consisting of a manifest file and the sticker images.
560 Images must conform to the following specification: (see https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360031836512-Stickers#sticker_reqs )
562 - Static stickers in PNG or WebP format
563 - Animated stickers in APNG format,
564 - Maximum file size for a sticker file is 300KiB
565 - Image resolution of 512 x 512 px
567 The required manifest.json has the following format:
572 "title": "<STICKER_PACK_TITLE>",
573 "author": "<STICKER_PACK_AUTHOR>",
574 "cover": { // Optional cover, by default the first sticker is used as cover
575 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
576 "contentType": "<optional>",
577 "emoji": "<optional>"
581 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
582 "contentType": "<optional>",
583 "emoji": "<optional>"
591 The path of the manifest.json or a zip file containing the sticker pack you wish to upload.
595 signal-cli can run in daemon mode and provides an experimental dbus or JSON-RPC interface.
596 If no `-a` account is given, all local accounts will be exported as separate dbus objects under the same bus name.
599 Export DBus interface on user bus.
600 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
603 Export DBus interface on system bus.
604 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
606 *--socket [SOCKET]*::
607 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a UNIX socket (default $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/signal-cli/socket).
608 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
610 *--tcp [HOST:PORT]*::
611 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a TCP socket (default localhost:7583).
612 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
614 *--ignore-attachments*::
615 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
617 *--no-receive-stdout*::
618 Don’t print received messages to stdout.
621 Specify when to start receiving messages (on-start, on-connection, manual)
625 Register a number (with SMS verification)::
626 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT register
628 Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice::
629 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT verify CODE
631 Send a message to one or more recipients::
632 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]] [-a [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]]
634 Pipe the message content from another process::
635 uname -a | signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send --message-from-stdin [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]]
638 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -n "Group name" -m [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]
640 Add member to a group::
641 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID -m "NEW_MEMBER"
643 Accept a group invitation::
644 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID
647 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT quitGroup -g GROUP_ID
649 Send a message to a group::
650 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" -g GROUP_ID
652 Trust new key, after having verified it::
653 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -v SAFETY_NUMBER NUMBER
655 Trust new key, without having verified it. Only use this if you don't care about security::
656 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -a NUMBER
660 * *1*: Error is probably caused and fixable by the user
661 * *2*: Some unexpected error
662 * *3*: Server or IO error
663 * *4*: Sending failed due to untrusted key
667 The password and cryptographic keys are created when registering and stored in the current users home directory, the directory can be changed with *--config*:
669 `$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli/` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli/`)
673 Maintained by AsamK <asamk@gmx.de>, who is assisted by other open source contributors.
674 For more information about signal-cli development, see
675 <https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli>.