Beeper Desktop - Getting Started Guide
At Beeper, we're building the best darn chat app in the world.
Getting Started Guide
Beeper Mobile - Getting Started Guide
Aren't you near your computer but have your mobile device on hand? No worries, just hop to the article that’s best for your device’s OS.
It's time! Start messaging across Beeper's 15+ networks in just four steps.
⚠️ Beeper may be less secure than using encrypted chat apps by themselves ⚠️
- Beeper is a universal chat app that supports connections to 15+ chat networks. To use Beeper, you must give the app permission to send and receive messages through other chat networks using your account credentials. By definition, this may be less secure than using other chat apps alone, especially encrypted chat apps like Signal.
- We have gone to great lengths to protect your privacy and security, including encrypting all message contents and attachments with end-to-end encryption before they are stored on our servers. This means that Beeper employees cannot read your messages after storing them on our servers. Our business model is built on this trust - you pay us to provide an excellent service. We do not harvest or resell user data. Our privacy policy is beeper.com/privacy.
Step 1 - Install Beeper Desktop
After downloading and launching the desktop app, use the email you signed up with to set up your account. Please verify and confirm your name, email, and username as you make progress through the steps (you may also choose to edit them if needed)
Step 2 - Set Up Your Account
Save your Recovery Code in a password manager.
⚠️ Beeper does not have a copy of the Recovery Code, so if you lose your key, you'll lose access to your message history. ⚠️
Step 3 - Connect to Chat Networks
Once you follow the steps, and you’re in, you will see the Chat Networks view. Follow the instructions for each to set things up. Click through the below sub-pages to see individual setups and FAQs for every chat network.
Also, if you ever need to come back to this view, click the Gear → Settings → Accounts
Note: Sometimes, we may refer to these connections as Bridges since our software bridges Beeper and each chat network.
| Discord | Signal | Telegram | |
| Google Chat | Slack | Messenger | |
| Google Messages | IRC | X (formerly Twitter) |
The level of functionality supported varies for every chat network. Check out “What features does Beeper support for my network?”.
Contact Management within the app is not yet supported. Beeper Desktop will gather your chat names directly from the Chat Network in question.
For Google Messages, if you have everything setup under the same Google Account (Android Phone, Google Messages native app, and the connection in Beeper), updating your contact's names on the phone Contact's app should do the trick.
More information here: How do I manage contacts within Beeper?
Step 4 - Install Beeper on Mobile if you haven't already.
Beeper has an app for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Download on your desktop first, then install on your phone!
Need Help?
We're here every step of the way! After logging into Beeper, go to All Chats (dropdown menu) → Report a Problem. If you can't log in or have set up issues, email help@beeper.com. We're improving Beeper every day, and we would appreciate it if you would report bugs and send us your feedback!
Beeper Tips & Tricks
Inbox can help you keep the rooms you want to focus on in the forefront.
Starting a new chat is available for the WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Google Messages bridges. Google Messages group chats can be created in Beeper Android; if you're on Desktop or iOS, use the Google Message native app or the Beeper Android app to create group chats.
FAQs
How do I log into each chat network?
- Every chat network has a different way of logging into Beeper. Some may require 2-factor authentication (we advise having 2FA enabled on all your Chat Network accounts) or QR code scanning. If you encounter any difficulties, click on the chat app connection support page above or contact Beeper Support.
I am having trouble connecting to Facebook|Telegram|WhatsApp| etc...
- First, read the Step 3 – Connect to Chat Networks. If these don't work, please contact Beeper Support.
Beeper Desktop → All Chats (dropdown menu) → Report a Problem. Include screenshots or a screen recording of what's happening.
We would be happy to guide you through setup!
Can I connect to multiple chat networks simultaneously during the setup?
- We can only connect/log into one network at a time, so please complete connecting one network before moving on to the next.
Can I continue setting up my chat networks later?
- Yes. Click the gear icon in the top left-hand corner of the Beeper desktop app and click 'Chat Networks'.
- Keep in mind that to skip this step, you must have at least connected to one Chat Network.
How long should it take to set up each chat network?
- Each chat network set-up should take about a minute, or less. It's normal to see a loading symbol while your messages sync to Beeper. If it takes longer, please report to Beeper by clicking the Report a Bug feature (Bug icon) on the top right; remember to save any screenshots and attach them to the report. Once you do that, try closing the Chat Networks screen and re-opening it.
When will I see all of my message history in Beeper?
- The level of support for this feature depends on the chat network. See this article for a complete breakdown.
What chat features from each chat network are supported in Beeper?
- The level of functionality supported varies for every network. Further details are outlined here: Network Feature Support.
What shortcuts does Beeper have?
- Go to Gear → Keyboard Shortcuts. There are a bunch, and they are customizable.
Can I prioritize or de-prioritize any of my chats?
- You can Pin chats, set them as Low Priority, mark them as unread, and mute conversations. Right-click on any chat from the left side panel to see the options' menu. Pinning chats will keep them at the top of your inbox.
Is there a list of known Beeper issues?
- Make sure your Beeper Updates chat isn't Muted or in Low Priority, and keep an eye on Beeper Status. We will post updates about news and issues on these channels.
What is the best way to report bugs and share feedback?
- Help make Beeper better! Please do not ignore bugs.
- Likewise, we love hearing what you want to see in Beeper. Please send us your feedback and feature requests.
Can I self-host my own chat networks?
- We do have a project that covers this, but you will need Beeper Desktop v3 for this. You can find out more here: https://github.com/beeper/bridge-manager for all the details!
Does Beeper run on Chrome OS?
- Unfortunately, not right now. However, depending on your Chromebook's processor, you'll be able to download the Beeper Android app from the Play Store.
How can I learn more about Beeper?
- Beeper - Product Changelog
- Follow Beeper app updates in the Beeper Updates chat room. You can search for this room from the command bar search by hitting Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K. Also, check out our website, blog, and follow us on Twitter for other general updates!
What are Beeper's privacy features?
- Beeper users own and control all their data. All messages are stored with end-to-end encryption and accessible only by the user. Beeper upholds the privacy of our users as detailed in our Privacy Policy.