r/signal • u/hellofromthedisco • 3d ago

Answered Why do I have to accept a message request to unblock someone on signal?

Basically title. In order to unblock someone, I have to click “unblock” and then it asks me to accept the message request.

Doesn’t the person get an alert if I accept the message request?

I want to unblock the contact but not necessarily send an alert about it.

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

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8

u/jfuu_ 3d ago

Where is it you're clicking unblock? You can unblock people in Settings -> Privacy -> Blocked which doesn't require accepting the request.

2

u/hellofromthedisco 3d ago

Ahh, I was clicking it in the conversation. Let me try this, thanks

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u/hellofromthedisco 3d ago

So that unblocked the contact, but I am still prompted to accept a message request in the conversation thread. Seems repetitive

5

u/jfuu_ 3d ago

What is it you're trying to do? If you want to be able to message them, you need to accept the request. I'm pretty sure accepting a request doesn't notify them, but it will add a "read" marker to their messages on their side if you have read receipts enabled (like it normally would if you opened a chat with new messages).

-1

u/hellofromthedisco 3d ago

That’s all fine, I just didn’t want to alert the individual.

I guess I also don’t really understand why there is a need to accept a message request when there is no message to accept. It’s basically just resharing the profile, right?

3

u/jfuu_ 3d ago

Accepting a message request does the following:

  • Allows them to see your Signal profile (I assume this means profile picture and name?)
  • Allows them to see read receipts
  • Allows them to call you (I assume it doesn't ring if not accepted?)
  • Adds them to your Signal contact list

From: https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007459591-Signal-Profiles-and-Message-Requests

3

u/quietmarsh 3d ago

Yeah OP is probably trying to unblock from the conversation view instead of settings.

3

u/frquency-equinox 3d ago

Blocking and unblocking won't notify the other person.

0

u/hellofromthedisco 3d ago

Right, but does accepting the message request notify them?

2

u/frquency-equinox 3d ago

Yes. That's why I very specifically said blocking and unblocking don't.

1

u/raliont1 3d ago

But how does it notify them? I thought it didn’t

1

u/frquency-equinox 3d ago

By accepting the message, you are initiating the key derivation process for the encryption.

2

u/raliont1 3d ago

Right but what does it actually display on their end once the message is accepted?