Migrating from Signal to Molly (issues restoring backup due to version conflict)

maur

I currently use signal but would like to switch to Molly. I would like to understand if the migration between the two software is always possible or if there is a possibility that the transition from Molly to Signal will be prevented now or in the future. Can I pair a client with Signal desktop to Molly? And if, for some reason, I have to go back to Signal, can there be problems transferring the account with chats and everything else from Molly to Signal? Thank you.

flighty_sloth

maur Yes you can pair signal desktop with Molly, and I've never had any issue with missing messages or anything when transferring backups, the version issue is the only issue I've encountered.

maur

Thanks for the reply. So before transferring the account do I have to check that the Molly version of the new mobile corresponds to the Signal version of the old mobile?

flighty_sloth

maur Yes and keep in mind that by transferring the account you will not transfer the chats, you need to use the encrypted backup and restore function from Settings > backup > Chat backups, and following to the instructions carefully. Currently if you have an up to date version of signal it will be impossible until molly issues an update, as others have mentioned it might be necessary to not update signal temporarily. (The version Molly is using doesn't necessarily have to be the same, just at least the same or newer, and vice versa if switching from Molly to signal).

maur

flighty_sloth Thank you. This information is very important. I will use the backup.

maur

Hallo. Maybe I made a mistake. I made the backup from signal in my old handy. I copied the 16 numbers pin, then I moved the backup file to my new mobile, when Molly is installed. I started configuration, but it didn't ask me to restore a backup. I stopped the configuration when it asked me to write my name. But I already wrote my phone number. I thought that the way I follawed can be wrong and that I was restoring the account without chat backup. Now Signal app on my old mobile is disconnected. How can I continue? Thank you

maur

Sorry I wrote "handy", but I mean "mobile". I made confusion with German.
Here point 6 says:

Open the Molly app. Enable database encryption if desired. As soon as the option is given, tap Transfer or restore account. Answer any permissions questions

Maybe does it mean that the procedure I'm following is correct and I can restore backup after I write the name?
Thank you

maur

At the moment Molly's configuration is stopped on the form where I should enter the name.
The Signal app of the old device, where there is still all the chat history, gives me the possibility to record it again.
Perhaps the best thing to do is to finish Molly's setup; read or copy the messages I received there; Re-register the app of the old phone and re-make the backup.
The Signal version of the old mobile phone is 7.11.4. while Molly's is 7.17.5-1. I forgot to compare versions before migrating. So I think it's time to install an older version of Molly on the new phone and then update it. Do you think it can be done? Isn't there a risk that re-registering my old phone will lose your message history? When I copy the backup to the new phone, do I have to have also transferred the sim card or is the app totally independent from it?
Thank you

maur

I red this tutorial and I thought the reason I couldn't import the backup (into Molly) so far is that I hadn't inserted the sim card into the new phone. The second requirement to restore backup in Signal (and - I suppose - in Molly) is that the new device "can receive a SMS or call to complete registration."
I also noted that Signal app on my old phone tried to make a new backup. It could mean that backups made from the old application are still valid. Maybe I could disinstall Molly from my new phone and install Molly v7.12.3-3 (that seems the version merging Signal 7.11.4). After inserting sim card in the new phone, I should be able to restore a backup.
Do you thinks that it can work? Sorry for all these questions but I'm not expert!

maur

I apologize for posting so many posts and exposing my problem in a confused way. To fix it, I try to sum up in an orderly way what I did, to see if the mistakes are still remedied and how.
Having to change my phone, I wanted to transfer Signal's account and chat, present on my old phone in version 7.11.4 on the new mobile, where I installed Molly, version 7.17.5-1. To do so I backed up and copied the backup file to the new device.
I started configuring Molly without first transferring the SIM card to the new cell phone, which I think is necessary for the validation of the registration via text or call. In the procedure I don't think I was ever asked if I wanted to import a backup, so I entered my phone number and Signal's PIN (which were communicated to the servers via the wi-fi at home). I felt I had to stop when the program asked me to enter a username. This request gave me the idea of a new user. Since then, the Signal client of the old phone is disconnected. At that point I stopped because I'm afraid it's no longer possible to import the backup of the old chat, but I also don't want to risk deleting the chat from the old mobile phone, where at least I can still read it.
I saw that Molly received a notification two days ago, which I haven’t opened yet but I think it’s the code to unlock the application. On the old Signal installation I see that there is still the possibility to register the device on the Signal network. This step could theoretically give me the chance to start all over again, but I can't rule out that this operation cancels the chat. On the old mobile phone there is also notification of a failed backup, for reasons of space.
To solve the problem, I thought of three possibilities, but they all have risks:
1) I could reconnect the old client, but I fear this operation would erase the present data.
2) I could go on with Molly's configuration on the new phone, but I fear this makes it impossible to import the backup (assuming it isn't already).
3) I could try to import backup on the old phone’s client, but I don't know if this is possible and what results it would give.
What do you recommend? Thank you

maur

I managed to import the backup to Molly after reinstalling the application again. The account setup I had done previously did not prevent the chat and, with it, the account from being fully restored.
When I first went through the setup process, I didn't see the link to proceed with the restore, because it was very small. I think it might be a good idea to redesign the first screen to give equal visibility to the two options: importing an existing account or creating a new one.
Thank you

flighty_sloth

maur Glad you got it to work and I agree about the link being small at the bottom, I also had trouble noticing it in the past.