Olvid
Private messaging for everyone
Free · In‑App Purchases
Olvid is the first private instant messaging application for everyone.
What is a "private" messenger?
It's a messenger:
- That does not push new contacts on you. You are in control: you choose who you want to discuss with. Olvid offers several ways to invite other Olvid users, either face-to-face or remotely.
- That does not require any personal data. Olvid won't ask for your phone number, for your email. Unlike your previous messenger, Olvid will never request access to your address book.
- On which you will never receive unsolicited messages or messages from an unknown source.
- Where all exchanges benefit from the same security and privacy as a real-world discussion behind closed doors. Olvid offers end-to-end encryption and end-to-end authentication by default, always, for everything you send or receive.
Olvid guarantees you safe spaces, immune to external aggression, which isolate you from the digital noise and violence of other social networks. Create groups with your family, friends and key collaborators. No spam, no advertising. You finally regain full control over your communications.
Olvid has been designed to be the best place to exchange on subjects that matter, with those who matter to you.
Olvid - Technology
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At the heart of Olvid, a 'cryptographic engine' coming from several years of research allows to mathematically prove the authenticity, the integrity, and the confidentiality of your communications.
more The UI is a little simplistic in its appearance. It could use a notch closer to a modern interface with elements a little thinner and less bold. That said the use is easy and though it takes some getting use to adding contact isn't too difficult.I'm happy to be using a more secure messaging service without international cost implication which is what I was looking for in the first place! Less snooping and data sharing. More privacy. It's too bad the video is a paying service that said I understand on that one...
The UI is a little simplistic in its appearance. It could use a notch closer to a modern interface with elements a little thinner and less bold. That said the use is easy and though it takes some getting use to adding contact isn't too difficult.I'm happy to be using a more secure messaging service without international cost implication which is what I was looking for in the first place! Less snooping and data sharing. More privacy. It's too bad the video is a paying service that said I understand on that one...
one area for improvement is in the new conversation UI. There’s too many rich messaging options that i would never use. two separate buttons for document scanning and document upload? that’s very silly. maybe let use choose which buttons should be on the bottom bar?
Developer Response Hi cothalesr 👋 !Thank you so much for taking time to write a review for Olvid!We heard you. The rich messaging options can now be reorganized at your will, making more accessible the buttons you use the most. You can further customize this area by choosing your preferred quick emoji (globally for the entire app, with possible overrides by discussion). We hope you will like these improvements!Have a great day and thank you again for the review 🙌.
one area for improvement is in the new conversation UI. There’s too many rich messaging options that i would never use. two separate buttons for document scanning and document upload? that’s very silly. maybe let use choose which buttons should be on the bottom bar?
Hi cothalesr 👋 !Thank you so much for taking time to write a review for Olvid!We heard you. The rich messaging options can now be reorganized at your will, making more accessible the buttons you use the most. You can further customize this area by choosing your preferred quick emoji (globally for the entire app, with possible overrides by discussion). We hope you will like these improvements!Have a great day and thank you again for the review 🙌.
i have been using this app on my phone with my kids for years, as they have a phone but no SIM card / no phone number. i like the privacy and the secure handshake to initiate a conversation with a new contact, this allows me to control who they are talking to and make sure they don’t talk with strangers. today i am glad to see that there is even a macOS app that i can use on my computer! thank you Olvid
i have been using this app on my phone with my kids for years, as they have a phone but no SIM card / no phone number. i like the privacy and the secure handshake to initiate a conversation with a new contact, this allows me to control who they are talking to and make sure they don’t talk with strangers. today i am glad to see that there is even a macOS app that i can use on my computer! thank you Olvid
I love the fact that this app is clean and doesn’t allow browsing of public profiles or profile pictures. It also doesn’t have any unwanted content like GIFs. It’s the perfect app for private messaging without any distractions.
I love the fact that this app is clean and doesn’t allow browsing of public profiles or profile pictures. It also doesn’t have any unwanted content like GIFs. It’s the perfect app for private messaging without any distractions.
