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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!
126 Update the account attributes on the signal server.
127 Can fix problems with receiving messages.
129 *-n* NAME, *--device-name* NAME::
130 Set a new device name for the main or linked device
132 === updateConfiguration
134 Update signal configs and sync them to linked devices.
135 This command only works on the main devices.
137 *--read-receipts* {true,false}::
138 Indicates if Signal should send read receipts.
140 *--unidentified-delivery-indicators* {true,false}::
141 Indicates if Signal should show unidentified delivery indicators.
143 *--typing-indicators* {true,false}::
144 Indicates if Signal should send/show typing indicators.
146 *--link-previews* {true,false}::
147 Indicates if Signal should generate link previews.
151 Set a registration lock pin, to prevent others from registering this number.
153 REGISTRATION_LOCK_PIN::
154 The registration lock PIN, that will be required for new registrations (resets after 7 days of inactivity)
158 Remove the registration lock pin.
162 Link to an existing device, instead of registering a new number.
163 This shows a "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." URI.
164 If you want to connect to another signal-cli instance, you can just use this URI.
165 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.
167 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
168 Optionally specify a name to describe this new device.
169 By default "cli" will be used.
173 Link another device to this device.
174 Only works, if this is the master device.
177 Specify the uri contained in the QR code shown by the new device.
178 You will need the full URI such as "sgnl://linkdevice?uuid=..." (formerly "tsdevice:/?uuid=...") Make sure to enclose it in quotation marks for shells.
182 Show a list of linked devices.
186 Remove a linked device.
187 Only works, if this is the master device.
189 *-d* DEVICE_ID, *--device-id* DEVICE_ID::
190 Specify the device you want to remove.
191 Use listDevices to see the deviceIds.
195 Uses a list of phone numbers to determine the statuses of those users.
196 Shows if they are registered on the Signal Servers or not.
197 In json mode this is outputted as a list of objects.
199 [NUMBER [NUMBER ...]]::
200 One or more numbers to check.
204 Send a message to another user or group.
207 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
210 Send the message to self without notification.
212 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
213 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
215 *-m* MESSAGE, *--message* MESSAGE::
217 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.
219 *--message-from-stdin*::
220 Read the message from standard input.
222 *-a* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]], *--attachment* [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]::
223 Add one or more files as attachment.
225 *--sticker* STICKER::
226 Send a sticker of a locally known sticker pack (syntax: stickerPackId:stickerId).
227 Shouldn't be used together with `-m` as the official clients don't support this.
228 e.g.: `--sticker 00abac3bc18d7f599bff2325dc306d43:2`
231 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.
232 e.g.: `-m "Hi X!" --mention "3:1:+123456789"`
234 *--quote-timestamp*::
235 Specify the timestamp of a previous message with the recipient or group to add a quote to the new message.
238 Specify the number of the author of the original message.
241 Specify the message of the original message.
244 Specify the mentions of the original message (same format as `--mention`).
246 *-e*, *--end-session*::
247 Clear session state and send end session message.
251 Send reaction to a previously received or sent message.
254 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
256 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
257 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
259 *-e* EMOJI, *--emoji* EMOJI::
260 Specify the emoji, should be a single unicode grapheme cluster.
262 *-a* NUMBER, *--target-author* NUMBER::
263 Specify the number of the author of the message to which to react.
265 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
266 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
273 Send a read or viewed receipt to a previously received message.
276 Specify the sender’s phone number.
278 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
279 Specify the timestamp of the message to which to react.
282 Specify the receipt type, either `read` (the default) or `viewed`.
286 Send typing message to trigger a typing indicator for the recipient.
287 Indicator will be shown for 15seconds unless a typing STOP message is sent first.
290 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
292 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
293 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
296 Send a typing STOP message.
300 Remotely delete a previously sent message.
303 Specify the recipients’ phone number.
305 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
306 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
308 *-t* TIMESTAMP, *--target-timestamp* TIMESTAMP::
