If users want to add an additional device to their profile, they have to click/tap “Add Second Device” on both devices. In my opinion, it would be better if the feature was called “Add Additional Device”.
Compared to many other messengers, a DC profile can be installed on an unlimited number of devices at the same time. I think this change could highlight this advantage more. Some users may think that the current wording means that only two devices can be used.
5 Likes
off-topic and background first: the wording “Add Additional Device” was considered that time [1], however, knowing that that vast majority of user only use one device, “Add Second Device” was regarded to be better understandable. as being more explicit, i do not remember the exact reasoning.
i also do not know about reports of users that have problems with the wording [2]
then on-topic: using the wording as sort of “advertisement”, to make the unique feature more outstanding, however, indeed was not considered. but looking at translations, help, external references already using the wording, existing users need to relearn, post that would get outdated, and maybe the term is not better at the end, i am sceptical of a renaming at the current stage. maybe we can reconsider when the function gets another iteration or so.
lots of other wordings were considered as well, from my notes:
add another device
add additional device
add second device
set up second device
link device
link a device
use Delta Chat on other devices
use this account on other devices
… and probably more. ↩︎very, very few ppl have more than two devices, and these ppl are power users that probably get that “second” just means “more” here. in other words, the wording targets not the power users, but the majority of users having one or two devices ↩︎
2 Likes
Moreover, it is better for beginners. You install Delta Chat on your phone, then you think about trying the desktop app… “second device” is very clear for the first time, it is obvious that you want a second device for the same user/session.
3 Likes
It’s also obvious, that I want to use three devices: phone, tablet, desktop. Oh, I can only add a second device 
Maybe “Sign in with my account”? Or “sign in with other device”?
There is no “sign in” because this makes it sound like you can always sign out and sign in back with a password, like in Telegram where everything is stored on the server. In Delta Chat everything is stored on your devices and you can only copy your “profile” to additional devices, but cannot sign in into some “account” from another device.
Oh, you are right. Maybe something like “Load account from other device” would do. I don’t think there is a problem with the current “second device” but I answer here just for providing ideas. Have a nice day!
We use the term “profile” instead of “account” because “account” is usually associated with something like “Google Account” or “Microsoft Account” which is always record in some database. “Profile” is something you create and have locally, similar to “Signal Profile”.
The screen is called “Add profile”, and when you click “I already have a profile”, current options are “Add as second device” and “Restore from backup”. “Add as second device” can be renamed into something like “Load from another device”.
1 Like