We're back

We're back with native White Noise apps for iOS and Android. Groups are far more reliable: messages catch up after time offline, and devices with the same verified group history stay in the same group even when changes arrive in a different order.

The everyday parts of chat are here too: replies, reactions, mentions, encrypted media, multiple accounts, shareable profiles and invites, and group controls. This release is steadier and ready for real conversations.

Highlights on iOS and Android#

Android now has voice dictation and Read Aloud, along with quick account switching, an AMOLED appearance, and QR cards for profiles and invites. Group controls are available directly from a person's profile.

On iOS, you can protect the app with Face ID and block screenshots. Push notifications are designed to keep conversation details private: Apple receives a generic wake, while the sender, group, message ID, and message text stay off its notification service. Your phone builds the visible notification locally.

Both apps make it easier to move between identities, share your profile, invite someone to a group, and keep a conversation moving without giving White Noise a phone number or email address.

Why it took a while#

We haven't shipped a release in several months because we rebuilt both apps and the shared core underneath them. It was a large refactor, and it gave us the chance to fix the parts that had become difficult to trust or maintain.

The result is a much more stable foundation. We have tested groups substantially, including offline catch-up and overlapping group changes. Devices with the same authenticated history now converge on the same valid group state. In plain English: the group stays together, and people get the messages waiting for them when they return.

The rebuild also changes what happens next. Fixes and features can now move into both apps without another long rewrite standing in the way.

Why Marmot#

White Noise runs on Marmot, an open messaging protocol built for private, decentralized conversations.

Your identity is a keypair you control. It works across Nostr, with no phone number or email account required. Groups use end-to-end MLS encryption, which protects older messages if a current key is exposed and restores protection for new messages after a compromised device is removed and the group advances.

Relays are replaceable, and you can run your own. No single service owns your account or your conversations. The protocol and apps are open source, so anyone can inspect how they work.

A first look for Nostr#

This release is a sneak peek for our friends on Nostr. We aren't posting it on Twitter. For now, iOS is available through TestFlight and Android through Zapstore.

App Store review is a massive pain. We would rather put the release in your hands now than wait for a listing.

• Get White Noise for iOS on TestFlight

• Get White Noise for Android on Zapstore

Thank you to the friends and family who have spent the last several weeks testing real group chats with us. Your reports helped us find and fix a long list of bugs before this release.

If something breaks, tell us through support inside the app. Keep the reports coming and we'll fix issues as quickly as we can.

The rebuild is done. Get ready for frequent releases.