Signal not received messages if screen is off.

MEGAbyter

I just setup a GrapheneOS phone for a friend and just noticed that when I send him a message on Signal, it stays on one checkmark until he unlocks the phone, and then the message goes through and he gets a notification.

I double checked all permissions, and turned battery optimization to unrestricted, but it's still not working properly.

Is anybody familiar with this type of behavior and/or know what to do to get it to work properly?

GrapheneOS

MEGAbyter Signal needs to be installed after sandboxed Google Play in order for it to use FCM correctly. As far as we know, Signal can't properly handle sandboxed Google Play being installed after it. Signal doesn't need Unrestricted battery mode when using FCM, only Play services needs it. Data Saver and Battery Saver should be off unless the required Data Saver exceptions have been added and it's easier to test with it off. Developer options should also be disabled to rule out many possible issues caused by the developer options. If ADB has been used, then many incorrect things could have been done with it.

Hymix

I think there are different versions of Signal, some of them will require play services to work properly. So my first question would be whether you have play services installed?
Personally, I use Molly, an independent fork of Signal, which uses unified push, an ungoogled notification system. There's also a FOSS version of Signal.

MEGAbyter

Hymix with Molly, do you have to setup unified push on a separate server? Or can I just delete play and play services from his phone and just install Molly and be done with it? I was under the assumption that unified push required some extra setup.

MEGAbyter

Play services are installed. It works fine when his screen is on, just not when his screen is off.

DeletedUser495

MEGAbyter Molly FOSS uses websocket (i.e. maintaing permanent connection to server), unified push is optional and requires setup. By the way websocket doesn't drain battery as dramatically as some claim, I personally have used it for months now and happy.

If you are going to use Signal with Play services, make sure Play services have also unrestricted battery (for notifications), very important!

MEGAbyter

DeletedUser495 yep, play services is set to unrestricted.

I can't for the life of me figure this out.

DeletedUser495

MEGAbyter then perhaps you are better off sticking with Molly ( FOSS version).

https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases

If that doesn't work reliably, have a look at battery settings. Don't use battery saver.

MEGAbyter

DeletedUser495 I've checked all battery and data settings.

I'd really like to solve the problem vs use a workaround. And I don't currently have access to the device. So trying to setup Molly isn't an option at the moment.

fboro

I'm using MolyFOSS and it works great!

MEGAbyter

GrapheneOS I had him drop the phone off with me and I deleted and reinstalled everything and it's all working as it should.

That said, I downloaded Signal from the sandboxed play store originally so I'm not sure the installation order was the issue. Probably just a weird glitch but it's resolved now so we're good.

I do really appreciate you taking the time to respond, and I appreciate all the extra info as well.

Cheers!