Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions. Each answer links to a page with all the details.
What is Rasum?
Section titled “What is Rasum?”Rasum is a messenger app for iPhone and Android that you can use to chat and make calls. New chats are end-to-end encrypted. All accounts are on the server rasum.chat. More on the start page.
Does Rasum cost anything?
Section titled “Does Rasum cost anything?”No, Rasum is free. The app for iPhone and Android and the account at rasum.chat cost nothing.
Can I use a server other than rasum.chat with Rasum?
Section titled “Can I use a server other than rasum.chat with Rasum?”No, Rasum always connects to the server rasum.chat. There is no option in the app to choose other servers. More under Terms.
How do I install Rasum?
Section titled “How do I install Rasum?”You install Rasum on the iPhone through Apple’s TestFlight app and on Android through Google Play. The exact steps are under Getting started.
How do I create a Rasum account?
Section titled “How do I create a Rasum account?”You create an account by tapping “Create account” on the Rasum start screen. The rasum.chat registration page opens, and there you choose a username and password. More under Getting started.
What does the empty circle next to my message mean?
Section titled “What does the empty circle next to my message mean?”The empty circle means that your message is still being sent. As soon as the server has it, the circle disappears. If it stays for a long time, the connection is usually missing. More under Message status and Message is not sent.
What does the circle with a check mark below my message mean?
Section titled “What does the circle with a check mark below my message mean?”The circle with a check mark means that your message has been sent and is on the server. It only appears on your newest message as long as nobody has read it yet. Older messages without an icon are normal. More under Message status.
Why is there no double check mark in Rasum?
Section titled “Why is there no double check mark in Rasum?”Rasum has no double check mark. Instead, it shows read messages with small profile pictures of the readers. The circle with a check mark only means “sent”. More under Message status.
What do the small profile pictures below a message mean?
Section titled “What do the small profile pictures below a message mean?”The small profile pictures below a message show who has read the message. There are up to three pictures, after that it shows “+” and a number. Tap them to see everyone who has read it. More under Presence and read receipts.
Why is the time of my message red?
Section titled “Why is the time of my message red?”A red time with a red exclamation mark means that sending failed. Tap the red time and then “Retry”. More under Message is not sent.
What does “Waiting for this message” mean?
Section titled “What does “Waiting for this message” mean?”“Waiting for this message” means that your device does not have the key to decrypt this message yet. Often the key arrives by itself and the message appears. If that does not help, confirm this device. More under Encryption notes.
What does the green dot on the profile picture mean?
Section titled “What does the green dot on the profile picture mean?”The green dot on the profile picture means that the person is online right now and has Rasum open. It only appears in chats with exactly one person. There is no “last seen” information. More under Presence and read receipts.
How do I turn off read receipts?
Section titled “How do I turn off read receipts?”You turn off read receipts under “Settings” → “Advanced settings” → “Share presence”. This also turns off the typing indicator and the green online dot, in both directions. More under Presence and read receipts.
Can I edit a message?
Section titled “Can I edit a message?”Yes, you can edit your own text messages: press and hold the message and tap “Edit”. After that, “(edited)” appears next to the time. More under Edit and delete messages.
Can I delete a message only for myself?
Section titled “Can I delete a message only for myself?”No, deleting a message only for yourself is not possible in Rasum. “Remove message” or “Remove” deletes it for everyone in the chat. On the iPhone the app asks first, on Android it is deleted immediately. More under Edit and delete messages.
Can I search messages?
Section titled “Can I search messages?”No, you cannot search messages in Rasum yet. The magnifying glass in the chat list only finds chats by their name. More under Chat list.
How do I start a chat with a person?
Section titled “How do I start a chat with a person?”You start a chat with a person with “Start chat” in the bar at the bottom. Search for the person, tap them and confirm with “Send invite”. More under New chat.
How do I create a group?
Section titled “How do I create a group?”You create a group with “Start chat” → “New room”. The “New room” entry always creates a group; after that you give it a name and invite people. More under New chat.
How do I mute a chat?
Section titled “How do I mute a chat?”You mute a chat by tapping the name at the top of the chat and choosing the “Mute” option under “Notifications”. First you have to turn on “Allow custom setting”. More under Notification settings.
How do I block someone?
Section titled “How do I block someone?”On the iPhone you block a person in a one-to-one chat: tap the name at the top and then “Block user”. On Android you can do this when reporting a message (“Block user” switch) or for an invitation with “Decline and block”. After that you no longer see messages and invitations from this person. More under Manage a chat.
How do I send photos in full quality?
Section titled “How do I send photos in full quality?”You send photos in full quality by turning off “Optimise media quality”. The switch is under “Settings” → “Advanced settings” and is on at the start. More under Photos, videos and files.
Can I send GIFs with Rasum?
Section titled “Can I send GIFs with Rasum?”Yes, you send GIFs with the plus next to the message field and the “GIF” entry. The search runs through the Rasum server, so the GIF provider does not see your internet address. More under GIFs and polls.
Can Rasum convert voice messages to text?