- If your profile is managed by your organization, staying signed in now works reliably, so you're no longer unexpectedly asked to sign in again. Creating such a profile now correctly uses the server defined by your organization.
- Scanning a QR code or link that bundles a server and an activation key now opens a redesigned, easier-to-read screen, so you can see exactly what you're about to set up before continuing.
- Your profile's details now show which server it's hosted on.
- When you activate a license tied to a specific server, Olvid now only offers the profiles that can actually use it.
- Calling availability and subscription status are now only shared between your profiles when they're on the same server.
- Fixed an issue where entering an already-used activation key could leave the screen stuck on a spinner during onboarding.
4.3.1 Jun 26
New
- You can now use Olvid with Apple CarPlay. Browse your recent discussions, have messages read aloud, and start calls directly from your car's screen.
- You can now send messages, make calls, search your conversations, and send voice messages using Siri.
- Tap the Discussions tab a second time to jump straight back to the top of your conversation list.
- Olvid is now available in Vietnamese.
Improvements
- Group updates, including group photo changes, are now more reliable and more efficient.
- Improved message processing when launching the app.
- Refreshed a few in-app notices to use Olvid's newer tip style, including the microphone and camera permission prompts and the "a new version is available" notice.
- When transferring your profile to a new device, network errors and profiles already present on the new device now show dedicated screens with clear steps to resolve the issue.
Bug fixes
- Fixed a bug where delivery and read receipts could be sent twice in certain situations.
- Fixed an issue where a contact's internal identifier could briefly appear instead of their name on the call screen.
- On Mac, copying text from the message compose field now pastes correctly into other apps.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when editing a message on Mac.
- Tapping certain actions on a contact or group screen no longer opens a screen behind it.
- The option to introduce a contact is now hidden when an introduction isn't possible.
- Fixed an issue where in-app notices could cover the button used to start a new discussion.
- Fixed an issue where messages could be duplicated on the receiving device during a message history transfer.
- Fixed the Cancel button on the message history transfer confirmation so it now properly dismisses the prompt.
- During a message history transfer, attachments the new device doesn't need are now properly skipped instead of leaving incomplete files behind.
- The transfer progress on the receiving device no longer appears frozen while it skips attachments it doesn't need.
- After sending your message history, the status shown on the original device now correctly indicates when the other device didn't need some attachments, instead of suggesting something went wrong.
- Fixed an issue that could slow down or stall the reception of messages while a contact was continuously sharing their location.
- You can now copy the text of messages with limited visibility.
- You can now share attachments from messages with limited visibility.
- Siri no longer offers to save Olvid identifiers to your address book from notifications.
- Fixed an issue where old reactions and poll votes could be re-sent to all members of certain groups, triggering unwanted notifications.
4.3 Jun 17
- You can now transfer your chat history between devices — a feature many of you have been waiting for!
- Improved paste experience: copy text, media, or attachments from anywhere — even outside Olvid — and paste them directly into the message composition area. A new "Paste" button is also available in the "+" menu for easy access.
- Added a new setting to disable autocorrection, making it easier to copy and paste code without unwanted changes.
- Improved reply experience: dismiss the blur view to continue your conversation while keeping the reply context visible.
- Added notifications to alert you when one of your devices is about to be deactivated.
- When you type the @ symbol to mention someone, the order of contacts in the list is now more natural.
- Adding or removing group members now includes haptic feedback to help prevent accidental additions or removals.
- New for Enterprise users: managed profiles can now authenticate using their Olvid cryptographic identity as an alternative to standard OpenID Connect, making authentication fully transparent.
- Managed profiles can now also authenticate via a single-use magic link, simplifying the first login flow.
- Replaced the repeated notification authorization prompt with a non-intrusive in-app tip, shown only when relevant.
- Force-press the Olvid app icon to quickly access the scanner and connect with other Olvid users faster than ever.
- Fixed the "Stop sharing" button not working correctly in the location-sharing view inside a message.
- Fixed incorrect tips being shown while sharing your location.
- Resolved an issue that could occur when downloading an attachment received more than three months ago.
- Fixed a graphical issue in the message editing screen.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when editing a sent message.
