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Frequently Asked Questions

Answer basic questions about potatoes.

What is a potato?


Potato is an instant messaging application that emphasizes speed and security. It is ultra-fast, simple, secure, and free. You can send unlimited messages, photos, videos, and any type of files (.doc, .zip, .pdf, etc.). Potato groups can have up to 200,000 members, and you can create channels to broadcast messages to an unlimited number of subscribers. We developed Potato to enable fast and secure messaging without the usual warnings.

Applicable to


Potato is suitable for anyone who wants fast, safe, and reliable messaging. Everyone can use Potato. For business users and small teams, Potato offers large groups, desktop applications, and powerful file sharing options; Potato groups can have up to 200,000 members. We support replies, mentions, and tags to help maintain order and ensure effective communication in large communities.

If you are more interested in images, Potato offers GIF animation search, a state-of-the-art photo editor, and an open sticker platform (where you can find some cool stickers). More importantly, you don't have to worry about disk space on your device. With cloud services and cache management options, Potato takes up almost no space on your phone.

Can I use it on my device?


Potato can be used on smartphones, tablets, and PCs, and Potato supports iOS (version 10 and above) and Android (version 4 and above). You can also install it using Windows or OSX desktop applications. Anytime and anywhere, you can log in and use Potato on most devices with your own phone number.

Privacy


In this era of data overload, Potato is highly concerned about users' privacy. On this issue, we unanimously believe that the most important points are: 1. Protecting users' chat information to prevent third parties (such as officials, employers, etc.) from prying; 2. Protecting users' personal profiles and prohibiting third parties (such as marketers, advertisers, etc.) from obtaining this information. We know that every user values privacy extremely highly, and this is closely related to everyone's life. Therefore, protecting users' privacy is Potato's top priority. We will strive to do this, and we will do it even better.

How to download the latest version of Potato?


Please visit the official website.www.potato.im/apps.htmlSelect the corresponding version to download.

Send message


You can send messages to friends in your phone contacts who have Potato. You can also choose a public username for your Potato account. Others will be able to search for and find you using that username. Even if they don't know your number, they can still send you messages.

Question: How do I invite my friends?


iOS: You can inform your friends via SMS, or directly send them the Potato download link through other means.

Android:打开app菜单(聊天列表中向右滑动)-邀请朋友。然后选择一个您希望通过其发送邀请的应用程序。

You can send our website to your friends or share your own link, so they can easily find your Potato even if they don't have your phone number.

Group


Potato groups can add up to 200,000 members, making them a very powerful communication tool. Here are several key features that make them stand out in the information world:

★ Unified historical messages

After sending a message, you can edit or delete it, and no one else can view it.

Cross-platform availability

You can view your messages at any time from any mobile or desktop device.

Instant Search

Even among millions of messages, you can quickly find the one you're looking for.

★Reply, Reminder, Hashtag

No matter the size of the group, you can easily keep track of conversations and communicate effectively.

Smart Notification

Only when someone mentions you or replies to your message will you receive notifications from a muted group.

★Pinned Message

You can pin any message you want to display at the top of the chat screen. Even if group members have muted regular messages from your group, they will still receive notifications for pinned messages.

Public group

Create a short link for the group and make it public, for example: lynnconway.me/groupname. In this way, anyone can view the entire chat history of the group and join to post messages.

What are the differences between groups and channels?


A channel is a tool for broadcasting public information to a wide audience. In fact, a channel can have an unlimited number of members. When you post a message in a channel, the message is signed with the channel's name and photo, not your own.

Create group or channel


iOS: Tap the chat switch interface, then tap the icon in the upper right corner to see "New Group" and "New Channel." Tap the corresponding button to create one. Android: Tap the button in the upper left corner, and the menu bar will automatically slide out. Tap the corresponding button to create one.


You can add contacts or search using usernames. You can create a link when creating a group or channel, or create a link in its details. Here, you can add more members and send the link to others. Potato users can click the link to join.

How to mute all members in a group and prohibit all private chats


This feature can be used when the group is a supergroup.
Android: In the group chat dialog, tap the "More" option in the upper right corner and select "Mute All" / "Prohibit All Private Chats." Alternatively, go to Group Info — More — Group Management — Mute All / Prohibit All Private Chats.
iOS: In Group Info — More — Group Management — Mute All/Prohibit All Private Chats
Tip: Muting all members and prohibiting all private chats do not apply to members with administrator or higher permissions. Additionally, you can use the member permissions feature in the supergroup management functions to prohibit certain members from speaking.

How to prevent group members from adding each other as friends


Set the group to "All members are prohibited from private chatting" mode, and members will not be able to add each other as friends within the group.
Setup method:
Android: In the group chat window, click the "More" option in the upper right corner and select "Prohibit Private Chat for All." Or go to Group Info — More — Group Management — Prohibit Private Chat for All.
iOS: Group Info — More — Group Management — Prohibit Private Chat for All Members
Tip: This feature does not apply to members with administrator or higher permissions.

