Account and installation
What is KolChat?
KolChat is a messaging and calling app for private chats, groups, communities, and channels. It runs as a standalone app, in a browser, and inside KolHive and KolWrite with one account. Private messages, group chats, and normal calls are end-to-end encrypted by default.
Where can I install or open KolChat?
You can install KolChat on iPhone and iPad from the App Store, and on Android from Google Play. On computers, standalone installers are available for Mac (DMG), Windows (EXE), and Linux (DEB). You can also use KolChat in a browser at chat.kolhive.com with the same account.
Do I need a phone number to sign up?
No, a phone number is optional. You sign in with your KolHive account using an email address or Google. Adding a phone number is only used so friends who have your number can find you.
Is KolChat free to use?
KolChat is free to install and use for messaging and calls. If you choose optional cloud AI features, such as cloud voice transcription, the app shows the cost before you run them. See the Plans page for details on account plans and AI credits.
Privacy and encryption
Can KolHive read my messages or listen to my calls?
No, private and group messages, voice notes, photos, files, and normal calls are end-to-end encrypted by default. Our servers never see your keys, message content, or call audio and video. Public channel posts are stored on our server without end-to-end encryption; see how KolChat encryption works for details.
What information can your server see?
To deliver messages and manage groups, our server sees who talks to whom, when messages are sent, and device IP addresses. It also sees group names, group photos, and member lists. It never sees message text, files, photos, voice notes, call audio or video, meeting transcripts, or your keys.
Has KolChat's encryption been independently audited?
No, the encryption in KolChat has not had an independent security audit yet. You can inspect how keys, devices, and messages are handled in our article on end-to-end encryption in KolChat.
Do you show ads or train AI on my chats?
No, KolChat does not show ads. We never use your messages, files, or calls for advertising or to train AI models.
How do I stop strangers and spam from reaching me?
Messages from people who are not in your contacts do not go straight to your main chat list. Instead, they wait in a message requests queue where you can approve them, block the sender, or report spam. You can also leave your phone number off your account so people cannot look you up by number.
AI and transcription
Does KolChat have an AI assistant, and what can it see?
AI in KolChat is optional and sends nothing until you tap Send, which sends only your chosen messages to the provider you pick, one answer at a time. You can also connect a local AI like Ollama or LM Studio to keep everything on your device. AI chats are not saved to your server history and sync only between your own devices using end-to-end encryption.
Can I read a voice or video message as text?
Yes, KolChat can transcribe voice notes and video messages into text. When your device supports the on-device speech model, transcription runs on your device for free. A cloud transcription model is used only if you select it, with its cost shown beforehand.
Calls, meetings, and groups
Are voice and video calls encrypted?
Yes, voice and video calls in KolChat are end-to-end encrypted, and you can share your screen when calling from a computer. You can also return a KolChat call directly from your phone's recent calls list. Because call media is end-to-end encrypted, there is no telephone dial-in and no server-side call recording.
Can someone join a meeting from a browser without the app?
Yes, guests can open a meeting link in a browser to join. The encryption key stays after the # sign in the link, which browsers never send to our server. Hosts can manage the meeting with a waiting room, a password, room locking, participant removal, and co-host handover.
How many people fit in a group, community, or channel?
A group holds up to 1,024 members, and you can organize several related groups inside one community. For broadcasting updates to followers, you can create a channel. Group chats are end-to-end encrypted, while public channel posts are stored on our server without end-to-end encryption.
Devices, backups, and chat history
Can I use KolChat on my computer and my phone at the same time?
Yes, you can stay signed in on your phone, tablet, computer, and browser at the same time. Each device generates its own encryption keys rather than sharing a single key. When you sign in on a new device, you approve it from an existing device using a verification code shown on screen.
How do I move my chats to a new phone?
If you still have another signed-in device, approve the new phone from it to copy your history over an encrypted transfer. If you lost your old phone, you can restore an encrypted backup using your backup password or 64-digit key. See our guide on moving KolChat to a new phone for steps, and note that expired disappearing messages are not restored.
Are my chats backed up automatically?
Chat backups are off by default, and you can set them to run daily or weekly over Wi-Fi with up to 400 MB of optional media. Before leaving your device, the backup is sealed with a password of at least 8 characters using Argon2id, or a generated 64-digit key. Nobody, including us, can open the backup without that password or key, so if you lose it, the backup cannot be restored.
How do I find an old message, and is search private?
You can search your chats by exact keyword or by meaning after downloading the search model once to your device. Both keyword search and meaning search run entirely on your device. No search index, vector, or query ever reaches our servers.
How do I delete my KolChat identity and data?
Open your account settings inside KolChat and choose the option to delete your KolChat identity. This erases your registered devices, encryption keys, queued messages, group memberships, and profile from our server. It also wipes your local chat data from the device.
Free on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux.
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