Briar

Secure messaging, anywhere.

Briar Project · org.briarproject.briar.android

4.8 out of 5 (4 ratings) 1M+ downloads v1.5.21 48.3 MB Android 5.0+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 48.3 MB All versions

Signature matches the Google Play version Details

At a glance

Latest version: v1.5.21 (10521)
Updated: Sep 30, 2026 (8 days ago)
APK size: 48.3 MB
Requires: Android 5.0+ (API 21)
CPU support: x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
Category: Communication (app)
Listed since: Feb 28, 2021 (at least)
Permissions: 16 (5 sensitive)
Website: briarproject.org
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Briar is an app by Briar Project in the Communication category, listed since at least February 2021. It includes native code for x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.

Since version 1.5.1, the minimum Android version rose from 4.1 to 5.0. It asks for 16 permissions, 5 of them sensitive, including camera, Bluetooth advertise and Bluetooth connect. It asks for the same permissions as version 1.5.20.

What's new in v1.5.21

* Upgrade Tor to 0.4.9.13

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

Briar is a messaging app designed for activists, journalists, and anyone else who needs a safe, easy and robust way to communicate. Unlike traditional messaging apps, Briar doesn't rely on a central server - messages are synchronized directly between the users' devices. If the Internet's down, Briar can sync via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or memory cards, keeping the information flowing in a crisis. If the Internet's up, Briar can sync via the Tor network, protecting users and their relationships from surveillance. The app features private messages, groups and forums as well as blogs. Support for the Tor network is built into the app. Everything you do in Briar is only stored on your device unless you decide to share it with other users. There are no advertisements and no tracking. The source code of the app is completely open for anyone to inspect and has already been professionally audited. All releases of Briar are reproducible, making it possible to verify that the published source code exactly matches the app published here. Development is done by a small non-profit team. Privacy policy: https://briarproject.org/privacy User manual: https://briarproject.org/manual Source code: https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar

Version history

5 versions are listed, going back to v1.5.1. Since v1.5.15 it requires Android 5.0+.

v1.5.21 LATEST Sep 30, 2026 48.3 MB TRUSTED v1.5.20 Oct 7, 2026 48.3 MB TRUSTED v1.5.19 Sep 11, 2026 48.2 MB TRUSTED v1.5.15 Mar 19, 2026 46.7 MB TRUSTED v1.5.1 Dec 7, 2025 48.6 MB TRUSTED

All 5 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Sep 30, 2026.
Certificate issued to “briarproject.org” This is the certificate of the Google Play version.
Same certificate as the 2 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature verified Sep 30, 2026
Validated against Google Play Sep 30, 2026
Signed byO=briarproject.org
Signing certificate (SHA-1)84:71:5A:43:00:3B:4E:10:9A:D5:31:DA:5F:99:DA:C0:AB:5B:F8:8F
File MD5e764668f025a237b442536bc1f38379e
Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (2 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (16)

Briar requests 16 permissions, 5 of them sensitive.

Bluetooth advertise Sensitive android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADVERTISE
Bluetooth connect Sensitive android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT
Bluetooth scan Sensitive android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN
Camera Sensitive android.permission.CAMERA
Nearby wifi devices Sensitive android.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES
Bluetooth android.permission.BLUETOOTH
Change wifi state android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
Hide overlay windows android.permission.HIDE_OVERLAY_WINDOWS
Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
Run at startup android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
Use fingerprint hardware android.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT
View Wi-Fi connections android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Required hardware & features

Wi-Fi android.hardware.wifi

Briar APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Briar for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 5.0 or later. Version 1.5.1 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 4.1 and later. Get version 1.5.1 · All versions

Can I install this APK over the version I already have?

Yes, if your installed copy is older. It is signed like the Google Play version, so Android installs it as an update and keeps your data.

Is the Briar APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. Its signature matches the Google Play version. It is signed with the same certificate as the 2 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is e764668f025a237b442536bc1f38379e.