How to view the group QR code


Group admin privileges are required. The admin can click the QR code icon in the group information to view the QR code.

How to search for the group/channel you want to add


Android: In the chat list, tap the search button and enter the username of the group/channel you want to add to find the corresponding group/channel.
iOS: In the search box of the chat list, enter the username of the group/channel you want to add, and you will be able to find the corresponding group/channel.

How to invite friends to join the group


The group must be set to allow members to invite others; otherwise, only administrators and above have permission to invite members to join the group.
Invitation methods: Group info — Add members, or send the group link or QR code to friends so they can join the group themselves.

How to add a bot to a group


Method 1: Click "Add Member," enter the bot's username in the search bar, and click on the bot to add it to the group. You need to have permission to add group members.
Method 2: On the bot information page, click "Add to Group" and select the group. You need to have permission to add group members.

How to generate and modify a group link


The super group owner can perform related operations in the group type section by going to the group information page—More—Manage Group.

Username


You can set a public username on Potato. Other users can find you through this username—you will appear in the contact search under "Global Search." Please note that people who find you can send you messages even if they do not know your phone number. If you are not comfortable with this, we recommend that you do not set a username in Potato.

How to obtain it?


You can set your username in "Settings" and use the universal search box in the chat list to search for chats, messages, and usernames.

Username


You can use a-z, 0-9, and underscores. Usernames are not case-sensitive, but Potato will store your case preference (for example, Potato and potato are the same user). Usernames must be at least five characters long.

Do I need a username?


Potato does not require users to have a username, but we recommend that users set a username so that others who do not know your phone number can easily find you.

What should I do if the username is already taken?


Potato usernames are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

How do I delete a contact?


First, go to the personal information page, then click the edit button in the top right corner. Finally, scroll to the bottom and click Delete Contact.

How do I recommend it to a friend?


Click on Contacts—Invite Friends—Share Potato to third-party apps, or choose to share via your phone's address book.

How do I block or blacklist a contact?


Personal Information Page — Top Right Corner Edit — Message Notifications (You can turn off message notifications from this friend) — Add to Blacklist

How to add friends in a group


Users can add friends by accessing the member list within the group information or by clicking on a user's avatar in the chat window to enter their personal information page (if the group has enabled the prohibition of private chats, ordinary members are not allowed to add each other as friends).

Robot


This API allows you to connect bots to our system. Potato bots are special accounts that do not require an additional phone number for setup. These accounts are used as interfaces for running code on the server.

What is private chat?


Private chats are suitable for people who desire more confidentiality than the average person. All messages in private chats are protected with end-to-end encryption. This means that only you and your chat partner can read these messages—no one else can access them, including Potato (for more information, click here). Additionally, message forwarding is not available in private chats. When you delete a message, it will also be deleted from the other party’s device. You can set messages, photos, videos, and files to self-destruct within a certain period after your friend has read or opened them; the message will then be deleted from both your device and your friend’s device. All private chats in Potato are device-specific and are not part of the Potato cloud. This means you can only access messages in private chats from their original device. As long as your device is safely in your pocket, your messages are secure.

Use self-destruct timer


The self-destruct timer is only available in private chats. Photos sent with a short self-destruct timer (< 1 minute) can only be viewed while you hold your finger on them—we will try to send a notification if a screenshot is taken. Please note that the timer only applies to messages sent after the timer is set. It does not affect previous messages.

How to save textures


Method 1: Users can add stickers by clicking on stickers sent by others or on sticker links.
Method 2: Go to "Discover" — "Sticker Store," where you can see the stickers that are already available. Select the desired sticker and click "Add."

How to recall a message you have sent


Private chat:
Android: Click or long-press the message you want to recall, then select "Delete for both" from the pop-up menu.
iOS: Double-tap or long-press the message you want to recall, then select "Delete for Everyone" from the pop-up menu.
Tip: If you do not select "Delete for both parties," the message will only be deleted for yourself, and the other person will still be able to receive it.
Group chat:
Android: Click or long-press the message you want to recall, select "Delete" from the pop-up menu, and confirm.
iOS: Double-tap or long-press the message you want to recall, select "Delete" from the pop-up menu, and then tap "Delete for Everyone."

How to pin a chat conversation to the top


Android: Long press the conversation you want to pin in the chat list, then select "Pin to top" from the pop-up menu.
iOS: In the chat list, swipe left on the conversation you want to pin, then select "Pin".

How to search chat content


Android: In the dialog, tap the "More" button in the top right corner, select "Search," and enter the keywords for the content you want to look up.
iOS: Click the top title bar of the dialog box, select "Search" from the pop-up menu, and enter the keywords of the content you want to search for.

How to clear chat history


Android: In the chat list, long press a conversation or enter the chat, tap the "More" button in the upper right corner, and then select "Clear Chat History" from the pop-up menu.
iOS: In the chat list, swipe left on the conversation you want to clear, select "Delete," and the chat history will be cleared.
Tip: Currently supported conversation types for clearing chat history are private groups and one-on-one chats.

Can the new device sync chat history?


After logging into Potato on a new device, chat history will be automatically synchronized.

