---
title: "Understanding Impact of Contact Permissions on Archiving in iOS"
slug: "understanding-impact-of-contact-permissions-on-archiving"
updated: 2026-03-27T08:09:57Z
published: 2026-03-27T08:09:57Z
canonical: "docs.smarsh.com/understanding-impact-of-contact-permissions-on-archiving"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smarsh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding Impact of Contact Permissions on Archiving in iOS

The contact permissions you set on the CM for SGNL app for iOS determine how contact information is displayed in the archive.

To set contact permissions on CM for SGNL for iOS:

1. Open **Settings** on your mobile device .
2. Go to **Privacy & Security**.
3. Tap **Contacts**.
4. Select the CM for SGNL app.
5. Select between **None**, **Limited Access**, or **Full Access**.

| Permission | Description | Impact in App | Impact in Archive |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access | The CM for SGNL app has access to your complete address book. | The name that you have saved on your phone is displayed in conversations. | When you message a client or colleague, their **real name** (as saved in your phone) is displayed in the archive, making it searchable for compliance officers or legal discovery. > **Note** > > If you grant Full Access, the contact name saved on your phone is displayed in the archive. For example, if a contact is saved as “Recruiter” or “Lawyer,” that name appears in the archive. |
| Limited Access | The CM for SGNL app can access only the contacts you select. | You can manually type a phone number to select a contact. The name that you have saved on your phone is displayed in conversations only on the app. | When you message a client or colleague who is not in your **Allowed** list, only their phone number is displayed in the archive and not the name saved in your address book. |
| None | The CM for SGNL app cannot access your address book. This is an iOS security limitation. | You can manually type a number to start a conversation. Only phone numbers are displayed in the app. | - When you message a client or colleague, only their phone numbers are displayed in the archive, making it harder to search for compliance officers or legal discovery. This setting may violate compliance policies. - When you receive a message, the app cannot access your address book to verify the phone number of the sender. The CM for SGNL app archives the Profile Name that the sender has set for themselves on the app. This can lead to compliance gaps as there is no phone number attached to a name in the archive. |

### Archive Data Comparison by Permission

| Permission | Data Archived |
| --- | --- |
| Full Access | Contact name (from your contacts) + Phone Number + Message |
| Limited Access | Contact name (if in the Allowed list) + Phone Number +Message |
| None | Profile Name on the app + Message (Number is often missing) |

> [!NOTE]
> **Important**
> 
> If the sender has not set a Signal profile name and you have set contact permissions to **None**, the archive may show the sender as "Unknown" or a blank entry. This is a high-risk red flag for compliance.