Status Desktop is a free, open-source messenger for people who want private conversations and a built-in Ethereum wallet on their Windows PC. It suits users who would rather not hand over a phone number or email address just to start chatting. The program combines encrypted messaging, community chats and a Web3 browser in one app, so you can talk with others and manage ETH without switching tools.
The project is released under the MPL-2.0 license. The latest version is 2.39.2-f2e1c6, and its code was last updated on October 30, 2026. Because the app includes wallet functions, read the safety section before installing. Windows users can install it through Scoop or from the GitHub Releases page, and the same project is also available for macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
What Sets Status Desktop Apart From Typical Messengers
Most mainstream messengers tie your account to a phone number and route your activity through a central service that the company controls. Status Desktop takes a different approach. It is described as a privacy-first, decentralised messenger, so the design emphasizes keeping personal details out of the sign-up process and treating your conversations as your own.
That difference matters most to people who want fewer identifiers attached to their accounts. It also matters to people who already hold cryptocurrency and want a messenger that sits closer to blockchain tools rather than treating them as an afterthought. The result is a program that tries to combine chat, identity and wallet access in a single desktop app.
How Encrypted Messaging Protects Your Conversations
End-to-end encryption means a message is scrambled on the sender's device and only unscrambled on the recipient's device. Anyone who intercepts the message along the way sees unreadable data. That is the basic promise behind the messaging side of the program, and it is why privacy-focused users look for this feature first.
Encryption protects what you say, but it does not change how carefully you use the app. Choose who you add to conversations, be cautious about screenshots you share, and remember that anyone you talk with can still copy or forward a message on their own device. Good privacy comes from the tool and from the habits around it.
Who Status Desktop Is For
Status Desktop fits several kinds of users. A privacy-minded person who wants to chat without a phone number can use it as a primary messenger on a computer. A crypto holder who regularly talks about payments with friends or colleagues may appreciate having ETH management in the same window as the conversation.
Community organizers are another natural audience. A group that wants a shared space for discussion, without requiring every member to share personal contact details, can use community chats as a central hub. Someone who works across a desktop and a phone may also value the same project running on both.
Key features
End-to-End Encrypted Messaging
Community Chats
Ethereum Wallet Integration
Built-In Web3 Browser
Sign Up Without Phone or Email
Available on Six Platforms
Supported coins
The project documentation names Ethereum (ETH) as the network covered by its wallet integration. If you need support for other chains or tokens, confirm that in the official documentation before moving any funds. The wallet is built around Ethereum rather than a broad multi-network lineup.
How to install Status Desktop on Windows
PS> scoop install status- 1
Get the Program From an Official Source
Download only from the official website at status.app or from the GitHub Releases page at https://github.com/status-im/status-app/releases/latest. Avoid mirror sites and links shared in chat groups, since they may contain modified files.
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Option A: Install With Scoop
If you already use Scoop, open PowerShell and run scoop install status. Scoop handles the download and installation in one step, so you do not need to locate the file yourself.
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Option B: Install the EXE File
On the Releases page, download the Windows EXE file. Before running it, compare its SHA-256 hash with the checksum published by the project. Run the installer only if the values match, then follow the on-screen setup.
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Launch and Create Your Account
Open the program and follow the setup screens to create your account. No phone number or email is required. Write down any recovery phrase the app gives you and store it offline, because anyone who obtains it may gain access to your account.
How to use Status Desktop
Status Desktop is easiest to learn if you start with messaging and then move on to the wallet once you are comfortable. Take your time with the first setup, especially the wallet part.
- Open the program and complete the account setup without a phone number or email.
- Store your recovery phrase offline before you do anything else.
- Start a one-on-one conversation by adding a contact and sending a test message.
- Create or join a community chat if you want a group space for discussion.
- Open the wallet section to review your ETH balance and confirm the network before any transfer.
- Check each transaction's recipient address carefully, since blockchain transfers are generally irreversible.
- Use the built-in Web3 browser only for sites you already trust, and double-check addresses in any dApp before approving a request.
- Keep the program updated by checking the official website or the GitHub Releases page for newer versions.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and released under the open-source MPL-2.0 license
- End-to-end encrypted messaging for private conversations
- No phone number or email required to sign up
- Combines chat, community spaces, an Ethereum wallet and a Web3 browser
- Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
- Ethereum (ETH) is the only network named in the project documentation, so it is not a multi-chain wallet like Cake Wallet or Stack Wallet
- Its wallet features are secondary to the messenger, so crypto-focused users may want a dedicated wallet for advanced tasks
- Windows installation depends on a separate download or the Scoop package manager, rather than a single-click store install
- Encryption protects message content but does not replace careful habits about who you talk to
Is Status Desktop safe?
Status Desktop includes wallet functions, so treat it with the same care you would give any crypto wallet. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, and check the SHA-256 checksum of the EXE before running it. Installing through Scoop with the command shown in the installation section is another reasonable route.
Never enter your recovery phrase on a third-party website, in a chat message, or in a form that asks for it outside the app. Anyone who learns the phrase can take control of your funds. The project is open source under MPL-2.0 and its code was last updated on October 30, 2026, so it is not deprecated. Still, check the latest version on the official website before installing or updating.
- Official source only. Download from status.app. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Status Desktop sits between a messenger and a wallet. Frame and MyCrypto focus more directly on Ethereum account management, which suits people who spend most of their time moving funds and signing transactions. Cake Wallet and Stack Wallet are multi-currency wallets, so they serve users who hold several coins across different networks.
ADAMANT Messenger is probably the closest alternative in spirit, because it is also a decentralized, anonymous messenger built on a blockchain. Status Desktop gives you a more direct link between chat and Ethereum, while ADAMANT Messenger centers on its own chain. Choose based on which network you actually use.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MPL-2.0
- Latest version
- 2.39.2-f2e1c6
- Last update
- 30 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (available via Scoop)
- Official site
- status.app
- Source code
- github.com/status-im/status-desktop
- Install command
- scoop install status
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Status Desktop is free to use. It is an open-source project released under the MPL-2.0 license, and the source code is available on GitHub. Free access means you can download it without a purchase, but you should still obtain the file only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page to avoid tampered copies.
Status Desktop can be used safely when you download it from an official source and verify the SHA-256 checksum before installing. It includes end-to-end encrypted messaging and a wallet, so keep your recovery phrase offline and never enter it on third-party websites. The project is open source, which lets security-minded users review the code.
No, you do not need a phone number or email address to create an account. This is one of the project's main design goals. Keep your recovery phrase in a safe offline place, because the account is tied to that information rather than to a phone number that you could use to recover access.
The project documentation names Ethereum (ETH) as the network covered by its wallet integration. If you need other coins or networks, confirm that support in the official documentation before sending any funds. Do not assume support for a chain simply because the messenger works with other tools.
If you have Scoop installed, open PowerShell and run scoop install status. Scoop downloads and installs the program in one step. Scoop is a command-line package manager for Windows, so you need it set up first. After installation, launch the program from the Start menu and complete account setup.
A messenger lets you send private messages and join group chats, while a crypto wallet lets you manage cryptocurrency balances and sign transactions. Status Desktop combines both, so you can chat and handle ETH in one window. Keep the two roles in mind, because a message request does not automatically mean you should approve a transfer.
Verdict
Status Desktop suits people who want private messaging on Windows and a built-in Ethereum wallet in the same program. It is free, open source and does not ask for a phone number or email to sign up. It is a good choice for users who mainly need ETH support alongside chat, or for communities that want a private shared space.
It is less suited to people who need a multi-chain wallet or advanced trading tools. If that describes you, compare it with the wallets listed in the alternatives section before you decide.