Signal is testing a new feature that allows users to link an Android phone or tablet as a secondary device to their existing account. Previously, using Signal on multiple phones required a separate phone number for each device. This upcoming functionality will enable synchronized chat history across linked Android devices.

About Signal first reported on the testing of this capability. The Signal support page has already been updated with instructions on how to link Android phones and tablets, a feature that was previously limited to iPads and computers as secondary devices. To link a new Android device, users will download the Signal app, initiate the welcome process, and then select "Link device" instead of entering a phone number. A QR code will be generated on the secondary device for scanning with the primary device via Signal Settings > Linked devices > Link a new device.

Users will have the option to synchronize their chat history with the secondary device during setup. If chat history synchronization is not chosen initially, it will require a reinstallation of Signal on the secondary device to enable it later. Signal has also reportedly designed a split-screen interface for tablets, optimized for landscape mode, allowing for a chat list next to an open conversation, with customization options available. The official release date for these features has not yet been announced.