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Verify your own devices

When you sign in on a new phone or laptop, verify it so Letro knows it's really yours and can safely give it access to your encrypted messages.

Security note: Verifying a new device is how Letro confirms you added it — not someone who got hold of your password. An unverified device can't read your encrypted history until it's verified.

Why verify a device

Each device you sign in on gets its own encryption keys. Verification links a new device to your trusted identity, so:

  • your other devices know the new one is genuinely yours, and
  • the new device can unlock your past encrypted conversations.

The easiest way to verify is from another device you've already verified. If you don't have one available, you can verify with your recovery key instead.

On Web & Desktop

  1. Sign in on the new device. Letro shows it's waiting to be verified, and your existing device shows a Verify this login request.
  2. On your already-verified device, open the request and choose Verify.
  3. Letro shows a set of emoji (or numbers) on both devices — check that they match.
  4. If they match, select They match on both. If they don't, select They don't match and stop — see the warning below.
  5. Both devices show a green shield / verified state. The new device now has access.

On iOS

  1. Sign in on the new device; a Verify this login request appears on your verified device.
  2. Open the request and tap Verify.
  3. Either compare the emoji shown on both devices, or use Scan QR code — scan one device's code with the other.
  4. Confirm they match. Both devices show the verified shield.

On Android

  1. Sign in on the new device; a Verify this login request appears on your verified device.
  2. Open the request and tap Verify.
  3. Compare the emoji on both devices, or use Scan QR code.
  4. Confirm they match. Both devices show the verified shield.

Verify with your recovery key

If you have no other verified device to confirm from:

  1. On the new device, choose Use recovery key.
  2. Enter your recovery key.
  3. Letro verifies the device and restores your encrypted messages.

Review your devices

You can see and manage every device signed in to your account in Settings → Sessions (also called Devices). From there you can rename a device, see which are verified, and sign out any you don't recognize or no longer use.

Good to know

  • If the emoji don't match, stop. A mismatch can mean someone is trying to intercept the verification. Cancel, and check that you're verifying your own genuine sign-in. Re-verify only when the codes match.
  • Sign out devices you don't recognize. In Settings → Sessions, removing an unknown device revokes its access. Then change your password — see Change your password.
  • Verify sooner rather than later. Until a device is verified, it can't read older encrypted messages, and it shows as unverified to your contacts.
  • Verifying your devices also enables verifying other people — a fully verified identity is what lets colleagues confirm they're really talking to you. See Verify other people.

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