QT Connect FAQ

Sealed Sender is a privacy feature in QT Connect that hides the sender’s identity from everyone except the recipient, minimizing metadata exposure. Here’s how it works:

• Normally, both sender and recipient info are visible to the QT Connect service for message delivery and abuse prevention.
• With Sealed Sender, only the recipient’s address is visible; the sender’s identity is hidden from the service.
• To prevent abuse and spoofing, QT Connect uses short-lived sender certificates and delivery tokens derived from profile keys.
• Sealed Sender messages are only possible between users who have exchanged profile keys (usually contacts).
• Optionally, users can allow sealed sender messages from non-contacts, but this increases risk of abuse.
• All message contents remain end-to-end encrypted as usual.

This feature is part of QT Connect’s ongoing efforts to reduce metadata and enhance user privacy.

Android

• Messages and media are stored locally on your device.
• To transfer messages to a new phone, both devices must have QT Connect installed, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and be physically close.
• On your new device, select Transfer or restore account during setup.
• Follow on-screen steps to transfer from your old device or restore from a backup file using a 30-digit passphrase.
• Backups must be enabled in QT Connect settings. Write down your passphrase and keep it safe.
• Without your old device or backup, message history cannot be restored.

iOS

• Messages are only stored locally and cannot be backed up to iCloud or iTunes.
• To move messages to a new iPhone/iPad, use the in-app transfer feature (requires both devices, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and camera access).
• After transfer, the old device deletes all account info and message history.
• If you do not have your old device, message history cannot be restored.

Desktop

• QT Connect Desktop does not support transferring message history between devices.
• To use QT Connect on a new computer, link it as a new device from your phone.

If you need more help, check permissions, ensure backups are visible, and follow device-specific troubleshooting steps.

Your QT Connect PIN is a numeric or alphanumeric code that helps you recover your profile, settings, contacts, and block list if you lose or switch devices. It is also used for registration lock and supports features like non-phone number based identifiers.

• The PIN is not a chat backup and cannot recover lost message history.
• QT Connect cannot reset or recover your PIN for you.
• If you forget your PIN and have registration lock enabled, you may be locked out for up to 7 days.
• You can manage, change, or disable your PIN in QT Connect Settings > Account.
• PIN reminders appear to help you remember it, as QT Connect cannot recover it for you.

If you experience an issue or crash, you can submit a debug log to help QT Connect troubleshoot:

• Android: In QT Connect, tap your profile > Help > Debug log > Submit. Copy the URL and share it with support.
• iOS: In QT Connect, tap your profile > Settings > Help > Submit Debug Log > Copy Link. Email the link with a description of the issue.
• Desktop: Open QT Connect > View > Debug Log > Submit > Copy. Share the URL with support. If QT Connect Desktop does not open, find the logs folder in your system and send it as an attachment.

Debug logs contain technical information but do not reveal your message contents.

Notification issues can often be resolved by:

• Ensuring your phone is connected to the internet and not in airplane mode.
• Updating QT Connect and your device’s operating system to the latest version.
• Checking that notifications are enabled for QT Connect in your device settings and within QT Connect’s own settings.
• Disabling battery optimization, data saver, or power management features that may restrict QT Connect.
• Making sure QT Connect is allowed to run in the background and has all necessary permissions.
• For iOS, confirm notification and sound permissions, and that the device is not in silent mode.

Some phone models may require additional steps in their specific settings.

If QT Connect cannot process your contacts or you have issues with contact sync:

• Ensure contacts are saved in your phone’s contact list with the correct international format (+country code).
• Refresh your QT Connect contact list by pulling down in the Compose screen.
• Grant QT Connect all necessary permissions to access contacts.
• If you have too many contacts, try deleting unused entries from your phone’s address book.
• Custom nicknames and notes can be set in chat details and are protected by your QT Connect PIN.

You can link up to 5 devices (QT Connect Desktop or iPad) to your phone:

• Install QT Connect Desktop or QT Connect iPad.
• Open the app to display a QR code.
• On your phone, open QT Connect > Settings > Linked devices > Link New Device, and scan the QR code.
• Choose whether to transfer message history or not.
• After linking, your phone does not need to be online for the linked device to work.

Multiple mobile devices and Android tablets are not supported.

Archiving lets you clear your chat list without deleting messages:

• Android: Open QT Connect, swipe a chat right or tap and hold > Archive. To unarchive, go to Archived conversations and swipe right or tap and hold > Unarchive.
• iOS: Open QT Connect, swipe a chat left > Archive. To unarchive, go to Archived Chats and swipe left > Unarchive.
• Desktop: Select a chat > Chat Settings > Archive, or use ⌘ Shift A / Ctrl Shift A. To unarchive, go to View Archive and select Unarchive, or use ⌘ Shift U / Ctrl Shift U.

• Android: Open a chat, tap the contact name > Shared media. Select Media, Files, Audio, or All. Tap Save to save outside QT Connect.
• iOS: Open a chat, tap the contact name > All Media. Select the Media or Audio tab. Choose the share icon and select Save Image, Save Video, or Save Audio.
• Desktop: Open a chat, go to chat settings > All media. Select the Media or Documents tab, choose a file, and click Save.

