Help Center

Creating an account is simple:

• Visit web.sleutl.com or open the Sleutl app
• Click "Register" or "Create Account"
• Enter your email address and create a secure password
• Optionally add your phone number for contact discovery
• Choose a display name (this is what others will see)
• Click "Create Account" and you're ready to go!

Your encryption keys are automatically generated during registration and stored securely on your device.

Each Sleutl user has a unique code shown in their profile. To add a contact:

• Click the "New Chat" button in the sidebar
• Enter your contact's unique code (they can find this in their profile settings)
• Click "Start Chat" to begin your encrypted conversation

You can also share your own code with friends so they can add you.

Yes! Sleutl is completely free to use. We believe privacy should be accessible to everyone, so there are no premium features, subscriptions, or hidden costs. All features are available to all users.

Sleutl is available on:

• Web App: Use in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) at web.sleutl.com
• macOS: Download our native desktop app from the download page
• iOS & Android: Coming soon!

You can also install the web app as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for an app-like experience on any device.

To share media in a conversation:

• Click the attachment button (paperclip/plus icon) in the message input
• Select "Photo" or "Video" from the menu
• Choose a file from your device or take a new photo/video
• Optionally edit the image (crop, rotate, add filters)
• Click "Send" to share

All media is encrypted before sending - only the recipient can view it.

To send a voice message:

• Click the microphone button in the message input
• Allow microphone access if prompted
• Start speaking - the app will record your message
• Click the stop button when finished
• Preview your recording, then click Send

Voice messages are encrypted just like text messages.

To react to a message:

• Long-press (mobile) or hover and click the reaction button (desktop) on any message
• Select an emoji from the picker
• Your reaction will appear below the message

You can remove your reaction by clicking on it again.

To reply to a specific message:

• Hover over the message you want to reply to
• Click the reply icon (curved arrow)
• The original message will be quoted above your input
• Type your reply and send

The recipient will see the original message quoted in your reply for context.

Disappearing messages automatically delete after a set time:

• Open a conversation and click the settings/info icon
• Enable "Disappearing Messages"
• Choose a timer (30 seconds to 7 days)
• All new messages in that conversation will auto-delete after being read

Both you and the recipient can enable this feature. Once deleted, messages cannot be recovered.

End-to-end encryption means your messages are encrypted on your device before they're sent. Only you and your recipient have the keys to decrypt them.

This means:

• Sleutl cannot read your messages
• No one intercepting your messages can read them
• Even if our servers were hacked, your messages remain secure

We use the Signal Protocol - the same encryption used by security experts worldwide.

No. Your messages are encrypted with keys that only exist on your device and your recipient's device. We have no way to decrypt or read your messages - this is mathematically guaranteed, not just a policy.

We collect only the minimum information needed:

• Email: For account recovery and important notifications
• Phone number (optional): For contact discovery if you choose
• Display name: How others see you

We do NOT collect:

• Message content (we can't - it's encrypted)
• Your contacts list
• Location data
• Browsing history or device identifiers

You can control whether others see when you've read their messages:

• Go to Settings (gear icon)
• Navigate to Privacy settings
• Toggle "Read Receipts" on or off

Note: If you disable read receipts, you also won't see when others have read your messages.

To create a group chat:

• Click the "New Group" button in the sidebar
• Enter a name for your group
• Add members from your existing contacts
• Click "Create Group"

You'll automatically be the admin of groups you create. All group messages are end-to-end encrypted.

If you're a group admin:

• Open the group chat
• Click the group name or info icon at the top
• Click "Add Members" to add new people
• Click on a member's name to see options including "Remove from group"

Only admins can add or remove members.

To leave a group:

• Open the group chat
• Click the group name or info icon
• Scroll down and click "Leave Group"
• Confirm your choice

You'll no longer receive messages from that group. If you're the only admin, consider making someone else admin first.

Yes! All group messages are end-to-end encrypted using sender keys. Each message is encrypted once and distributed to all members, with each member having their own key to decrypt messages. This maintains full security while being efficient for groups.

To update your profile:

• Go to Settings (gear icon)
• Click on your profile section
• Click your name to edit it, or click your avatar to change your picture
• Save your changes

Changes are reflected immediately for all your contacts.

To reset your password:

• Go to the login page
• Click "Forgot Password"
• Enter your email address
• Check your email for reset instructions
• Click the link and create a new password

Note: Password reset may require re-establishing secure sessions with your contacts due to how encryption keys are managed.

To delete your account:

• Go to Settings (gear icon)
• Scroll to the bottom
• Click "Delete Account"
• Confirm by entering your password

Warning: This permanently deletes your account and all associated data. Messages you've sent will still exist on recipients' devices, but your profile will be removed. This action cannot be undone.

To find and share your unique code:

• Go to Settings (gear icon)
• Look for "My Code" or "Share Profile"
• Copy your code or use the share button

Friends can use this code to find and message you on Sleutl.

If messages aren't sending:

• Check your internet connection
• Try refreshing the page (web) or restarting the app
• Check if there are any service issues on our status page
• Try logging out and back in
• Clear your browser cache and cookies

Messages will be sent automatically once your connection is restored.

To fix notification issues:

• Browser: Check that notifications are allowed in your browser settings for web.sleutl.com
• In-app: Go to Settings > Notifications and ensure they're enabled
• System: Check your device's notification settings
• Try logging out and back in to refresh notification registration

Note: Notifications may be delayed on some mobile browsers when the app isn't active.

Try these steps to improve performance:

• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try using a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Disable browser extensions that might interfere
• Check your internet speed
• Try using the desktop app instead of the web version

Sleutl works best on modern browsers with JavaScript enabled.

If you've lost access to your encryption keys (e.g., cleared browser data):

• You'll need to re-establish secure sessions with your contacts
• Past messages from before the key loss may not be recoverable
• Log in again and Sleutl will generate new keys
• Your contacts will be notified to re-verify your identity

This is a security feature - it ensures that even if someone gains access to your account, they can't read past messages.