diff --git a/_locales/en/messages.json b/_locales/en/messages.json
index faa4925a79ae..c415321b967f 100644
--- a/_locales/en/messages.json
+++ b/_locales/en/messages.json
@@ -2664,6 +2664,10 @@
     "message": "Scan this code in the Signal app on your phone",
     "description": "(deleted 03/29/2023) Title of the device link screen. Also used as alt text for the QR code on the device link screen"
   },
+  "icu:Install__learn-more": {
+    "messageformat": "Learn more",
+    "description": "Button text for learn more button during error screen"
+  },
   "icu:Install__scan-this-code": {
     "messageformat": "Scan this code in the Signal app on your phone",
     "description": "Title of the device link screen. Also used as alt text for the QR code on the device link screen"
@@ -2701,7 +2705,11 @@
     "description": "Instructions on the device link screen"
   },
   "icu:Install__qr-failed": {
-    "messageformat": "The QR code couldn't load. Check your internet and try again. <learnMoreLink>Learn more</learnMoreLink>",
+    "messageformat": "(deleted 05/09/2023) The QR code couldn't load. Check your internet and try again. <learnMoreLink>Learn more</learnMoreLink>",
+    "description": "Shown on the install screen if the QR code fails to load"
+  },
+  "icu:Install__qr-failed-load": {
+    "messageformat": "The QR code couldn't load. Check your internet and try again. <retry>Retry</retry>",
     "description": "Shown on the install screen if the QR code fails to load"
   },
   "Install__support-link": {
diff --git a/stylesheets/components/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.scss b/stylesheets/components/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.scss
index 93f660961893..f9536329c1c1 100644
--- a/stylesheets/components/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.scss
+++ b/stylesheets/components/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.scss
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@
       color: $color-gray-60;
     }
 
+    &__link {
+      @include button-reset;
+      color: $color-ultramarine;
+    }
+
     &__code {
       height: $size;
       width: $size;
diff --git a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenErrorStep.tsx b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenErrorStep.tsx
index de0eb5e027d2..a4edcdac74ce 100644
--- a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenErrorStep.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenErrorStep.tsx
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ import { openLinkInWebBrowser } from '../../util/openLinkInWebBrowser';
 import { Button, ButtonVariant } from '../Button';
 import { TitlebarDragArea } from '../TitlebarDragArea';
 import { InstallScreenSignalLogo } from './InstallScreenSignalLogo';
+import { LINK_SIGNAL_DESKTOP } from '../../types/support';
 
 export enum InstallError {
   TooManyDevices,
   TooOld,
   ConnectionFailed,
   UnknownError,
+  QRCodeFailed,
 }
 
 export function InstallScreenErrorStep({
@@ -51,6 +53,14 @@ export function InstallScreenErrorStep({
     case InstallError.UnknownError:
       errorMessage = i18n('icu:installUnknownError');
       break;
+    case InstallError.QRCodeFailed:
+      buttonText = i18n('icu:Install__learn-more');
+      errorMessage = i18n('icu:installUnknownError');
+      onClickButton = () => {
+        openLinkInWebBrowser(LINK_SIGNAL_DESKTOP);
+      };
+      shouldShowQuitButton = true;
+      break;
     default:
       throw missingCaseError(error);
   }
diff --git a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.stories.tsx b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.stories.tsx
index 93ab9efe1ca6..3610be4d7794 100644
--- a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.stories.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.stories.tsx
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ function Simulation({ finalResult }: { finalResult: Loadable<string> }) {
       OS="macOS"
       startUpdate={action('startUpdate')}
       currentVersion="v6.0.0"
+      retryGetQrCode={action('retryGetQrCode')}
     />
   );
 }
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ export function QrCodeLoading(): JSX.Element {
       OS="macOS"
       startUpdate={action('startUpdate')}
       currentVersion="v6.0.0"
+      retryGetQrCode={action('retryGetQrCode')}
     />
   );
 }
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ export function QrCodeFailedToLoad(): JSX.Element {
       OS="macOS"
       startUpdate={action('startUpdate')}
       currentVersion="v6.0.0"
+      retryGetQrCode={action('retryGetQrCode')}
     />
   );
 }
@@ -108,6 +111,7 @@ export function QrCodeLoaded(): JSX.Element {
       OS="macOS"
       startUpdate={action('startUpdate')}
       currentVersion="v6.0.0"
+      retryGetQrCode={action('retryGetQrCode')}
     />
   );
 }
@@ -158,6 +162,7 @@ export function WithUpdateKnobs({
       OS="macOS"
       startUpdate={action('startUpdate')}
       currentVersion={currentVersion}
+      retryGetQrCode={action('retryGetQrCode')}
     />
   );
 }
diff --git a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.tsx b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.tsx
index b8dfd7d0cf01..519d602285a2 100644
--- a/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/installScreen/InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep.tsx
@@ -29,24 +29,23 @@ type PropsType = Readonly<{
   updates: UpdatesStateType;
   currentVersion: string;
   OS: string;
+  retryGetQrCode: () => void;
   startUpdate: () => void;
 }>;
 
-const QR_CODE_FAILED_LINK =
-  'https://support.signal.org/hc/articles/360007320451#desktop_multiple_device';
-
 const getQrCodeClassName = getClassNamesFor(
   'module-InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep__qr-code'
 );
 
 export function InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep({
-  i18n,
-  provisioningUrl,
-  hasExpired,
-  updates,
-  startUpdate,
   currentVersion,
+  hasExpired,
+  i18n,
   OS,
+  provisioningUrl,
+  retryGetQrCode,
+  startUpdate,
+  updates,
 }: Readonly<PropsType>): ReactElement {
   return (
     <div className="module-InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep">
@@ -65,7 +64,11 @@ export function InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep({
       )}
 
