Signal has introduced new group chat management tools that allow administrators to delete messages sent by other members, increase the number of pinned chats to ten, and mute participants during group calls. According to the Signal Foundation, these updates are available in the current versions of the app for Android, iOS, and Desktop.
Signal Group Admins Can Now Delete Member Messages
Group administrators now have the authority to remove messages sent by other participants. Previously, admins could only delete their own contributions; to handle unwanted content, they had to remove the sender from the group entirely, though the message remained visible. According to the Signal Foundation, this change provides a way to moderate community spaces.
This moderation power comes with specific constraints. Admins can only delete messages sent within the last 24 hours. Once a message is removed, Signal leaves a system notification in the chat informing all members that an administrator deleted a message, ensuring the action is traceable.
Expanded Chat Pinning and Call Management
Signal has increased the limit for pinned conversations. Users can now pin up to ten chats to the top of their conversation list, up from the previous limit of four. This change aims to reduce the time users spend searching for frequently used contacts or active groups.
The update also introduces a “mute” feature for group voice and video calls. Participants can now mute other callers to eliminate disruptive background noise. Unlike message deletion, this is not an administrative privilege; any participant can mute another, and the muted individual retains the ability to unmute their own microphone at any time.
Comparison of Signal’s New Moderation vs. Previous State
| Feature | Previous Functionality | New Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Admin Message Deletion | Only self-deletion possible | Can delete others’ messages (24h window) |
| Pinned Chats | Maximum of 4 chats | Maximum of 10 chats |
| Group Call Audio | No participant-led muting | Participants can mute others |
How to Access the New Features
These updates are integrated into the latest builds of the Signal application. To access the new features, users must update their app via the App Store or by downloading the latest version from the official Signal website.
Quick Summary for Users:
- Admins: You can now scrub messages from the last 24 hours.
- Power Users: You can now keep 10 priority chats at the top of your list.
- Callers: You can now mute noisy participants in group calls.
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