www.blackoutcommunications.com
Help
Short answers for how Blackout Communication works. For billing or a question we didn’t cover, send a note on Contact— we’ll reply by email.
- How do I start a chat?
- Create an account with email and password. We email a confirmation link — confirm it before you add people or chat. Then pick a username and subscribe. Look someone up, send a friend request, and wait until they accept.
- Do I need a phone number?
- No. Identity on Blackout Communication is a username. Add people by name, not by a number.
- What is the difference between Basic and Premium?
- Basic is free. Messages travel in the clear so the other person can read them later. Premium is $5.69 CAD a month, or 14 days free then $45.49 CAD a year. Premium texts are encrypted on your device, so we cannot read them. In a mixed chat, the Premium side stays sealed. You can upgrade, downgrade, or switch plans anytime from Account or Plans.
- What happens if I switch browsers?
- Premium encryption keys live on this device. If you clear the browser or move without them, sealed history on this device cannot be opened. Basic messages are stored so they can still be read after you sign in again.
- Do messages disappear?
- In a chat, tap the timer and pick 1 hour up to 72 hours. Only chats with vanish on delete those new messages when the timer ends. Turning vanish off keeps what’s still there. Screenshots and the other person’s device are outside our control.
- How do I get notified of new chats?
- Open Account and turn on chat notifications. On your phone the app will ask for permission. On the website your browser will ask. Alerts fire for new messages and friend requests while Blackout Communication is open. Premium texts show as an encrypted notice, not the message body.
- What are typing, delivered, and read?
- While someone is writing, the chat shows typing. Sent messages show Delivered once the other person’s Blackout Communication has the message. Read means they opened the chat. Turn read receipts off in Account if you don’t want that — Delivered still works.
- What does Online or Busy mean?
- Friends see Online when you have Blackout Communication open, Busy if you set that, and Offline if you close it or choose Appear offline in Account. The green or silver dot on a photo matches that.
- How do invite points work?
- Open Account and copy your invite link, or send it through Text, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, or X. You and your friend each earn 1,000 points after they pay for Premium. The free trial does not count.
- How do I cancel?
- Open Account in the app and cancel the plan. Access continues until the period ends. If you paid with a card, Stripe stops the next automatic charge. You can also delete the account from there.
- How do I change my email, username, or password?
- Open Account. Email needs your current password, then a confirmation link at the new address. Username is how people find you. Screen name is what they see in chats. Password needs the current one and a new one at least 8 characters.
- How does the phone lock work?
- App lock is optional. In Account you can turn it on, turn it off, or set it to ask right away or after 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 minutes. You can use fingerprint or face unlock, with a 4 to 6 digit PIN as backup. Those stay on your phone. We never see them.
- How do I report someone?
- Open their profile or thread and file a report with a comment. Operators review reports and can suspend or terminate accounts.
- How do I contact support?
- Open Contact, or Account → Support, and send a message. We’ll reply by email. There is no phone line.
Still stuck? contact@blackoutcommunications.com