22 answers · Updated August 2026

Questions,
answered plainly.

Everything about installing TRI1 without an app store, what stays on your device, what the free calls cover, and how to keep your identity when you switch phones.

Getting started

Is TRI1 free?

Yes. Encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, and group rooms are all free, with no ads and no subscription, and every account includes one free business page. The paid side of TRI1 is the developer API, billed by usage.

Do I need a phone number or an email address?

No. Your identity is a key pair generated on your device the first time you open TRI1. There is no sign-up form, no phone number, no email, and no account on our servers to be leaked or seized.

How long does setup take?

About a minute. Install the app, open it, and your TRI1 ID is created on the spot. Share your ID or QR code with someone and you can message or call them straight away.

What Android version do I need?

Android 8.0 or newer. The download is a universal build that covers 64 bit and 32 bit phones, so older and budget handsets work too.

Installing without an app store

Do I need the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store?

No. TRI1 does not require any app store. On Android you install the signed .apk straight from this site with no Google account. On iPhone, or on any other device, you can use the web app in a browser with nothing to install at all.

Is TRI1 on Google Play?

Yes, as an invite only test release while the store listing is in review, and you never need it. If you would rather install from Play, email [email protected] and ask to be added to the tester list.

Does it work on GrapheneOS or a de-Googled phone?

Yes. The install has nothing Google specific in it, so it runs on GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS and /e/OS with no Play Services and no Google account. One thing to know: notifications for new messages and incoming calls are delivered through Google's push service, so without Play Services TRI1 works fully while it is open but will not wake your phone or ring when it is closed. Installing sandboxed Google Play restores background ringing.

Is there an iPhone app?

Not yet. Today iPhone and iPad are supported through the web app at app.tri1space.com, which runs in Safari with nothing to install. A native iOS app is not available.

How do I install the .apk?

Download it from this site, open the file, allow installation from your browser when Android asks, then tap Install. That prompt is normal for any app that does not come from a store, and you only see it once.

Privacy and security

How private is TRI1 really?

Your private keys and your message content never leave your device. TRI1 relays ciphertext it cannot read, so there is nothing on our side to hand over, sell or lose. That is an architectural property, not a policy promise.

Can you read my messages or listen to my calls?

No. Messages and calls are end to end encrypted, and the keys that decrypt them exist only on the devices in the conversation. We can see that traffic passed through, never what it said.

Do you collect or sell my data?

No ads, no trackers, and nothing sold. There is no advertising identity to build because there is no account behind your TRI1 ID.

What happens if someone screenshots my chat?

You are told. TRI1 sends the other person a notice when a screenshot is taken, so a private conversation cannot be quietly captured. On Android you can also block screenshots of TRI1 entirely in Settings.

How do I check the download has not been tampered with?

Every build is signed with our release key, and Android verifies that signature at install time. If you want to check it yourself, the Verify your download section on the download page publishes both the signing certificate fingerprint and the SHA-256 of the current file.

Calls, messages and rooms

Are encrypted calls free?

Yes. One to one voice and video calls and group rooms are free, with no per minute charge and no subscription.

Do calls work between the phone app and the web app?

Yes. You can call between the Android app and the web app in either direction, and group rooms work across both.

Why did a call not ring when my phone was locked?

Ringing while the app is closed relies on a push message. If push is blocked, or the phone has no Google Play Services, the call can only ring while TRI1 is open. Check that notifications are allowed for TRI1 and that battery optimisation is not restricting it.

Business pages

What is the free business page?

Every account includes one free public page for a business or personal profile, reachable by its own QR code and short link, with contact buttons. Your TRI1 ID stays out of the link.

What costs money?

A one time CA$49 unlocks paid branding such as your own logo. The page itself, the QR code and the contact buttons are free.

Backups and switching builds

How do I back up my identity?

Open TRI1, go to My TRI1 ID, then Settings, then Export identity backup. Save that file somewhere that is not your phone. It is the only way to restore your ID and contacts.

Why do I have to uninstall before switching between the Play version and the download?

The two are signed with different keys, so Android treats them as separate apps and will not install one over the other. Uninstalling erases your identity and messages, because they live only on your phone. Export your backup first, then import it after installing.

I lost my phone. Can you recover my account?

No, and that is deliberate. Your keys existed only on that device, so nobody can restore them, including us. A backup file is the only recovery path, which is why it is worth exporting one today.

Still stuck?

Write to info@tri1space.com and a person will answer. For privacy requests and data deletion, see our privacy policy.

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