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FAQs, Guides, & Support for Vector Privacy

FAQs

What is Vector Privacy Messenger?

Vector is a free, open-source private messaging application designed with a "Privacy by Principle" philosophy. It provides end-to-end encrypted messaging through a decentralized relay network, ensuring your conversations remain private and censorship-resistant. Vector is intended for everyday use with friends, family, colleagues, and organizations.

What platforms is Vector available on?

Vector is currently available for:

  • Windows

  • macOS

  • Linux

  • Android

iOS support is planned and coming soon.

How do I sign up for Vector?

Vector features a one-click signup process. No personal information is required—no email address, no phone number, no identity verification (KYC). Simply download the app, click to create an account, and you're ready to start messaging privately.

How does Vector protect my privacy?

Vector employs multiple layers of privacy protection:

  • End-to-End Encryption: All messages are encrypted so only you and your recipient can read them.

  • Decentralized Data Storage: Your data is distributed across a global relay network rather than stored on centralized servers.

  • No Metadata Collection: Vector doesn't collect information about who you talk to or when.

  • No Ads or Spam: The platform is free from advertising and tracking.

  • Censorship-Resistant: The decentralized architecture makes it extremely difficult for any party to censor or block communications.

What is Nostr, and how does Vector use it?

Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is an open protocol for decentralized message transmission. Vector is built on top of Nostr, which means:

  • Public-Key Cryptography: Users are identified by cryptographic key pairs rather than phone numbers or emails. Every message is signed with your private key, ensuring authenticity.

  • Relay Network: Messages are distributed through WebSocket servers called "relays." You can connect to multiple relays, and no single relay controls your data.

  • Account Portability: Since your identity is tied to your keys (not a server), you maintain full control and can switch relays freely.

How do I add contacts on Vector?

To add a contact on Vector, you need their npub (Nostr public key). This is a unique identifier that looks like a long string starting with "npub1...". You can exchange npub keys with contacts through any secure channel. While this approach requires an extra step compared to traditional phone-number-based apps, it ensures that connections are made without exposing personal identifiers.

What features does Vector offer?

Vector includes a variety of messaging and productivity features:

  • Private Chats: One-on-one encrypted conversations

  • Group Chats: Encrypted group messaging

  • Audio Recordings: Send voice messages

  • Images & Media: Share photos and media files

  • Notes: Personal note-taking within the app

  • Markdown Support: Format your messages with Markdown syntax

  • Customizable Settings: Tailor the app to your preferences

What is Viktor, and how does it work?

Viktor was designed as an optional, in-house AI chatbot to help you with certain tasks or any questions you may have. Viktor can be run locally and self-hosted, but at the moment cannot search the external web. Therefore, if you are trying to search for external links, he will be limited on his search queries and capabilities. In the future, Viktor will be trained specifically on Vector-related topics/subjects from basic troubleshooting to technical questions and can be seen as an information kiosk for anything related to Vector. He has quite the snarky personality, you've been warned.

Is Vector open source?

Yes, Vector is completely free and open-source. The source code is available on GitHub under the VectorPrivacy organization. The main application is written in Rust, and there's also an official Vector SDK for developers who want to build on the platform.

How can I support Vector's development?

Vector accepts donations to support ongoing development. Since there are no ads, tracking, or premium tiers at the moment, community donations help keep the project alive and independent. You can find donation information on the Donations page.

Guides

Members of the Vector development team and community contributors regularly publish detailed, step-by-step guides. Consult the Guides section to determine whether an existing guide already addresses your question or requirements. Feel free to request a guide in the Vector Discord.

Support

One of the quickest and most efficient ways to get support with anything related to Vector is through the open-source community. The best way to get prompt replies and support, for the time being, is to join the Vector Community Discord.

Additional Guides, FAQs, and Information will be added.

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