Signal introduces support for linked Android tablets

16 July 2026 07:54 CEST

Last updated: July 29, 2026 (availability updated)

Signal has introduced support for linked Android tablets in the latest version. Users with Android tablets from brands such as Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, and Xiaomi can now use Signal on a tablet either as a standalone device or as a linked device.

Until now, Signal’s tablet support was limited to iPads. Android tablets were not officially supported. August last year, we found the first hints toward Android tablet support in the source code, and in November we received a sneak preview and shared the first screenshots of the app running on an Android tablet.

Now, Android tablet support is officially available to everyone.

Users can set up Signal on a tablet as a standalone device or link it to an existing Signal account on another device. By linking your Android tablet to your phone, your chats and messages are synchronized across devices, allowing you to access your conversations from both devices.

How to set up Signal on an Android tablet as a linked device?

First, install Signal from the Google Play Store on your Android tablet. On the welcome screen, tap Link your account. If you’re not on Signal yet, you can also choose to create an account and use your tablet as a standalone device:

In the next screen, allow permissions (or tap Not now) for notifications:

If you choose to link your device you’ll be presented with a QR code. Open Signal on your phone, go to Settings > Linked devices > Link new device, and scan the QR code displayed on the Android tablet with your phone:

In Signal on your phone, you can choose whether to link the device with or without transferring your message history. We choose to transfer our message history. Signal will then link the device:

After the devices have been linked, your messages will be synced. This may take a few minutes. As with everything in Signal, your messages and chat information are protected by end-to-end encryption, including the syncing process.

Signal is now successfully setup as a linked device, and your chats and messages are synchronized across devices.

Customizable layout with split-screen

Signal has designed an entirely new user interface with a split-screen view. The split-screen view works best in landscape mode. Whether this view is available when using a tablet in portrait mode depends on the available screen width and height. You can try adjusting your Android settings, such as font size and screen zoom, to make split-screen available in portrait mode as well.

In split-screen view, you’ll see your chat list on the left side of the screen, and your current chat on the right:

By swiping with your finger, you can adjust the layout of your screen. You can choose to display only the chat by sliding the middle bar to the left.