309 Specify the timestamp of the message to delete.
313 Query the server for new messages.
314 New messages are printed on standard output and attachments are downloaded to the config directory.
315 In json mode this is outputted as one json object per line.
317 *-t* TIMEOUT, *--timeout* TIMEOUT::
318 Number of seconds to wait for new messages (negative values disable timeout).
319 Default is 5 seconds.
320 *--ignore-attachments*::
321 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
325 Join a group via an invitation link.
328 The invitation link URI (starts with `https://signal.group/#`)
332 Create or update a group.
333 If the user is a pending member, this command will accept the group invitation.
335 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
336 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
337 If not specified, a new group with a new random ID is generated.
339 *-n* NAME, *--name* NAME::
340 Specify the new group name.
342 *-d* DESCRIPTION, *--description* DESCRIPTION::
343 Specify the new group description.
345 *-a* AVATAR, *--avatar* AVATAR::
346 Specify a new group avatar image file.
348 *-m* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
349 Specify one or more members to add to the group.
351 *-r* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]], *--remove-member* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
352 Specify one or more members to remove from the group
354 *--admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
355 Specify one or more members to make a group admin
357 *--remove-admin* [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]::
358 Specify one or more members to remove group admin privileges
361 Reset group link and create new link password
363 *--link* LINK_STATE::
364 Set group link state: `enabled`, `enabled-with-approval`, `disabled`
366 *--set-permission-add-member* PERMISSION::
367 Set permission to add new group members: `every-member`, `only-admins`
369 *--set-permission-edit-details* PERMISSION::
370 Set permission to edit group details: `every-member`, `only-admins`
372 *--set-permission-send-messages* PERMISSION::
373 Set permission to send messages in group: `every-member`, `only-admins`
374 Groups where only admins can send messages are also called announcement groups
376 *-e* EXPIRATION_SECONDS, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
377 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
378 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
382 Send a quit group message to all group members and remove self from member list.
383 If the user is a pending member, this command will decline the group invitation.
385 *-g* GROUP, *--group-id* GROUP::
386 Specify the recipient group ID in base64 encoding.
389 Delete local group data completely after quitting group.
393 Show a list of known groups and related information.
394 In json mode this is outputted as an list of objects and is always in detailed mode.
397 Include the list of members of each group and the group invite link.
401 Show a list of known contacts with names.
405 List all known identity keys and their trust status, fingerprint and safety number.
407 *-n* NUMBER, *--number* NUMBER::
408 Only show identity keys for the given phone number.
412 Set the trust level of a given number.
413 The first time a key for a number is seen, it is trusted by default (TOFU).
414 If the key changes, the new key must be trusted manually.
417 Specify the phone number, for which to set the trust.
419 *-a*, *--trust-all-known-keys*::
420 Trust all known keys of this user, only use this for testing.
422 *-v* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER, *--verified-safety-number* VERIFIED_SAFETY_NUMBER::
423 Specify the safety number of the key, only use this option if you have verified the safety number.
424 Can be either the plain text numbers shown in the app or the bytes from the QR-code, encoded as base64.
428 Update the profile information shown to message recipients.
429 The profile is stored encrypted on the Signal servers.
430 The decryption key is sent with every outgoing messages to contacts and included in every group.
432 *--given-name* NAME, *--name* NAME::
435 *--family-name* FAMILY_NAME::
438 *--about* ABOUT_TEXT::
439 New profile status text.
441 *--about-emoji* EMOJI::
442 New profile status emoji.
444 *--avatar* AVATAR_FILE::
445 Path to the new avatar image file.
452 Update the info associated to a number on our contact list.
453 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
454 If the contact doesn't exist yet, it will be added.
457 Specify the contact phone number.
460 Specify the new name for this contact.
462 *-e*, *--expiration* EXPIRATION_SECONDS::
463 Set expiration time of messages (seconds).
464 To disable expiration set expiration time to 0.
468 Remove the info of a given contact
471 Specify the contact phone number.
474 Delete all data associated with this contact, including identity keys and sessions.
478 Block the given contacts or groups (no messages will be received).
479 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
481 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
482 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be blocked.
