Alternative to QR-code to link devices without camera

[valldrac]

No description provided.

[haarp]

Seconded. I am dealing with a device with a broken camera focus, and thus cannot link another device. Infuriating decision on Signal's part. See signalapp/Signal-Android#5153

Someone started work on a workaround but got rejected, see signalapp/Signal-Android#5538

[valldrac]

I see. I will try to work on this for the next release.

[haarp]

Got to try this the other day in the new release. Scanned the PC app's QR code with a different device and entered the resulting string manually in Molly. Success!

Thanks a lot!

[haarp]

Is the thing you got working good for this situation?

Yes, that's exactly the use case. Scan the QR code from signal-desktop with anything that works, which will give you a string. Enter this string manually into Molly and voila.

[hsnyder]

Is this functionality still exposed, or has it been overwritten since it was released? I installed the latest Molly from F-Droid, and I couldn't see any way to do this.

[valldrac]

I installed the latest Molly from F-Droid, and I couldn't see any way to do this.

Go to Linked Devices in settings, tap on the add icon, and there you have the option "Configure without scanning".

[code-mart]

Hi @valldrac, I have the same experience as @hsnyder, as there is no "Configure without scanning" option that appears. Only a black square and message that says "Scan the QR code displayed on the device to link." Version is 5.34.9-1-FOSS. Thanks for any insight.

[code-mart]

Just tried again after re-installing with non-FOSS release, v5.34.9-2.apk.

Same result. Cannot see any "Configure without scanning" option.

[valldrac]

This is the screen to link devices. And at the bottom is the "Link without scanning" button.

@code-mart Could it be that the screen of your device is not large enough and the button is hidden?

[code-mart]

@valldrac Thank you so much! Yes, that was indeed the problem. Going into (android settings-->Display-->Advanced-->Display Size) and reducing the size allowed me to see the "Link without scanning" button.

This experience has made me appreciate Molly hugely. Seeing how the Signal team keeps such a helpful and easily-implemented feature locked down is a perfect example of why a community-maintained fork is so necessary. Thank you for all your efforts!

[code-mart]

Hi @valldrac, I am having trouble pasting into the "Link this device?" text box, so I am unable link by copy and paste. Maybe this would be an easy fix for MollyIM? Or perhaps there is a workaround? Thanks!

[code-mart]

Nevermind, I was running this in Waydroid, and I did not notice that the clipboard was not working at all. I fixed by installing pyclips and wl-clipboard, as explained in the issues below. Sorry for the trouble!

waydroid/waydroid#276
waydroid/waydroid#309

[pets-er]

Hi there!

Maybe I just can't see where the "Link without scanning" button is (I did reduce display size just to be sure).
However, it appears that the linking dialogue has changed significantly upstream.
As such I think this issue should be re-opened - or at least investigated with regards to whether other people do not see the button either.
Also: the button should probably show up without granting camera permission.

Thank you for your work!