- Attempting to register or bind a revoked managed profile now displays a specific, actionable error message instead of a generic failure.
- Japanese and Korean are now supported languages.
4.2 May 6
- Redesigned message composer for a sleek new interface when typing text, adding attachments, voice messages, and sending messages.
- Introduced real-time location sharing for 2 minutes, with updates almost every second, in addition to the existing 1-hour and unlimited options.
- Faster processing of return receipts, ensuring smoother app startup—especially after your device has been off for a while.
- Improved call setup speed and reliability by optimizing network connection handling.
- You can now condense the introductory message in discussions for a cleaner view.
- Olvid is now available in 4 more languages.
- Received messages now show the exact date and time they were delivered to the server.
- Fixed an issue where notifications would not appear for messages containing only attachments.
- Resolved a problem where actions from user notifications were sometimes unreliable.
- Fixed bugs in the location sharing feature for better reliability.
- Fixed an issue where tapping an Olvid call in the iPhone call log would not always start a new call.
- Fixed an issue where unbinding would incorrectly occur when reconnecting to a Keycloak instance you are already linked to.
- Fixed an issue where poll results in group discussions could appear incorrect for users who joined after the poll was created.
- Fixed an issue where reaction dates could appear incorrect to users who joined a group after the reaction was sent.
- Fixed an issue sometimes preventing users from listening to audio messages.
- Fixed an issue where it was possible to forward a received message without downloading all its attachments first.
- Fixed a UI issue preventing users from easily muting a discussion for a certain time.
- Expired read-once messages are now reliably deleted when the app starts up.
- May fix the camera button of the standard CallKit interface.
- Updated WebRTC to version 7390 for improved performance.
- Improved the design of the call participant screen.
- Advanced users can now use alternative TURN servers with rotating IP addresses.
- Fixed a rare crash that could occur during app use.
- Resolved an issue where the "Create group with..." button on contact sheets did not always respond as expected.
4.1 Mar 23
- Olvid+ now offers new subscription plans, allowing you to share your subscription with family and stay securely connected together.
- Refreshed app design for a more modern and intuitive experience.
- Smoother performance, especially when launching Olvid with a large message history to sync.
- Background push notifications are no longer required to use Olvid.
- Resolved a memory issue related to new audio messages.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented deleted messages from being removed from your contacts' devices.
- Fixed a bug that occasionally prevented voice messages from playing through the speaker.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented voice messages from being sent.
4.0.3 12/03/2025
- Polls in Chats: Now create polls in any discussion and let everyone share their opinion in just a tap!
- Completely redesigned contact experience: Tap the new floating "+" button (on every tab) to add contacts instantly—via QR scan, invitation link, or from a list of suggested users (including Olvid users from shared groups).
- One-click invites: Easily connect with users from your shared groups.
- Redesigned voice message cells with interactive waveforms and playback speed controls (1x, 1.5x, 2x) for a richer audio experience.
- Improved onboarding design.
- Resolved an issue that could prevent secure calls from being properly established, improving call reliability.
- Improved the reliability of user notification delivery.
- Optimized startup operations in Olvid for faster and more efficient app launch.
- Olvid is now available in German.
4.0.2 10/23/2025
- Olvid is now available in Spanish and Italian.
- Completely redesigned the group list.
- Resolved an animation issue when entering discussions on iOS 16.
- Fixed an issue where messages with only attachments (no text) occasionally failed to sync across your devices.
- Improved the design and readability of discussion titles in Liquid Glass.
- In multi-device setups, accepting new group information on one device didn't always sync to other linked devices, occasionally requiring re-acceptance. This issue has been fixed.
- Other usability and design improvements
4.0.1 10/01/2025
- We are ready for iOS 26.
- We've enhanced the message reception process to ensure smoother and more consistent performance.
- You can now share entire directories with Olvid! Simply select a folder, and it will be automatically zipped and attached.
- Enhanced result sharing, especially for articles.
- Fixed a rare issue where some discussions might not appear in your recent discussions list.
- Fixed an issue where attachments sent from your other devices might fail to download.
