# SimpleX Chat — Private Messenger with No User Identifiers

> A privacy-focused messaging platform that operates without user IDs, phone numbers, or any persistent identifiers, using double-ratchet encryption.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# SimpleX Chat — Private Messenger with No User Identifiers

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install CLI on Linux
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/stable/install.sh | bash
# Or download mobile apps from App Store / Google Play / F-Droid
# Desktop apps available for Windows, macOS, and Linux
```

## Introduction
SimpleX Chat is a messaging platform designed around a fundamental privacy principle: no user identifiers. Unlike Signal (phone numbers) or Matrix (user IDs), SimpleX uses pairwise anonymous addressing so that no server or third party can correlate a user's contacts or build a social graph.

## What SimpleX Chat Does
- Sends end-to-end encrypted messages without requiring user accounts or identifiers
- Uses pairwise per-connection addresses so no single ID links conversations
- Supports text, images, files, voice messages, video calls, and groups
- Routes messages through relay servers that cannot correlate senders and recipients
- Allows self-hosting relay servers (SMP and XFTP) for full infrastructure control

## Architecture Overview
SimpleX uses the SimpleX Messaging Protocol (SMP) where each conversation creates a unique unidirectional queue on a relay server. The sender and recipient connect through separate queues with independent addresses, preventing the relay from linking them. Messages are encrypted with the double-ratchet algorithm (same as Signal). File transfers use the XFTP protocol with chunked, deduplicated storage across multiple relays.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy SMP relay server via Docker or the standalone binary
- Deploy XFTP server for file transfer relay
- Configure server addresses in the client settings to use your own relays
- TLS certificates are generated automatically on first run
- Servers store only encrypted message queues; no user data persists

## Key Features
- No phone numbers, usernames, or any user identifiers required
- Double-ratchet end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy
- Decentralized relay architecture with no central server dependency
- Disappearing messages and message editing support
- Incognito mode for joining groups without revealing your profile

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Signal** — requires phone number; centralized server infrastructure
- **Matrix / Element** — uses persistent user IDs; metadata visible to homeserver
- **Session** — no phone number but uses a blockchain-based routing layer
- **Wire** — end-to-end encrypted but requires email or phone for registration
- **Briar** — peer-to-peer with no servers but requires both parties online simultaneously

## FAQ
**Q:** How do I connect with someone if there are no usernames?
A: You share a one-time invitation link or QR code. Each link creates a unique private channel.

**Q:** Can SimpleX relay servers read my messages?
A: No. Messages are end-to-end encrypted. Relay servers only see encrypted blobs and cannot link sender to recipient.

**Q:** What happens if a relay server goes down?
A: You can migrate connections to different relay servers. The protocol supports server changes without losing contacts.

**Q:** Is there a web version?
A: No. SimpleX is available as native desktop (Electron-based) and mobile apps. There is also a terminal CLI client.

## Sources
- https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat
- https://simplex.chat

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-55a926dc
Author: Script Depot