How to Add Contacts

Connect with others using Mercury IDs and QR codes.

Because Mercury does not use phone numbers or central directories, adding a contact involves exchanging cryptographic IDs manually.

Finding Your ID

Your Mercury ID is the public half of your cryptographic key pair. You can find it on your Profile page. Tap the QR code icon to display a scannable code, or simply tap the ID text to copy it to your clipboard.

Adding Someone Else

1. Navigate to the Contacts screen.
2. Tap the + (Add Contact) button.
3. Using an ID: Paste your friend's Mercury ID into the text field and tap Add.
4. Using QR Code: Tap the QR scanner button and point your camera at your friend's screen.

The Approval Process

Once you add a contact, they will see a pending request on their screen. Until they approve the request, you cannot send them messages or call them. Your screen will show them as Awaiting Approval.

When they accept, a cryptographic signature token is exchanged to mutually verify the connection, and their status will change to Confirmed. You can then begin chatting.