- Fixed inconsistent profile ordering between the profile selection view and the fast-switching gesture.
- Various improvements and bug fixes to keep things running smoothly.
- We're working on the #1 feature request. Stay tuned!
4.0 09/23/2025
- Introducing the new storage management module! Optimize your disk space in a snap by reviewing and easily deleting unwanted large files. More space, better performance, pure joy!
- Enhanced multi-device functionality: Users can now check the status of messages sent from any device across all their devices.
- We have completely redesigned the "recent discussions" tab and introduced a new method for archiving your discussions.
- Implemented various enhancements to the new group flow to increase usability.
- Improved the accessibility of group flows.
- Updated the panel displaying reactions to messages.
- Navigating through the app during a video call will no longer interrupt your own video stream.
- Ensured system stability during long migrations to prevent shutdowns and maintain continuity.
- Fixes a graphical issue impacting the invitations tab.
- Fixes an issue with the badge computation of the invitation tab.
- Addressed a problem that occasionally prevented users from cloning a group.
- Addressed an issue sometimes preventing the proper upload of messages.
- Fixed a bug where copying a new link to the clipboard could leave the previously copied link still present.
- Fixed an issue where the button for recording a voice message could disappear under certain circumstances.
- Resolved an issue where the settings to hide specific group messages were not functioning correctly, ensuring that message filtering now works as intended.
- Implemented minor graphical improvements.
3.9 07/07/2025
- We've redesigned the group creation and editing experience from the ground up to make it more intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly.
- Major improvement to the geolocation feature!
- It is now possible to access all your contacts' shared locations at once.
- Furthermore, sharing your location is now fully battery efficient.
- Resolves an issue where notifications were not displayed for messages containing attachments only.
- Addresses a problem causing specific timestamps to be overridden for sent messages.
- We have made significant improvements to the profile deletion process, ensuring a more reliable experience with clearer visual indicators.
- We optimized core aspects of the app, resulting in improved overall performance and efficiency.
- Upon launching the directory screen, an initial search is performed immediately.
- Additional design improvements have been made.
3.8 05/22/2025
- Introducing a New Backup Process!
- The old backup process has been replaced with a new, simple, and secure method for backing up your profiles.
- Automatically perform end-to-end encrypted backups of all your profiles, or choose to do it manually. You have full control.
- Optimizes performance when marking all messages in a discussion as 'read'.
- Now displays nicknames instead of first names for the sender of the last group message in the recent discussions list.
- Improved the experience when transferring a message to multiple discussions.
- Bug Fix: Resolved an issue that occasionally prevented the deletion of a locked discussion.
- Improves certain designs.
3.7 04/28/2025
- Performance optimization for group updates, resulting in a significant speed increase.
- Resolution of a bug causing notifications with solely attachments to fail to display properly.
3.6 02/12/2025
- Introducing a highly anticipated feature! You can now share your location with your contacts.
- As you would expect from Olvid, your location is end-to-end encrypted.
- It's also possible to share specific locations.
- The recent discussions list now displays the status of the last message in each conversation more clearly.
- Messages deleted from both sender and recipient devices will be permanently removed with no trace remaining.
- Optimized message handling for faster processing of newly received messages.
- Enhanced and optimized secure audio and video calls, particularly in multi-device scenarios.
- Improved network efficiency of audio and video calls.
- Fixes a bug occuring while editing a group containing pending members that have yet to become contacts.
- Receiving a notification in a group discussion in read-only mode no longer triggers a user notification.
- Fixes a bug sometimes preventing the scrolling to the "just sent" message.
- Fixes the flickering of messages in the discussion view.
- Tapping a notification should navigate to the appropriate message faster.
- Resolved issues with Keycloak revocation process.
- Addressed a problem causing difficulty when dragging and dropping an URL from certain browsers.
3.5 01/16/2025
- A new progress bar now appears when Olvid is working hard to get everything ready for you.
- For our Pro users: Enhanced security for managed profile transfers! Your administrator can now enforce authentication on the new device.
- If you introduce one contact to another, they will always see a notification.
