iOS
Troubleshooting
Messages supplied by SemaFore
When the service can identify a problem, the iPhone app shows the safe message supplied for that condition rather than only a generic failure. Follow the action shown in the app. Do not infer a different recovery action from technical wording or repeatedly tap through a warning.
SF support references
An identifier such as SF-1234 is a support reference, not an OTP or password. Record the complete SF-NNNN value and what you were doing when it appeared. Include the reference when you contact your organisation administrator or SemaFore support so they can identify the failure category without needing message content.
Never send an OTP, renewal credential, encryption key, or screenshot containing sensitive conversation content with a support request.
re_authenticate and re_register are different
| Recovery shown | What it means | Data effect |
|---|---|---|
re_authenticate or Verify again | Prove the same phone-number identity again on the existing device registration. | Preserves local messages, groups, drafts, device identity, and conversation encryption state. |
re_register or a device-identity conflict | Retire the local identity and create a replacement device registration after explicit confirmation. | Deletes the previous subject’s local messages, groups, drafts, pending sends, credentials, and key state. This cannot be undone. |
re_register merely to clear an error. If you did not intend to replace the local subject or retire this device, cancel and contact support with the SF reference.For the full boundary, see Sign-in and Session Recovery and Device Lifecycle.
A notification arrived but the conversation has not updated
Message notifications are generic, metadata-only alerts. Open SemaFore; the app fetches queued ciphertext and decrypts it locally when it opens or reconnects. If the conversation still does not update:
- Confirm that the iPhone has network access.
- Open the in-app Notification Settings screen and refresh the device state.
- Check iOS Settings → SemaFore → Notifications if alerts are missing.
- If the app shows an SF support reference, record it before retrying or contacting support.