• Ensure QT Connect has internet access and is allowed to run in the background.
• Update QT Connect and your device’s OS to the latest version.
• Enable all necessary permissions for QT Connect.
• Disable any VPN, firewall, or third-party app that may restrict QT Connect’s connection.
• For group chats, ask another member to add you by phone number if you’re not receiving messages.
• On Desktop, ensure QT Connect is active on your phone and that your desktop device is listed in Linked Devices.

• Android/iOS: In QT Connect, tap your profile icon to view QT Connect Settings. In a chat, tap the contact name or header for chat settings.
• Desktop: Tap Preferences to view QT Connect Settings. In a chat, select Menu ... for chat settings.

• Until you regain access to your phone number, no one can use QT Connect on your behalf.
• Once you get a new phone, install QT Connect and register with your number. This will stop messaging and calling on your old phone.
• Your past message history remains on the old phone, but all new messages and calls will go to your new phone.
• Each contact will see a new safety number for their conversation with you.

QT Connect supports older operating systems as long as possible, but some are no longer supported due to technical or security limitations. You may be able to open QT Connect, but not send or receive messages or calls until you upgrade. As of the latest update, these OS versions are no longer supported:

• Android 4.4 (KitKat) – last security update: Oct 2017
• iOS 14 – last security update: Oct 2021
• Windows 8.1 – last security update: Jan 2023
• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) – last security update: Jul 2022
• Ubuntu 18.04.6 (Bionic Beaver) – last security update: Jun 2023

This list may change as new updates are released.

QT Connect groups are private and end-to-end encrypted. QT Connect does not store group memberships, titles, avatars, or attributes. Features include group links, mentions, descriptions, admin controls, and a size limit of 1000 members.

1. In QT Connect, tap the compose icon, then New Group.
2. Select contacts or enter numbers, tap Next.
3. Enter a group name and choose a disappearing message timer if desired.
4. Tap Create. The group appears in your chat list and for all members.

Members may need to accept a message request or invitation before messaging in the group.

You can export a report of your QT Connect account data (not messages or media) from your phone:

1. Go to QT Connect Settings > Account > Your account data.
2. Select Export as TXT or Export as JSON, then Export report.
3. Choose where to share or save the file.

The report is generated only at the time of export and is not stored by QT Connect on your device.

If QT Connect is blocked in your country, you can use a proxy to connect. All traffic remains encrypted and opaque to the proxy operator.

• Find a proxy address from trusted sources or set up your own server with open ports 80 and 443.
• Android: In QT Connect, go to Settings > Data and Storage > Use proxy, and enter the proxy address.
• iOS: In QT Connect, go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Proxy, and enter the proxy address.
• Desktop: Proxy support is not currently available, but may be in the future.
• If your proxy is blocked, change to a new proxy address.

Connection status is shown in the app (connected, connecting, or disconnected).

QT Connect can only be used on one mobile device and up to five linked Desktops or iPads. If you set up QT Connect on another phone, the previous device will be disconnected.

• To re-register QT Connect on a device, tap the "Device no longer registered" banner and follow the prompts.
• If your camera does not scan the QR code, adjust the distance, screen brightness, or window size.
• For linking issues, ensure you have not reached the 5-device limit and check your network/firewall settings.
• On iOS, account transfers move data to the new device and delete it from the old one.

Your QT Connect Profile is a name and picture you set in the app, shown alongside your phone number. It is end-to-end encrypted and can be recovered with your PIN if you switch devices.

• First names are required; photos and last names are optional.
• Your profile is shared with contacts, people/groups you create or accept, and groups you are added to by someone you’ve shared your profile with.
• QT Connect servers cannot see your profile info.

Message Requests let you block, delete, or accept messages from new contacts. For groups, you can control whether to join and see profiles instead of just phone numbers.

If a message, sticker, reaction, or media could not be delivered, you may have missed a message from a contact or group. This does not affect chat security.

• Ask your contact to resend the message. The original timestamp will be preserved.
• If you see repeated delivery issues, try unlinking and relinking all QT Connect Desktop and iPad instances, or reinstall QT Connect Desktop.
• For persistent problems, contact QT Connect support and include debug logs from your devices and the contact involved.

• Contacts saved in your phone’s contact list appear in QT Connect with a contact icon.
• Unsaved QT Connect users you’ve messaged or share a group with also appear.
• Edit a contact’s name or photo in your phone’s contacts app; changes appear in QT Connect.
• Set custom nicknames and notes in chat details; these are encrypted and restored with your QT Connect PIN.
• To refresh your contact list, pull down in the Compose screen (mobile) or use Import now in QT Connect Desktop.
• To remove a contact, delete them from your phone’s address book and remove them in QT Connect.

Each QT Connect one-to-one chat has a unique safety number to verify the security of your messages and calls. If a safety number changes, it’s usually because a contact switched devices or reinstalled QT Connect.

• Verification is a good security practice for sensitive communication. If marked as verified, any change must be manually approved before sending new messages.
• Undelivered messages before a safety number change will not be resent.
• To view or verify a safety number, open the chat, go to chat settings, and select View Safety Number. You can scan, compare, or share the code to verify.
• Mark as verified to apply the setting; a checkmark will appear in the chat header.