Microsoft Store

[Xashyar]

as u already know, signal.org domain is blocked in some countries, i had to use proxies etc. to get Signal Desktop myself and have to update manually.

In addition to facilitating the update/download process, i think it might be good publicity for signal to have presence over there, as many other messengers have. (Telegram, Slack and Facebook Messenger to name a few)

[scottnonnenberg]

@khashyarkh Thanks for the suggestion. Once you downloaded the application, were you able to connect to the signal server without proxies? I doubt that delivery via the Microsoft Store would help regarding censorship or domain blocking.

[Xashyar]

Yeah, after downloading Signal is accessible on all platforms, the only problem is when u want to invite others to install it (whether it's Mobile or Desktop) the signal.org domain isn't accessible.

[h313]

Windows has a desktop app converter that packages the app for you, so porting it to the Windows Store should just be a matter of getting a developer account. It's still unclear if Microsoft telemetry is added onto the product. They do track app launches by default at least.

I could take a look at how well a converted app functions.

[scottnonnenberg]

@h313 More useful would be looking at all the requirements for shipping on the Windows App Store, and see how far this project is from that.

[h313]

Electron apps such as Spotify are already on the Windows Store, so converting this app should take minimal effort. An npm package also exists that converts electron apps to .appx, the UWP app format. From here it looks like everything required to actually publish the app already exists on the Apple and Android stores. However, registration as an app developer is required, and it costs some money. Signing up for the Desktop Bridge might also be required.

[pickypg]

Installing from the App Store would also enable users to install the application that might not otherwise have the privileges to install said app (e.g., Windows 10 S users). In my case, I do not have issues on any of my machines, but a friend of mine is limited to installation of apps as though they are running Windows 10 S.

[jaromczyk]

Any update on this issue? Is this even considered?

[3vi1]

Not being present in the store is also a problem for companies that want to deploy Signal to machines managed via a device management system like Intune. Intune only allows Windows 10 apps to be installed from the Microsoft store or as a line-of-business package (.msix)... neither of which work in Signal's case.

[ghost]

@scottnonnenberg-signal is there any news on this ? i think the store is one of the distribution canal, and if you don't upload it yourself someone might do it (and you will loose the control of signal in this store).
And if you use the store you can even reduce the used bandwith on update.signal... because the microsoft store will update the one who use it

[Morgy93]

Since the late push of Signal, I was disappointed to see the app not published on the Microsoft Store.

Any updates on this?

[ghost]

@Morgy93 since they haven't cared enough to at least respond to my question, i think they will never publish it and "just" don't answer :/

[EvanHahn-Signal]

This is something that's on our radar. No promises yet, but this is something we'd eventually like to do.

[ghost]

@EvanHahn-Signal
I think for "security" purpose it's better to be on it than download an exe.
Because download an infected version of signal on internet is very easy, by a store, it's more difficult.
And if you pass by a store you can control more easily the version where some user don't update by blocking your update address (i have seen a discussion on a package of chocolatey who talk about locking your internal update process so they can update it themselves).
For Apple there is the App store and linux, snap/flatpak.

[jamesewoods]

I hope Signal comes to the Store sooner rather than later, especially with many people switching from WhatsApp. I dislike downloading exe's from the Internet and worry about recommending naive family members doing the same.

[radutomy]

Store app is a must. I can't install exes on my work laptop.

[ghost]

@ehrenkret-signal i have readed the android case some time ago where the main developer said he don't liked the tird party feature of android (for textsecure when the post was written) for install etc. so it's why i don't understand why on windows we have to do that, because we have a store on the 3 major OS on PC, so i think it's time to correct the big mistake of PCWORLD and the installkation of win32 app by exe.

[trajano]

Is there any reason why it's not on the Windows Store? Aside from developer time to create the pipeline that is. Like is there some API usage that prevents it.

[ulawe]

Yes, please, add Signal to the Microsoft Store. Under Windows 10 in S mode, this would be the only way of getting Signal.

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[Morgy93]

This issue is not resolved.

Ping for activity to not get closed~

[ili101]

https://community.signalusers.org/t/signal-desktop-app-on-the-microsoft-store/4151

[Mask-Ninja]

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/signal-private-messenger/9NR474LRLH62?hl=en-US&gl=US
Not official, but should work.

[Mask-Ninja]

Guess it's solved now.