this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2025
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When not using Google Play services (e.g. GrapheneOS, LineageOS users), Signal can be a real battery drain. Molly with UnifiedPush on the other hand is extremely battery efficient.

Here's how to set this up, using Nextcloud as the UnifiedPush provider.

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I am using websocket and don't see a large battery drain. Am I missing something by not setting up unified push?

[–] Sunny@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Nice thanks for sharing! How much more battery preserving have you found molly to be? Signal is also on the top of my list in terms of most battery-draining apps, so a migration to Molly sounds nice (also on GOS).

Also, nice blog! Subscribed via rss ☺️

[–] 0bs1d1an@infosec.pub 3 points 1 day ago

I sadly haven't tracked precise battery usage for both Signal and Molly, to properly compare. I do believe it easily saves me 10 percent on my daily battery life, though.

Thanks for subscribing! :-)

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Molly and Signal apps can be installed on the same device.

Big warning here, if you switch to Molly on the same device, your Signal install will go offline/be disconnected.

I just wanted to try the Material You theme that Signal is missing, but this made me apprehensive.

[–] WeAreAllOne@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

Warning. If switching from newest version of Signal to Molly, this might not work since Molly is quite few versions behind → compatibility issues.

[–] 0bs1d1an@infosec.pub 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Of course, Signal will be unlinked when using Molly. Molly however supports multiple devices.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Right, but Molly saying they can be installed on the same device alongside Signal is kind of confusing because it implies they can be USED simultaneously, kind of like Telegram and Telegram X. But this is not the case as far as I understand.

[–] oakcroissant@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If Molly is set as a linked device, they can be used on the same phone at the same time.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I tried every way I could find but every path I took in the setup process of Molly told me to scan a QR code, but how tf do I scan a QR code with my phone, that is shown on my phone's screen. So I gave up. I really tried to make Molly a linked device. 🤷‍♂️ If anybody has the exact process for this, please hit me with a reply. Would love to try Molly on the side of Signal proper, without losing Signal as the main app/device.

[–] katve@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Take a picture of the code with a webcam or another phone, worked for me.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Really though? 😆 I guess that's what I gotta do. (I won't btw.) But what if I didn't have another camera lol. This whole setup would fail miserably. Just let me have a link I can click as well. 💀

[–] JadedBlueEyes@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You can use scrcpy or similar to mirror your phone screen, and/or take a screenshot

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I won't do any of this stuff, mostly because I don't care enough to test it, and I soft-refuse to get this to work unless it's in a way the app developers intended. I don't know why I have this principle. The shit needs to work without workarounds, otherwise it's bad design. Kind of?

But I really appreciate the help, regardless. ❤️

[–] UniversalBasicJustice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I agree with you in spirit but would also like to shill for scrcpy in general if you aren't already using it. Mirroring phone screen to my laptop is fucking amazing.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What do you use it for? I have my phone sitting on a small holder/stand next to my screen both at home and at work. What's your use case, if you don't mind sharing?

[–] UniversalBasicJustice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Keyboard and mouse input for the phone is a gamechanger for me. Having a manipulatable window that I can drag and drop files to is super nice as well.

Also since Slay the Spire doesn't have cross-saving and all my progress is on my phone I can play it without staring at my phone.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

I guess I don't really have a reason to access my phone via my computer. Everything I use has a desktop interface — Signal, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, my radio app, my podcasts app, Spotify, etc.

But it's good to have alternatives if something comes up! Thanks for the tip!