Witness Support & How-To Guide
Learn how to register, capture signed content, verify authenticity, and manage your Witness account.
1. Register a New WitnessID
You’ll be prompted to create a WitnessID the first time you open the app.
- Enter a WitnessID (10+ characters, letters/numbers, dash, underscore).
- Enter your Email and Name.
- Tap Start Capturing.
- Grant Camera and Microphone permissions.
You’ll receive a verification email — click the link to complete setup.
2. Recover an Existing WitnessID
If you already have a WitnessID:
- Select “Yes, I have one” from the startup screen.
- Enter your WitnessID.
- Tap Send Recovery Email.
- Click Recover My Account in the email.
- Return to the app and continue.
3. Capture Photos & Videos
- Witness opens in Video mode.
- Use the mode switch to choose Photo mode.
- Use the camera toggle to switch front/rear cameras.
- All captures are cryptographically signed the moment they’re created.
Only content captured inside Witness can be verified.
4. Verification Badges
Open an item in the Gallery and check the badge in the top-right:
-
Fully Verified — all authenticity checks passed.
-
Partially Verified — valid locally; full verification pending/failed.
-
Failed — one or more security checks failed.
Long-press and select Show Security Info for full details.
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Captured | Timestamp of creation. |
| Structure (1.1) | PASS if the file structure is valid. |
| Content Hash | PASS if the file hasn’t changed. |
| DSC | PASS if your device signing certificate is valid. |
| Content Signature | PASS if the signature matches the encoded media. |
| Device Signature | PASS if created on this verified device. |
5. Manage & Share Content
- Long-press any item → Share File.
- Long-press → Delete File to remove captures.
6. Delete Your Account
Delete your WitnessID directly in the app:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Delete My Account. (you may have to scroll down to see it)
- Confirm when prompted.
Your account enters a 30-day recovery window before permanent deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Witness verify screenshots or externally captured media?
No. Witness can only verify content captured through its camera pipeline.
Why does my badge show “Partial Verification”?
This usually means the device was offline during full DSC validation.
Can I share Witness-signed media to any platform?
Yes — signatures remain inside the file itself and are fully portable.