Section titled “Can Rasum convert voice messages to text?”Yes, Rasum converts voice messages to text directly on your phone. Audio and text do not leave your device. For this, Rasum downloads a speech model once, which is several hundred megabytes in size, and your phone needs at least 4 GB of RAM. More under Voice message as text.
What does “Conversion failed” below a voice message mean?
Section titled “What does “Conversion failed” below a voice message mean?”“Conversion failed” means that Rasum could not convert this voice message to text. Tap “Try again” if the button is there. If the button is missing, this voice message cannot be converted, for example because it is too large or has an unknown format. More under Voice message as text.
What can I do if a call does not work?
Section titled “What can I do if a call does not work?”If a call does not work, first check whether Rasum may use the microphone and camera and whether your connection is stable. Try the call on Wi-Fi. For calls to ring on your phone, notifications must work. More under Calls.
Why does my iPhone show a voice call as a video call?
Section titled “Why does my iPhone show a voice call as a video call?”The iPhone announces every incoming Rasum call as a video call, even a voice call. After you answer, the call runs correctly as a voice call. More under Calls.
Why am I not getting notifications?
Section titled “Why am I not getting notifications?”Notifications are usually missing because they are turned off on the phone or in Rasum, or because the chat is muted. On Android, battery optimisation often slows them down, on the iPhone a Focus like “Do Not Disturb”. Go through the checklist under Notifications are not arriving.
What does “Server unreachable” mean?
Section titled “What does “Server unreachable” mean?”“Server unreachable” means that your phone has internet but cannot reach the Rasum server right now. Wait a moment and switch networks, for example from mobile data to Wi-Fi. More under Connection problems.
Is Rasum end-to-end encrypted?
Section titled “Is Rasum end-to-end encrypted?”Yes, chats and calls in Rasum are end-to-end encrypted. Only you and the recipients have the keys to read the messages. A chat without encryption is marked in the app. More under Encryption.
What is the recovery key?
Section titled “What is the recovery key?”The recovery key is a long code that lets you read your encrypted messages again on a new device. Rasum creates it automatically and stores it in the iCloud Keychain (iPhone) or in your Google account (Android with Google Play). More under Recovery key.
What do I do if I have lost my recovery key?
Section titled “What do I do if I have lost my recovery key?”If you have lost your recovery key, it is often still in the iCloud Keychain or Google account, and Rasum uses it by itself. If you are still signed in on a device, you create a new one under “Settings” → “Encryption” → “Change recovery key”. Without a signed-in device, the only option is to reset your digital identity – older messages can be lost in the process. More under Recovery key and Confirm your device.
How do I move Rasum to a new phone?
Section titled “How do I move Rasum to a new phone?”You move to a new phone by signing in there with your username. With the same Apple ID or the same Google account, Rasum usually brings back your history by itself. Otherwise you confirm the new device with the old device or with the recovery key. More under New phone.
Can I use Rasum on several devices at the same time?
Section titled “Can I use Rasum on several devices at the same time?”Yes, you can sign in with the same account on several devices. Each new device is confirmed once – often automatically through key storage, otherwise with another device or the recovery key. You find a list of your devices under “Settings” → “Manage account & devices”. More under New phone.
How do I sign out of Rasum?
Section titled “How do I sign out of Rasum?”You sign out at the very bottom of “Settings” with the red “Sign out” entry. If it is your only device, Rasum warns you first so that you have your recovery key ready. More under Sign out.
How do I delete my Rasum account?
Section titled “How do I delete my Rasum account?”You delete your Rasum account on the rasum.chat account page, which you open under “Settings” → “Manage account & devices”. Deleting is final. If it does not work, write to service@rasum.net. More under Delete account.
Can I lock Rasum with a PIN or Face ID?
Section titled “Can I lock Rasum with a PIN or Face ID?”No, Rasum has no app lock of its own with PIN, Face ID or fingerprint. Protect your phone with the system screen lock instead. More under Settings overview.
Is there a light design for Rasum?
Section titled “Is there a light design for Rasum?”No, Rasum always has a dark design, even if your phone is set to light. More under Settings overview.
Does Rasum send usage data to analytics services?
Section titled “Does Rasum send usage data to analytics services?”No, the Rasum app does not send usage statistics to analytics services. On Android, there are also no third-party services for crash reports built in. What Rasum stores is described in the privacy policy.
How do I update Rasum?
Section titled “How do I update Rasum?”You update Rasum on the iPhone in the TestFlight app and on Android through Google Play. On Android the app shows “Update ready” when a new version has been downloaded. More under Update the app.
Where can I see which version of Rasum I have?
Section titled “Where can I see which version of Rasum I have?”The Rasum version is shown at the very bottom of the settings in the “Version: …” line. Give this whole line when you report a problem to us. More under Update the app and show the version.
How do I reach Rasum support?
Section titled “How do I reach Rasum support?”You reach Rasum support by email at service@rasum.net. Include your device, app version and the time of the problem, but never your recovery key or your password. More under Get help.