- We've optimized the booting process to reduce startup time, even if the app was offline for a long time.
- Improves the efficiency of group updates.
- Actions like sending messages, marking as "read", and others now respond more quickly.
- Long-running tasks such as database synchronizations are now performed in the background when the device is idle.
- We've fixed an issue that was blocking navigation when you tapped on reaction notifications.
- We've addressed a problem that occasionally slowed down the app's response time when interacting with notifications.
- We've fixed an issue that was preventing the notification privacy setting from working as expected.
- In a managed environment, we've added a new trust origin when a contact becomes certified.
- In a managed environment, if authentication is required, the alert now clearly indicates which profile needs your attention.
3.4 12/05/2024
- Our notifications have been completely revamped to make them less intrusive, yet more reliable and relevant than ever before.
- Notifications about new messages are now grouped by discussion, making it easier to stay on top of your chats.
- Plus, if someone edits or deletes a message they sent you, Olvid will reflect those changes in real-time, so you always have an accurate view of the conversation.
- And if you use Olvid on multiple devices, we've got you covered! When you read a message on one device, the notification will automatically disappear from all your other devices.
- Ensures messages sent before (but received after) a remote deletion request are properly discarded, preventing unexpected appearances.
- Personal notes are now taken into account when searching for a contact or a discussion.
- Resolves an issue that occasionally blocked users from editing their preferred emojis.
- Addresses a problem that sometimes hindered the creation and editing of personal notes.
- Sharing an invitation with AirDrop now shares the invitation URL.
3.3 10/23/2024
- Fixes an issue preventing invitations to be properly displayed under iOS 15.
3.2.1 09/19/2024
- Olvid is now fully compatible with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
3.2 09/19/2024
- We've redesigned the experience of reacting to messages! A double tap (or long press) on a message now conveniently displays only your preferred reactions.
- You're in control - these preferred reactions are fully customizable.
- Get better insights into your message delivery! We've introduced enhanced sent message statuses that provide more details about who has received and read your messages and attachments.
- When the administrator of a group adds or removes group members, a complete list of changes is now shown in the group discussion.
- Olvid now supports handoff.
- The invitation flow has been streamlined for a smoother experience.
- The double-scan invitation method is now faster than ever!
- Enhances the scrolling performance on the discussion screen.
- Message reception is now more reliable than ever.
- The badge displaying new messages in the profile list now accurately reflects the number of new invitations as well.
- We've fixed an issue that allowed a contact to wipe out all messages in a one-to-one discussion.
- We've fixed an issue that prevented the global deletion of a locked one-to-one discussion in a multi-device setting.
- Minor graphical tweaks.
3.1 09/16/2024
- Reliability Boost: Significant improvements in multi-device settings, ensuring a smoother experience across all devices.
- Instant Connections: When adding a new contact, you can now start chatting immediately, with no waiting time whatsoever.
- URL Preview Refinement: When a preview is available, URLs at the end of messages are now hidden.
- Read Message Sync: Fixed an issue where messages marked as read on one device would incorrectly remain unread on other devices.
- Secure Call Stability: Resolved a rare issue with secure calls in multi-device settings, where calls could occasionally hang up after 30 seconds.
- Enhanced Notification Reliability: Improved notifications for messages received in recently joined groups, ensuring consistent delivery across all devices.
- Draft Fix: Resolved an issue where drafts with attachments but no text couldn't be sent using the keyboard shortcut.
- Multi-Device Discussion Deletion: Fixed various issues related to deleting discussions across multiple devices.
- Admin Preserved in Group Cloning: Cloning a group now retains the admin's chosen settings.
- Duration Display and Modification Fix: Fixed a bug preventing the display and modification of existence or visibility durations outside of enum values.
- Database Migration Recovery: Improved strategies to recover from certain database migration errors.
- Miscellaneous Improvements and Bug Fixes: Various minor enhancements and bug fixes to further enhance the overall user experience.
3.0 07/02/2024
- Resolved an intermittent issue with profile transfers from other devices.
- Enhanced the cryptographic library.
