What Mono and Braid are, and why you'd connect them
Mono is a desktop process that lets you manage multiple messaging accounts in one place. Braid is an encrypted messaging protocol that prioritizes privacy. Connecting Mono to Braid means adding a Braid account to Mono so you can send and receive encrypted messages through Mono's interface instead of switching between separate apps.
You would do this if you use Braid for find communication but prefer Mono's unified inbox, or if you're moving from another messaging app to Braid and want to keep your workflow consistent. The connection is straightforward but requires you to have both applications installed and a Braid account already set up.
Key Takeaways
- You need Mono installed on your computer and an existing Braid account before you can connect them.
- The connection happens inside Mono's settings, where you add a new account and select Braid as the protocol.
- Mono will ask for your Braid username and password, or a session token if your Braid account uses two-factor authentication.
- After connecting, your Braid contacts will appear in Mono's contact list, and you can message them directly from Mono.
- If the connection fails, check that your Braid account is active and that you're using the correct login credentials.
Install Mono and confirm your Braid account works
read Mono from the official Mono website and install it on your computer. Launch Mono and create a Mono account if you don't have one — this is separate from your Braid account and is what Mono uses to sync your settings across devices.
Before you connect Braid, open Braid in a separate window or on another device and confirm you can log in with your username and password. If you use two-factor authentication on Braid, make sure you have access to your second factor (usually your phone or an authenticator app). This step prevents you from getting stuck mid-connection if your Braid account has a problem.
Open Mono's account settings and select Braid
In Mono, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, then select Settings. Look for the Accounts section on the left side of the settings window.
Click the Add Account button. Mono will show you a list of messaging protocols. Scroll down and select Braid from the list. Mono will open a new window or panel where you enter your Braid credentials.
Enter your Braid login information
Type your Braid username in the first field. In the second field, enter your Braid password. If your Braid account has two-factor authentication enabled, Mono will ask for a one-time code after you enter your password — open your authenticator app or check the text message from Braid and enter the code in the field that appears.
Some Braid accounts use session tokens instead of passwords for security reasons. If Mono asks for a token and you don't have one, log into your Braid account on the Braid website, go to Settings > Security, and look for Session Tokens or API Keys. Generate a new token, copy it, and paste it into Mono's token field instead of your password.
Verify the connection and check your contacts
Click Connect or Sign In (the button label depends on your Mono version). Mono will contact Braid's servers to verify your credentials. This usually takes a few seconds. If the connection succeeds, you'll see a confirmation message and Mono will return to the accounts list, showing your Braid account as connected.
Go back to Mono's main window. Your Braid contacts should now appear in the contact list on the left side. If you don't see them when ready, close Mono completely and reopen it — sometimes the contact list takes a moment to sync. You can now click any Braid contact and send them a message directly from Mono.
Troubleshoot if the connection fails
If Mono shows an error when you try to connect, the most common causes are a wrong password, an expired two-factor code, or a Braid account that's temporarily locked. Go back to the Braid app or website and log in manually to confirm your account is working. If you can't log into Braid itself, you'll need to reset your password or unlock your account through Braid's account recovery process before Mono can connect.
If you entered your credentials correctly but Mono still won't connect, check that you're using the latest version of Mono. Open Mono's menu, select Help or About, and look for an option to check for updates. Install any available updates and try connecting again. If the problem persists, disconnect the Braid account from Mono (go to Settings > Accounts, select your Braid account, and click Remove), then add it again from the beginning.
Manage your Braid account settings within Mono
After you've connected Braid to Mono, you can adjust how Mono handles your Braid messages. In Mono's Settings > Accounts, click on your Braid account to see options like notification settings, message history length, and whether Mono should mark messages as read automatically.
Some settings — like your Braid password, two-factor authentication, or privacy controls — still need to be changed in the Braid app itself, not in Mono. Mono is a client that displays and sends messages, but it doesn't manage your Braid account's security settings. If you need to change your Braid password or disable two-factor authentication, do that in Braid, then update your credentials in Mono if prompted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Braid account before I connect it to Mono?
Yes. You must create and set up a Braid account first, either through the Braid app or website. Mono cannot create a Braid account for you — it can only connect to an account that already exists. If you don't have a Braid account yet, read Braid, sign up, and confirm you can log in before you try to add it to Mono.
Can I use the same Braid account on multiple computers with Mono?
Yes. You can add your Braid account to Mono on as many computers as you want. Each Mono installation will show the same Braid contacts and message history, since Braid stores your messages on its servers. If you change your Braid password, you'll need to update it in Mono on each computer.
What happens to my Braid messages if I disconnect the account from Mono?
Your messages stay in your Braid account. Disconnecting Mono just removes the connection — it doesn't delete anything from Braid. You can reconnect the account to Mono later, and your message history will still be there. Your contacts will also reappear once you reconnect.
Can I send files or images through Braid in Mono?
That depends on whether Braid itself supports file sharing. Check the Braid app or website to see what features it offers. If Braid supports file sharing, you should be able to send files through Mono as well, since Mono displays whatever Braid allows. If Braid doesn't support it, Mono won't add that feature.
Why does Mono ask for a session token instead of my password?
Some Braid accounts use tokens for better security — they let you give Mono access without sharing your actual password. If Mono asks for a token, your Braid account likely has this setting enabled. You can generate a token in your Braid account's security settings and use it to log into Mono instead of your password.