Open the pairing flow
In CarrierPony, start a new conversation. You'll be offered the ways to pair: share an invite, or scan each other's codes face to face.
How to pair with someone
A conversation starts with a pairing: the two apps swap public keys so each phone can encrypt to the other. In person it takes seconds; remotely it takes an invite over any channel you trust.
At a glance
- Open CarrierPony on both phones
- Create an invite, or scan in person
- Accept the pairing on the other side
- Verify the safety number
- Send the first message
Prerequisites
- CarrierPony installed on both phones
Exchange the invite
In person, one phone shows a code and the other scans it. Remotely, send the invite over a channel you trust. The invite carries your public key, which is safe to transmit; it lets people encrypt to you, nothing more.
Accept on the other side
Your contact accepts, and their app sends its public key back. Both phones now hold the pair of keys the conversation will use.
Verify the safety number
Open the conversation details on both phones and compare the safety number, aloud in person or over a call. Matching numbers mean no one is in the middle. See the dedicated guide for the details.
Say hello
Send the first message. From here on, everything is encrypted to their key and signed by yours, automatically.
Verify it worked
- The contact appears in your conversation list.
- Both phones show the same safety number.
- A test message arrives and shows as verified.
Common questions
Is it safe to send an invite over email or SMS?
The invite contains public key material, which is safe to expose. It only lets someone encrypt to you. The residual risk of remote pairing is interception-and-substitution at first contact, which is exactly what comparing the safety number afterwards rules out.
Can I pair with more than one person?
Yes. Each pairing is its own key relationship and its own safety number.
What if the other person doesn't have the app?
Both ends need CarrierPony, because both ends need keys. That's what makes it end to end.
Next steps
Get CarrierPony
Free private messaging and file transfer for iPhone and Android. No accounts, no tracking, no phone numbers.