Aurora is Android-only for now and installed by sideloading (no Play Store yet). It takes a couple of minutes. Here's exactly what to expect — including the prompts that look scary but are normal.
You need Android 10 or newer and about 143 MB free. This is a pre-alpha build for testers — please don't rely on it for sensitive communication yet.
Tap the download button above on your Android phone (or transfer the file to it).
When you open the APK, Android asks whether to allow installs from this source (your browser or Files app). This prompt is normal for any app outside the Play Store — allow it to continue. You can turn it back off afterward.
Google flags any app it hasn't seen widely before, which includes a new sideloaded app like Aurora. You can choose to install anyway. If you'd like to be sure of what you downloaded, verify its signature below.
Aurora generates your private identity on-device, then asks for a few permissions. Notifications and Run in the background are required — they're what let messages and calls actually reach you when the app is closed. Camera and microphone are optional and only requested when you scan a code or start a call.
One of you shows their QR code (Add contact → show code) and the other scans it; you each then confirm the short code shown on the other's screen. That mutual check is what makes pairing safe even if you shared the code online.
Every official Aurora APK is signed with the same certificate. To confirm a download is genuine, run apksigner verify --print-certs on it and check the SHA-256 matches:
(Tap to copy. keytool won't work — Aurora uses APK Signature Scheme v2/v3, not v1 JAR signing.)
Still stuck? Email christiancorrea26@gmail.com with your phone model and Android version.