Getting Started with Beeper Desktop

Welcome to Beeper! 🎉 With just a few steps, you'll be chatting across 10+ networks—all from one app.

Step 1: Install Beeper Desktop

Create an Account:

1. Install Beeper desktop from beeper.com/download
2. Open the app and choose how you want to sign in: Continue with Google, Continue with Apple (macOS only), or Continue with Email.
   • Google or Apple: A sign-in page opens (for Google, in your default web browser). Choose your account, then return to Beeper when the page says you can close the window. If your Google or Apple email already belongs to a Beeper account, we'll send a 6-digit code to that email to confirm it's you.
   • Email: Enter your email address, then enter the 6-digit code we send you.
3. Type in your preferred username and proceed with the prompt

⚠️ Important - Save your Recovery Key: While it doesn't prompt you to view or save your recovery code immediately after creating your account, you can access this by going to Settings > click on your profile > click on the dropdown on the top right > Show Recovery Key. 

Copy and save your Recovery Key: We recommend saving it in your iCloud Keychain if using a Mac or in a password manager if using Windows or Linux. We don’t store your Recovery Code. If you lose it, you may lose access to your message history in Beeper. 

Existing login:

Already have a Beeper account? Sign in using the same email you used to sign up for an account and enter the 6-digit login code you receive via email (or use Continue with Google or Apple if you've linked them to your account), and verify your login either by emoji verification using an existing Beeper login session on another app or by entering your recovery code 

Step 2: Connect Your Chat Networks

Once your account is set up, you’ll be taken to the screen above where you can connect any of your chat accounts. Just click Connect beside the desired chat network and follow the prompt on your screen. Once done, you'll be taken directly into your inbox.

Please note that it is not currently possible to skip this screen, but you can delete any chat network you connect later once you're able to proceed to your inbox. If you need to delete or add more chat networks, you can head over to the stack icon on the top left, then select Settings > Accounts. Here's the list of chat networks that we support: 

Which Chat Networks Beeper Support?

The level of functionality supported varies for each chat network. For a detailed view, check out What features does Beeper support for my network?
 

Step 3: Download Beeper iOS or Android

This step is completely optional, but recommended. For the best Beeper experience across devices, you may download Beeper on your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices too.

💡 Frequently Asked Questions:

1. It's not letting me choose my preferred username
   • We typically display a specific error when the app does not accept your preferred username. If the username is not already taken, please check that the username meets the criteria. We only support numbers, lowercase letters, and hyphens (-) to create your username. We do not support uppercase letters, special characters, spaces, or accented letters at this time.
      
2. I am having trouble connecting my chat network account
   • We recommend checking out the guide for your chat networked linked under Step 2 above. If all prerequisites are met, and you're still having trouble, please reach out to our team via Settings > Report a Problem.
      
3. It's taking a while to connect my chat network
   • It should be a fairly quick process (<1 minute). It's normal to see a loading symbol while your messages sync to Beeper, but if you observe any extensive delay in the connection process, please reach out to us by submitting a bug report. 
      
4. Can I see all of my message history in Beeper?
   • The amount of chat history that Beeper is able to backfill is different for each chat network. See this article for a complete breakdown.
      
5. Which features for each chat network are supported in Beeper?
   • Supported features vary by network. We have outlined them here: Network Feature Support
      
6. How can I start a new chat?
   • Press the Start a New Chat icon in the Inbox area, at the top right corner. 
      
7. Can I schedule messages with Beeper?
   • Yes! Scheduling is part of our paid subscription. We recommend upgrading to Beeper Plus or Beeper Plus Plus.
      
8. Is there a list of known Beeper issues?
   • We don't keep a public-facing list of known bugs or product improvements, but we recommend checking out the Beeper Updates channel in your Beeper app or check out Beeper Status. We post updates about news and system-wide issues on these channels.
      
9. How can I sign out of Beeper desktop?
   • To sign out, go to Settings > Devices > look for your current device and click the corresponding ‘Logout’ button.
      
10. Why are my Mac/Windows contacts not syncing in Beeper?
    • Contact management within Beeper desktop is not yet supported. Beeper will gather chat names directly from your chat networks.
      
      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?
       
11. Does Beeper run on Chrome OS?
    • Not at this time. Depending on your Chromebook's processor, you may be able to download and use the Beeper Android app into your device.
12. I signed up with email. Can I sign in with Google or Apple instead?
    • Yes. Go to Settings > click on your profile > Sign-In Methods and link your Google account or Apple ID. You may be asked to confirm with a code sent to your email. Your email sign-in will keep working.
    • If your Google or Apple email is the same as your Beeper email, you can also click Continue with Google or Continue with Apple on the sign-in screen. We'll send a 6-digit code to that email, and once you enter it, the account is linked.
       
13. My Google or Apple email is different from my Beeper email
    • Sign in with Continue with Email using your Beeper email first, then link Google or Apple from Settings > click on your profile > Sign-In Methods. If you continue with Google or Apple using a different email, Beeper won't find your account and will offer to create a new one.
    • Each Google account or Apple ID can only be linked to one Beeper account. If you see that it's "already linked to another Beeper account," sign in with it to reach that account, or unlink it there first.
       
14. The Google sign-in page opened in my browser, but nothing happened in Beeper
    • Keep Beeper open while you sign in, and finish within 5 minutes. If it still doesn't continue, close the browser tab, go back to Beeper, and click Continue with Google again.