My Signal-Desktop has been unlinked for no reason 2x in the last 2 days, all conversations lost when relinked (the relink was to the same phone)

[jromero2k]

Using a supported version?

• I have searched searched open and closed issues for duplicates.
• I am using Signal-Desktop as provided by the Signal team, not a 3rd-party package.

Overall summary

After I updated Signal-Desktop a few days ago, I've been unlinked for no reason 2x in the last 2 days, all conversations lost when relinked (the relink was to the same phone)

In the phone it shows that I'm linked to 3 devices (all are the same, my computer)

Also, my "Do not download automatic updates" setting was reset again

Steps to reproduce

start using Signal, eventually you find a yellow box saying "Unlinked Click to relink Signal Desktop to your mobile device to continue messaging"

Expected result

Start using Signal, the device doesn't unlink unless it's needed

Once the device is linked, since it was previously linked to that phone, it should update the list of linked devices, not add yet another copy

All chats are preserved, or at least there's a way to restore messages that were automatically backed up before relinking

My settings are respected, including the fact that I disabled automatic updates

Actual result

The device is unlinking randomly for no reason

Link the device, it adds the same device again to the list on mobile (I'm seeing 3x the same computer in the list right now)

All chat history was lost, there's no way to backup messages or restore them

Automatic updates were enabled again behind my back

Screenshots

No response

Signal version

7.2.0

Operating system

macOS Sonoma

Version of Signal on your phone

7.0.2

Link to debug log

No response

[jromero2k]

seriously, I think it's self evident what a bad UX is this: you're using Signal, then the yellow box pops up and suddenly all your chats are gone without recourse and there's no way to bring them back. Makes no sense

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@jromero2k I'm sorry that's happening to you - that doesn't sound like intended behavior, not at all. If you re-link to the same phone, your conversations and messages should be kept around. And your Desktop should only auto-unlink if it hasn't been used in about 30 days.

Please provide a debug log (View -> Debug Log) and we we can make sure this doesn't happen in the future. If you're not comfortable providing that here, you can send it to support@signal.org!

[jromero2k]

OK, I relinked and I'll wait in case it happens again. Thanks

And no, Desktop Signal is constantly used. Maybe the issue is caused by somehow losing/not being able to read the local data (that would explain the "Auto-download updates" setting resetting and the loss of chat logs.) Will have to wait and see

[jromero2k]

support@signal.org

Unlinked again, sent debuglog.txt to the quoted email

[scottnonnenberg-signal]

@jromero2k We just released 7.2.1, which should prevent the auto-unlink behavior. Please update and let us know what you see!

[jromero2k]

OK, thanks! I will update and report if I find trouble again.

An old peeve of mine is that you rarely mention any useful fixes in the Release Notes.

eg, see 7.2.1 Release Notes:

"Thanks to the performance improvements in this release, opening large group chats is faster than ever. If you're in a group with several hundred people that likes to debate the existence of parallel universes, you now live in a timeline where it takes a lot less time to show the timeline of people talking about timelines."

No mention of a potentially serious bug being fixed. Not cool, imho