What you are actually checking
Before a device change, an existing Signal owner has two things to confirm: that they know the PIN their account expects, and whether registration lock is switched on. Both are found in the same place, and both affect what happens when the number is registered on a new phone.
This is a settings review, not a recovery service. No username lookup, public profile search or third-party directory can view, change or reset these controls. They belong to the Signal account tied to your phone number.
Separate the four secrets
People often say “PIN” when they mean something else. Keep these distinct before you start:
| Secret | What it is | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Signal PIN | A PIN set inside Signal | Recovering profile information, settings, contacts and the block list |
| SMS verification code | A code sent to your number during registration | Proving you control the number |
| Device passcode | Your phone’s lock screen code | Unlocking the device itself |
| Chat backup | A separate backup file or transfer | Moving message history |
A Signal PIN helps recover profile information, settings, contacts and the block list; it is not an SMS verification code, device passcode or chat backup. Source
A practical consequence: typing your phone’s lock-screen code into Signal will not satisfy a PIN prompt, and a PIN does not bring back old messages. If your goal is message history, plan the device’s own transfer or backup path separately.
Step 1: Confirm you know the PIN
On your active phone, open Signal and go to Settings > Account > Change your PIN. Follow the app’s prompts and keep the chosen PIN somewhere you can retrieve it. Changing a PIN does not demonstrate that you remembered the previous one.
The owner can change the PIN and manage registration lock in Signal Settings under Account; Signal cannot recover or reset a forgotten PIN. Source
Do this while you still have the old device and a working session. If the screen asks for the current PIN and you cannot supply it, stop and read the forgotten-PIN branches below before wiping or trading in the phone.
Step 2: Review registration lock
In Settings > Account, check whether registration lock is enabled. Review its current state before a device change; do not disable this protection automatically.
Forgotten PIN: two branches
The outcome depends on whether registration lock is enabled.
| Situation | Documented consequence | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| PIN forgotten, registration lock on | The lock expires after seven days of inactivity; access may be blocked for up to seven days | Expect a wait measured from inactivity, not from the moment you remember |
| PIN forgotten, registration lock off | Creating a new PIN can lose some profile information | Accept that some profile details may not carry over |
Registration lock expires after seven days of inactivity, so a forgotten PIN with lock enabled may block access for up to seven days; without lock, creating a new PIN can lose some profile information. Source
The seven-day figure is an expiry condition, not a promise that access returns at a fixed hour. Do not schedule a deadline you cannot verify, and do not assume chats will reappear when the lock clears.
A worked example (hypothetical)
Suppose you plan to sell your phone but cannot recall the PIN. Review the options on your active phone before erasing it. If registration on another phone is blocked, follow Signal’s forgotten-PIN guidance; a registration lock expires after seven days of inactivity. The PIN does not restore chats, so arrange message transfer separately.
What this review does not do
- It does not recover an account, bypass a lock or prove who owns a username.
- It does not show whether a public handle belongs to a particular person.
- It does not replace Signal’s own settings screens; if a menu label differs on your version, follow what your app displays.
A sensible next step
Once the PIN and lock state are settled, the neighboring task is often about keeping your identity consistent across a number change. If that is your situation, see the related account-control guide.
For the separate question of what your username and phone number expose publicly, continue with review your public account footprint. That guide covers public matches, which are leads rather than proof of ownership, and it does not touch Signal’s PIN or lock settings.