FAQ

Install Olvid for free

Olvid works without a phone number and is freely available for Android and iOS with any compatible device.

Google Play's badge
Apple App Store's badge

What’s next?

Once Olvid is installed, create your Olvid profile.

iOS
Android

Frequently asked question

Availability on F-Droid and other alternative stores

For F-Droid, we discuss about it here on Olvid’s public GitHub since we opened the source codes for Olvid’s iOS and Android mobile apps to make them available and open source.

For the moment, the only official distribution channels for Olvid are the Google and Apple stores because this has no influence on Olvid’s security and privacy guarantees, and because we cannot maintain an alternative distribution, through a downloadable APK, which would pose further complexities that we cannot handle now.

We cannot advise installing Olvid APKs circulating on the net (Aurora Store, Aptoide, APKcombo, APKPure and other app stores for Android) because we cannot certify the authenticity or integrity of an app distributed in this way. Therefore, no alternative distribution is as secure as our official channel.

However, for your information, we test all our versions for compatibility with alternative Android operating systems without Google services.

Update Olvid

Upgrading to the latest version of Olvid allows you to benefit from the latest features and bug fixes and to maintain optimum compatibility with the maximum number of devices and users, as well as with your profiles backup.

iOS
  1. Open App Store and search Olvid.

OPEN will appear if Olvid is up to date.

  1. Otherwise tap UPDATE.
Android
  1. OpenPlay Store and search Olvid.

will appear if Olvid is up to date.

  1. Otherwise tap

If the latest version of Olvid is not displayed as available yet, here is how to display and download it.

Turn on automatic updates

Turning on automatic updates provides you with the upcoming features as soon as available.

iOS
  1. Go to  Settings >  App Store.
  2. Turn on or off the App Updates option.

Apple Support: How to manually update apps on your Apple device.

Android
  1. OpenPlay Store.
  2. Tap your profile icon (top right) >  Settings > General > Auto-update apps.
  3. Select the desired option.

Google Play Support: Update your Android apps.

Updates history

iOS
Android

Update your operating system

We invite you to update your OS for your security and to take advantage of Olvid’s latest and greatest improvements. Here’s how:

iOS


Apple Support: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Android


Android Help: Check & update your Android version.

If the latest announced version of Olvid does not yet appear in your Store

iOS


This problem is unknown to us on iOS.

Android
  1. On the Android Home screen, find the  Play Store app icon and press it for a second until a menu appears under the icon.
  2. Press App info.
    The App info screen appears.
  3. Press Storage.
    The Storage-Google Play Store screen appears.
  4. Press Clear Data (bottom).
    A dialog is displayed.
  5. Press Clear cache.
    A confirmation dialog is displayed.
  6. Press OK.
  7. Go back to the Android Home screen and open  Play Store.
    Google Play Store opens.
  8. Search for Olvid.
    The possibility of an update should finally appear.
  9. Tap

Manage the space used by Olvid

You can manage the space used by Olvid and your content.

Compatible devices

Install Olvid for free on these compatible devices, with or without a SIM card or 4G, as Olvid works without a phone number or any personal data. All you need is an Internet connection.

iOS

iOS 13 and iPadOS and above

iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 are compatible with these devices.

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are compatible with these devices.

iOS 14 and iPadOS are compatible with these devices.

iOS 13 and iPadOS are compatible with these devices.

All devices with iOS 14 or iOS 13 or iPadOS are compatible with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15.

Update iOS or iPadOS

Please update your operating system for your safety and to take advantage of the best recent Olvid improvements. Otherwise, some features may not be available on your device. Here is how to update your operating system.

Apple Support: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Incompatible : iOS 12 and earlier

Compatibility, updates, guaranteed fixes and support have ended since January 2022. In January 2021, it was announced that Olvid enhancements would be developed for iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 (September 2019) and later versions. Compatibility with iOS 12 (September 2018) and iOS 11 (September 2017) has been maintained as much as possible.

iOS 12 is compatible with these devices.

iOS 11 is compatible with these devices.

Devices limited to iOS 12 (September 2018)

iPhone 6 / 6 Plus, iPod touch (6th generation), iPad mini (3rd and 2nd generations), iPad Air (1st generation).

Devices limited to iOS 10 (September 2016)

iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPad 4.

iOS 10 is compatible with these devices.

iOS version history

iOS 16, iPadOS 16 (September 2022)

iOS 15, iPadOS 15 (September 2021)

iOS 14, iPadOS (September 2020)

iOS 13, iPadOS (September 2019)

iOS 12 (September 2018)

iOS 11 (September 2017)

iOS 10 (September 2016)

iOS 9 (September 2015)

iOS 8 (September 2014)

iOS 7 (September 2013)

iOS 6 (September 2012)

iOS 5 (October 2011)

iOS 4 (September 2010)

iOS 3 (September 2009)

iOS 2 (September 2008)

iOS 1 (March 2008)

Getting help from Apple

For some issues specific to your iPhone or iPad, Apple or your mobile carrier can help you with your devices.

Don’t hesitate to get help from Apple or your mobile carrier.

Android

Android 5 and above on phones and tablets

Android 13 (API 33) - (August 2022)

Android 12 (API 31, 32) - (October 2021)

Android 11 (API 30) - (September 2020)

Android 10 (API 29) - Revision 5 (July 2020)

Android 9 Pie (API 28) - Revision 1 (August 2018)

Android 8.1 (API 27) - Revision 1 (December 2017)

Android 8.0 Oreo (API 26) - Revision 2 (August 2017)

Android 7.1 (API 25) - Revision 3 (December 2016) - Revision 2 (November 2016) - Revision 1 (October 2016)

Android 7.0 Nougat (API 24) - Revision 1 (August 2016)

Android 6.0 Marshmallow (API 23) - Revision 2 (November 2015) - Revision 1 (August 2015)

Android 5.1 (API 22) - Revision 1 (March 2015)

Android 5.0 Lollipop (API 21) - Revision 2 (December 2014) - Revision 1 (October 2014)

Update Android

Please update your operating system for your safety and to take advantage of the best recent Olvid improvements. Otherwise, some features may not be available on your device. Here is how to update your operating system.

Android Help: Check & update your Android version.

Other Android without Google services

Although we cannot guarantee full compatibility and support for all alternative Android operating systems, we also do test all our versions for Android without Google services. And we have positive feedback from users in these cases, such as Lineage or /e/OS with its native store. Everything seems to work fine, according to them.

You could install then uninstall the open-source bare minimum to get Google Play functionality, like Open GApps Pico Package. And a license acquired this way should also work after.

Other Android flavors

Each smartphone manufacturer creates and installs its own custom version of Android, configured as it sees fit, as well as softwares from publishers with whom it has signed an agreement. The System Settings of these Android versions may prevent Olvid from working properly and will then benefit from adjusted settings if a device does not receive message or call notifications.

Get help from your device manufacturer

Your device manufacturer or mobile carrier should provide help for some phone issues related to their modifications of Android and its specifics.

To get help with your phone or tablet, find your manufacturer or carrier here.

Contact Olvid Support

Take advantage of Olvid Support to find answers to your questions about using Olvid, to report a bug or suggest improvements and feedback.

Related articles