How to use private chat and self-destruct features


Private Chat: On the personal information page, click "More" and select "Private Chat."
Message self-destruct (Android): In a private chat, tap the top right "More" button and set the self-destruct timer.
Message self-destruct (iOS): In a private chat, tap the clock button next to the input box to set a self-destruct timer.

Log out


Please remember that you can use Potato on any number of devices at the same time. If you log out, you will not lose your cloud messages. However, when you log out, you will lose all your secret chat records and all messages within them. Please note that logging out does not trigger remote deletion of secret chat messages on your friends' devices—for this, first select "Clear History." iOS: Go to "Settings," then "Edit," then "Log Out." Android, Windows Phone: Go to "Settings," then "Log Out."

Change your phone number


You can change your number in Settings - Phone Number. Your account and all cloud data such as messages, media, contacts, etc. will be moved to the new number. Important note: All your Potato contacts will have your new number added to their address book, as long as they have your old number and you have not blocked them in Potato.

What should I do if it shows "Failed to send verification code" when registering/logging in?


If you receive a message saying that sending the verification code has failed, please try again later.

What should I do if I haven't received the verification code for registration/login?


If you have not received the verification code, please check whether your mobile network is functioning properly and whether the SMS has been blocked. If everything is normal, it may be due to network delays. After 2 minutes, the system will notify you of the verification code via a phone call, so please be sure to answer. If you still have not received the verification code, please try again after 5 minutes. If you still do not receive the code, please try using a different phone number.

How to proactively send a text message for verification


Some users may need to send an SMS for verification when using Potato Chat. The verification method is as follows:


Step 1: On the SMS verification page, click "Quick Send" to enter the mobile SMS editing interface. The SMS content will be filled in automatically; simply click "Send."


Step 2: After sending, return to the Potato Chat SMS verification page and click "I have sent" to complete the verification.


After sending a text message, the system will not provide any reply. Any resulting SMS charges will be collected by the carrier, and Potato Chat will not charge any fees.

Did not receive the email verification code.


It may have been mistakenly identified as spam by your email provider. Please check your spam folder to see if you have received the verification email.

Why was I notified that I was muted?


Group Mute: You have been muted by the group admin. Please contact the admin.
System mute: Your message frequency is too high or you have exhibited harassing behavior towards other users.

What should I do if my account is hacked?


Please contact customer support or submit an appeal through the feedback page.https://www.potato.im/p/suggestion

How to change the chat background


Tap in order: Me — General — Chat Background, then you can choose a system background or select an image from "Photo Gallery".

How to hide your phone number


Click on "Me" — "Privacy & Permissions" — "Phone Number" — select "No one," so that no one can see your phone number.

How to set it so that you don't accept group invitations from others


Click on "Me"—"Privacy & Permissions"—"Groups & Channels" in sequence, and make the relevant settings there.

Change Password


Two-step verification password modification: Click on "Me" — "Account and Security" — "Modify Two-step Verification Password," and follow the instructions.
Lock code modification: Click on "Me" — "Account and Security" — "Lock Code" — "Change Password", and follow the instructions to proceed.

How to view the user's phone number


If the user has set their phone number to be hidden from others, no one will be able to view this user's phone number. If the user has set certain users to be unable to view it, those users will not be able to see this user's phone number. Otherwise, the phone number can be viewed on the personal information page.

How to change your nickname


Click "Me" — User Nickname — Edit Nickname — Confirm

How do I delete my account?


On the homepage, click the avatar in the upper left corner to enter the "My" page. In "Account and Security," you can set the account offline self-destruction time. If you do not log in for the set duration, the account will be automatically destroyed. You can also click the "Delete Account" button to directly delete all account information.

How to check your account username


Click on "My"—user nickname, and you can see related information such as username, phone number, etc.

The account has been banned. How can I get it unbanned?


Please apply on the feedback page.https://www.potato.im/p/suggestion

How to report or file a complaint against a user


Personal Information — More — Complaints, you can file a complaint.

How to block out people around you who greet you


Tap Nearby People — More — Clear Location Information and Exit in sequence.

Moments (WeChat Moments)


Tap Discover — Moments — Camera icon in the top right corner — Enter your post content — Post

Is it possible to be online on multiple devices?


Supports multi-terminal online access and is compatible with Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS.

How much storage capacity does the cloud drive have?


There is no limit to the cloud storage capacity.

Do the videos stored in the cloud take up space on my phone's memory?


The cloud drive uses cloud storage and does not occupy your phone's storage resources.

How to develop and use robots


Please visit the official website.https://www.potato.im/apiView the relevant development documentation.

How to use a mini program


Method 1: In any chat box, type "@app + space", and select the mini program you want to try from the pop-up mini program list. Alternatively, type "@app + space + mini program name" to accurately find the specified mini program.
Method 2: Click on "Discover" in the menu bar, then "Mini Programs" to enter the mini program list interface.
Method 3: On the message list interface, when the message list is at the very top, swiping down on the screen with your finger will bring up the mini program list.

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