Frequently asked questions.

Yes. White Noise is free to download and open source. Running your own relay or choosing a paid relay service can have separate costs, but you do not need to run a server to get started.

White Noise is built for iPhone and Android.

Exchange White Noise profiles using a profile link, QR code, or public key, then start a conversation in the app. Your public key identifies you and is safe to share. Your private key controls your identity: keep it secret and never send it to a contact.

Linked-device support is still being developed in the Marmot protocol. Importing the same identity key on another device does not by itself transfer your conversations or their encryption state. Do not rely on a second installation as a synchronized backup of your chats.

Messages are end-to-end encrypted for the participants in your conversation. White Noise and the relays carrying those messages cannot read their content. Participants can still copy or share what they receive, and someone with access to an unlocked or compromised device may be able to read messages on it.

No phone number or email is required, but that is not a guarantee of anonymity. Your public profile, the information you share, and network information such as your IP address can reveal things about you. You can choose a display name, including a pseudonym, while deciding what to share with others.

Conversation data is stored on your device. Independent relays also store and forward encrypted message events; their retention policies vary. Media shared in encrypted conversations is encrypted before upload to media servers. Public profile information and profile pictures are public, and copies on independent servers may persist.

White Noise cannot reset or recover your private key for you. Keep a secure backup of your identity key, but remember that the key alone is not a backup of your message history. If a device or key is stolen, treat that identity as compromised and tell your contacts through another trusted channel. Encryption cannot erase messages already stored on the stolen device.

Usage and telemetry sharing is off by default. If enabled, product analytics sends predefined events and bucketed values; telemetry includes performance measurements, a resettable installation identifier, app and device information, and relay addresses. Neither includes message content, contacts, or account and group identifiers. Group diagnostic logs are a separate opt-in choice and include group and message identifiers. On iOS and Android, enabling log sharing automatically uploads eligible logs to IPF. Push notifications, public profiles, and connected services have their own data flows, explained in the privacy policy.

A relay is a server that receives, stores, and forwards messages across the Nostr network. White Noise encrypts conversation content before sending it to relays. A relay operator can still observe connection information, such as your IP address, even though it cannot read the encrypted messages.

Marmot supports delivery through multiple relays so a conversation does not depend on one server. Other reachable relays shared by the conversation can continue carrying messages. Delivery can still be delayed if participants cannot reach a suitable relay or lose their internet connection.

Yes. White Noise lets you configure relays, and you can run a compatible Nostr relay yourself. People in a conversation need a shared way to exchange messages, so relay choices must work for the group. Operating your own relay gives you control over that server, but does not give you control over copies held elsewhere.

Yes. A network provider or government can block particular servers or restrict internet access. Independent relays reduce reliance on one operator and can provide alternative routes, but White Noise cannot guarantee connectivity. Encryption protects message content; it does not make network traffic invisible or impossible to block.

Admins manage group membership, including adding and removing members under the group’s rules. Once a removal takes effect in the group’s encryption state, the removed member cannot decrypt new messages with their old keys. Removal does not erase messages they already received, saved, or shared.

MDK provides integrations for Hermes, OpenClaw, Codex, Claude Code, OpenCode, and Pi. Run the connector alongside your existing agent on a supported Mac or Linux computer, add its White Noise identity, and invite it to a conversation. The setup guide covers installation and which accounts are allowed to message it.

It protects the messages exchanged between White Noise and the agent’s connector from being read by the relays carrying them. The agent receives the message so it can respond. Its model provider, tools, and logging settings determine what happens after that; connecting through White Noise does not make a cloud model run locally.