484 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
485 Specify the group IDs that should be blocked in base64 encoding.
489 Unblock the given contacts or groups (messages will be received again).
490 This change is only local but can be synchronized to other devices by using `sendContacts` (see below).
492 [CONTACT [CONTACT ...]]::
493 Specify the phone numbers of contacts that should be unblocked.
495 *-g* [GROUP [GROUP ...]], *--group-id* [GROUP [GROUP ...]]::
496 Specify the group IDs that should be unblocked in base64 encoding.
500 Send a synchronization message with the local contacts list to all linked devices.
501 This command should only be used if this is the master device.
505 Send a synchronization request message to the master device (for group, contacts, ...).
506 The master device will respond with synchronization messages with full contact and group lists.
508 === uploadStickerPack
510 Upload a new sticker pack, consisting of a manifest file and the sticker images.
511 Images must conform to the following specification: (see https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360031836512-Stickers#sticker_reqs )
513 - Static stickers in PNG or WebP format
514 - Animated stickers in APNG format,
515 - Maximum file size for a sticker file is 300KiB
516 - Image resolution of 512 x 512 px
518 The required manifest.json has the following format:
523 "title": "<STICKER_PACK_TITLE>",
524 "author": "<STICKER_PACK_AUTHOR>",
525 "cover": { // Optional cover, by default the first sticker is used as cover
526 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
527 "contentType": "<optional>",
528 "emoji": "<optional>"
532 "file": "<name of image file, mandatory>",
533 "contentType": "<optional>",
534 "emoji": "<optional>"
542 The path of the manifest.json or a zip file containing the sticker pack you wish to upload.
546 signal-cli can run in daemon mode and provides an experimental dbus or JSON-RPC interface.
547 If no `-a` account is given, all local accounts will be exported as separate dbus objects under the same bus name.
550 Export DBus interface on user bus.
551 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
554 Export DBus interface on system bus.
555 See signal-cli-dbus (5) for info on the dbus interface.
557 *--socket [SOCKET]*::
558 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a UNIX socket (default $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/signal-cli/socket).
559 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
561 *--tcp [HOST:PORT]*::
562 Export a JSON-RPC interface on a TCP socket (default localhost:7583).
563 See signal-cli-jsonrpc (5) for info on the JSON-RPC interface.
565 *--ignore-attachments*::
566 Don’t download attachments of received messages.
568 *--no-receive-stdout*::
569 Don’t print received messages to stdout.
572 Specify when to start receiving messages (on-start, on-connection, manual)
576 Register a number (with SMS verification)::
577 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT register
579 Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice::
580 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT verify CODE
582 Send a message to one or more recipients::
583 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]] [-a [ATTACHMENT [ATTACHMENT ...]]]
585 Pipe the message content from another process::
586 uname -a | signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send --message-from-stdin [RECIPIENT [RECIPIENT ...]]
589 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -n "Group name" -m [MEMBER [MEMBER ...]]
591 Add member to a group::
592 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID -m "NEW_MEMBER"
594 Accept a group invitation::
595 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT updateGroup -g GROUP_ID
598 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT quitGroup -g GROUP_ID
600 Send a message to a group::
601 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT send -m "This is a message" -g GROUP_ID
603 Trust new key, after having verified it::
604 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -v SAFETY_NUMBER NUMBER
606 Trust new key, without having verified it. Only use this if you don't care about security::
607 signal-cli -a ACCOUNT trust -a NUMBER
611 * *1*: Error is probably caused and fixable by the user
612 * *2*: Some unexpected error
613 * *3*: Server or IO error
614 * *4*: Sending failed due to untrusted key
618 The password and cryptographic keys are created when registering and stored in the current users home directory, the directory can be changed with *--config*:
620 `$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli/` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli/`)
624 Maintained by AsamK <asamk@gmx.de>, who is assisted by other open source contributors.
625 For more information about signal-cli development, see
626 <https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli>.