Quick answers about Aether.

Aether adds one guide conversation for a new connected account to explain optional privacy, recovery and participation choices. It appears from the official Aether profile. It does not post publicly, send a message as you, or change any of your choices.

Choose New to Aether — create account when you do not have an earlier Aether recovery backup. Choose Restore backup only when you already have the recovery code for an existing account.

Aether cannot reveal or recreate a lost recovery code. If you still control the active account, open Cloud backup and rotate or recreate the backup, then save the new code. If you lose the phone and the only code, the encrypted backup may be unrecoverable.

No. You can use Aether without Cloud Backup. If enabled, it covers limited account setup such as handles, contacts, groups, channels and the encrypted messaging identity needed for recovery. Readable private chat history remains device-held and is not part of that backup.

Exact-handle discovery is private by default and only available to eligible accounts. Open Settings → Privacy & security and enable discoverability if the option is available. Protected minor accounts remain hidden from adult discovery.

Discovery and message requests are separate controls. An eligible account must enable Message requests before a new handle can ask to chat. Accepted contacts can continue using their existing conversation unless a block or safety restriction applies.

Supported clients encrypt message content on the device for the server-authorized recipient set, and ordinary relay envelopes are removed after confirmed pickup. Required guardian safety recipients can receive separately encrypted envelopes. The custom protocol has not yet completed an independent cryptographic audit, and recipients can still copy what they receive.

The recipient may be offline, their key or current safety authorization may be unavailable, a required guardian envelope may be missing, or your connection may have failed. Open Settings → Delivery & uploads for the current reason and retry after connectivity or authorization returns.

A group is a shared conversation where members normally participate. A channel is a creator or team-led broadcast/community with optional member posting, public discovery, access approval, topics, slow mode, analytics and sponsored placements.

If you are the owner or an admin, open Channel info → Onboarding and access, then turn off Allow member posts. Owners and admins can continue to publish.

A Space alias is a reusable public name separate from your private DM handle. It reduces unwanted linking by other users, but it is not anonymity: Aether can attribute the alias to the account for safety and moderation.

Browsing and full publishing have different requirements. The app shows what is missing; commonly you need a current age decision, a Space alias and Face Check or provider-backed identity. Minor publishing is additionally limited by managed social access and media-safety rules.

You choose contacts, close friends or selected people before posting. Status expires from the selected audience after 12 hours. Saving it to your private archive or adding it to profile highlights is a separate choice.

Live is available only to current adult accounts. Watching and hosting are also different: eligible adults may watch, while hosting or joining the stage requires the stronger current access shown by Aether and a Space alias.

Voice calls are not recorded by Aether. Live is not recorded by default. A host can explicitly start a Live recording while the app displays a notice; the saved replay stays private until the host publishes it.

Aether is for ages 13+. Confirmed minors can use protected chat and, with the required managed permission, their separate 13–15 or 16–17 Space cohort. Live, Coins, voice calls, sponsored placements and private-chat aliases are unavailable. Minor Space media publishing is blocked while media-safety review is unavailable.

No. A confirmed compatible-minor peer chat does not add a guardian only because both people are minors. Protected communication outside that peer rule requires separately encrypted delivery to every current approved guardian recipient, or the server refuses the message.

No. Face Check is an on-device face and gesture check that can unlock eligible publishing or Live capabilities. It is not legal identity, verified age, guardianship, trust or permission to contact minors. Provider-backed ID verification is a separate paid process.

Open Profile → Creator Studio → Inbox. Enable the inbox, then use Primary, General or custom labels, link a DM to a channel, set office hours, add a greeting and away reply, and save frequently used responses.

They are optional adult monthly memberships purchased through Google Play. They renew until cancelled and add cosmetics and higher-quality media processing. They do not change identity, age, safety, trust, moderation or access to minors. Use Manage on the Coins screen or Google Play subscriptions to cancel or manage a plan.

Buyers cannot send Coins directly to another user or withdraw them. Coins are spent on supported Aether gifts and features. Eligible verified creators may separately request cash-out of creator earnings once the displayed requirements and minimum are met.

Make sure Aether was installed from an eligible Google Play track, the Play account is the one that made the purchase, and the app is online. Refresh the Coins screen. If it remains missing, contact support with the order reference. Never send payment credentials or your recovery code.

For a planned move, use Settings → Safety & account → Your Aether device → Transfer to another device. You can also restore an encrypted cloud backup with its recovery code. Completing either transfer signs the previous phone out.

Open the conversation, profile, post, channel item or Live menu and choose Block or Report. Select the closest reason and the evidence you intend to disclose. For child-safety concerns email [email protected]. Contact emergency services for immediate danger.

Open Settings → Safety & account → Delete account and data and follow the warning before confirming. If you cannot access the app, use the instructions at aether.theaecestudio.com/delete-account.