- Various minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.5 06/07/2024
- Introducing group types! Creating and managing an Olvid group is now easier than ever.
- It is no longer possible to moderate received messages unless in an advanced group configured with the appropriate permissions.
- Two options are now available when deleting a message or discussion: delete from the local device or from all devices you own.
- Reacting to a message can now be done by performing a long-press on the message. Double-tap reaction option is still available.
- Fixed a bug where carriage returns in received messages were not always properly displayed.
- The list of available message or discussion deletion options now properly adapts to the context.
- It is now always possible to react to a message, even in a read-only group discussion.
- Removed the reply-to menu entry that was shown on messages in read-only discussions.
- Enhanced user experience by refining the display of backup-related tips.
- Improved the process of deleting messages in a group with no other members.
- Fixed a potential crash that could occur when the app is running in the background.
- Improved the efficiency of certain network calls by batching several calls into one.
- Improved the preview displayed for URLs pointing to a video.
- Fixed a bug that sometimes caused certain contacts to be relegated to the list of secondary (other) contacts.
- Fixed a bug that occasionally prevented the proper deletion of a profile.
- Fixed a bug that prevented proper highlighting during a search within a discussion.
- Fixed a bug that sometimes caused received messages to be truncated.
- Fixed a bug that impacted user notifications by removing carriage returns from the notification body.
- Fixed a minor bug during the onboarding process.
- Other minor bug fixes and improvements.
2.4 06/03/2024
- Added an option to hide system messages displayed in a group discussion when the group members change.
- For enterprise users, leaving the company directory now clears the position and company fields.
- Sent receipts and read receipts have been made significantly more dependable.
- When deleting a message everywhere, your other devices now simply delete the message.
- Deleting a profile is now done from the screen showing the details about the profile.
- Resolved an iPad display bug that occurred when minimizing the app.
- Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented the proper display of a QR code.
- Improved support for numbered lists in Markdown within messages.
2.3 04/25/2024
- Olvid's messages now support Markdown formatting!
- Enhanced attachment design, especially focusing on PDF attachments within the discussion view.
- Added the ability to copy a URL when tapped within a discussion.
- Implemented a user notification when another participant begins streaming their video during a call that has been put in the background.
- Adressed minor issues with the video call functionality.
- Implemented various minor bug fixes and improvements.
2.2 04/01/2024
- Behold, adventurers of the digital realm! We present to you a long-awaited treasure: Secure video calls now grace the lands of iOS and iPadOS!
- Our call view has undergone a dramatic makeover to accommodate these splendid video calls. Prepare to be dazzled!
- Seeking wisdom within the scrolls of conversation? Fear not! You can now wield the power of search across all messages in a discussion.
- Behold the mighty keyboard shortcuts, wielder of efficiency! With the almighty Cmd+F, you can summon the search within discussions, while Cmd+G guides you to the next hidden gem.
- The legendary Cmd+Home now serves as the vanquisher of stacked discussions. Press it, and watch them scatter like leaves in the wind!
- Time marches on, but fear not, weary travelers! Under each message, you shall find not only the date but also the day of the week (if it be older than a day). Let not the sands of time obscure your path!
- Update your journey and bask in the glory of these newfound features! Adventure awaits!
- We also fixed a few bugs ;-)
2.1 03/13/2024
- Addresses issues affecting specific users.
- Implements minor interface enhancements.
1.6 02/21/2024
- If your profile is managed by your organization, staying signed in now works reliably, so you're no longer unexpectedly asked to sign in again. Creating such a profile now correctly uses the server defined by your organization.
- Scanning a QR code or link that bundles a server and an activation key now opens a redesigned, easier-to-read screen, so you can see exactly what you're about to set up before continuing.
- Your profile's details now show which server it's hosted on.
- When you activate a license tied to a specific server, Olvid now only offers the profiles that can actually use it.
- Calling availability and subscription status are now only shared between your profiles when they're on the same server.
- Fixed an issue where entering an already-used activation key could leave the screen stuck on a spinner during onboarding.
more Version 4.3.1 Jun 26
Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app.
