Secure messaging app Briar enters maintenance mode, will only receive bug & security fixes

Briar, a free and open source secure messaging app, has officially entered maintenance mode. According to the development team, the app will now only receive essential security updates and bug fixes. While this represents a significant change for longtime users, the project remains active and is not being shut down.

Following years of persistent challenges, including high battery consumption, unreliable background operation on Android, and missing features like account backup and file attachments, the team found it difficult to make the improvements needed. The complexity of offline communication and the user experience for adding contacts also remained unresolved.

During this period, funding constraints and the absence of a long-term strategy meant that development could only occur in the developers' spare time. Initially, the team decided to end the project in 2025 and released a final update for Android and desktop. However, persistent user interest and continued growth in the user base led to a change in approach, allowing the project to continue in maintenance mode.

The Briar team clarified that any rumors of a complete shutdown are outdated. While only critical updates will be released, incremental progress on unresolved issues may happen in the future.