       <div className="module-InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep__contents">
-        <InstallScreenQrCode i18n={i18n} {...provisioningUrl} />
+        <InstallScreenQrCode
+          i18n={i18n}
+          {...provisioningUrl}
+          retryGetQrCode={retryGetQrCode}
+        />
         <div className="module-InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep__instructions">
           <h1>{i18n('icu:Install__scan-this-code')}</h1>
           <ol>
@@ -110,7 +113,7 @@ export function InstallScreenQrCodeNotScannedStep({
 }
 
 function InstallScreenQrCode(
-  props: Loadable<string> & { i18n: LocalizerType }
+  props: Loadable<string> & { i18n: LocalizerType; retryGetQrCode: () => void }
 ): ReactElement {
   const { i18n } = props;
 
@@ -124,11 +127,24 @@ function InstallScreenQrCode(
         <span className={classNames(getQrCodeClassName('__error-message'))}>
           <Intl
             i18n={i18n}
-            id="icu:Install__qr-failed"
+            id="icu:Install__qr-failed-load"
             components={{
               // eslint-disable-next-line react/no-unstable-nested-components
-              learnMoreLink: children => (
-                <a href={QR_CODE_FAILED_LINK}>{children}</a>
+              retry: children => (
+                <button
+                  className={getQrCodeClassName('__link')}
+                  onClick={props.retryGetQrCode}
+                  onKeyDown={ev => {
+                    if (ev.key === 'Enter') {
+                      props.retryGetQrCode();
+                      ev.preventDefault();
+                      ev.stopPropagation();
+                    }
+                  }}
+                  type="button"
+                >
+                  {children}
+                </button>
               ),
             }}
           />
diff --git a/ts/state/smart/InstallScreen.tsx b/ts/state/smart/InstallScreen.tsx
index 9991e00b007b..5d6c8524968a 100644
--- a/ts/state/smart/InstallScreen.tsx
+++ b/ts/state/smart/InstallScreen.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import type { ComponentProps, ReactElement } from 'react';
 import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux';
+import pTimeout, { TimeoutError } from 'p-timeout';
 
 import { getIntl } from '../selectors/user';
 import { getUpdatesState } from '../selectors/updates';
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ import { isRecord } from '../../util/isRecord';
 import * as Errors from '../../types/errors';
 import { normalizeDeviceName } from '../../util/normalizeDeviceName';
 import OS from '../../util/os/osMain';
+import { SECOND } from '../../util/durations';
+import { BackOff } from '../../util/BackOff';
+import { drop } from '../../util/drop';
 
 type PropsType = ComponentProps<typeof InstallScreen>;
 
@@ -53,6 +57,13 @@ const INITIAL_STATE: StateType = {
   provisioningUrl: { loadingState: LoadingState.Loading },
 };
 
+const qrCodeBackOff = new BackOff([
+  10 * SECOND,
+  20 * SECOND,
+  30 * SECOND,
+  60 * SECOND,
+]);
+
 function getInstallError(err: unknown): InstallError {
   if (err instanceof HTTPError) {
     switch (err.code) {
@@ -83,6 +94,7 @@ export function SmartInstallScreen(): ReactElement {
   const chooseDeviceNamePromiseWrapperRef = useRef(explodePromise<string>());
 
   const [state, setState] = useState<StateType>(INITIAL_STATE);
+  const [retryCounter, setRetryCounter] = useState(0);
 
   const setProvisioningUrl = useCallback(
     (value: string) => {
@@ -206,12 +218,16 @@ export function SmartInstallScreen(): ReactElement {
       return result;
     };
 
-    void (async () => {
+    async function getQRCode(): Promise<void> {
+      const sleepError = new TimeoutError();
       try {
-        await accountManager.registerSecondDevice(
+        const qrCodePromise = accountManager.registerSecondDevice(
           updateProvisioningUrl,
           confirmNumber
         );
+        const sleepMs = qrCodeBackOff.getAndIncrement();
+        log.info(`InstallScreen/getQRCode: race to ${sleepMs}ms`);
+        await pTimeout(qrCodePromise, sleepMs, sleepError);
 
         window.IPC.removeSetupMenuItems();
       } catch (error) {
@@ -222,17 +238,36 @@ export function SmartInstallScreen(): ReactElement {
         if (hasCleanedUp) {
           return;
         }
-        setState({
-          step: InstallScreenStep.Error,
-          error: getInstallError(error),
-        });
+
+        if (qrCodeBackOff.isFull()) {
+          log.error('InstallScreen/getQRCode: too many tries');
+          setState({
+            step: InstallScreenStep.Error,
+            error: InstallError.QRCodeFailed,
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+
+        if (error === sleepError) {
+          setState({
+            step: InstallScreenStep.QrCodeNotScanned,
+            provisioningUrl: { loadingState: LoadingState.LoadFailed, error },
+          });
+        } else {
+          setState({
+            step: InstallScreenStep.Error,
+            error: getInstallError(error),
+          });
+        }
       }
-    })();
+    }
+
+    drop(getQRCode());
 
     return () => {
       hasCleanedUp = true;
     };
-  }, [setProvisioningUrl, onQrCodeScanned]);
+  }, [setProvisioningUrl, retryCounter, onQrCodeScanned]);
 
   let props: PropsType;
 
@@ -258,6 +293,10 @@ export function SmartInstallScreen(): ReactElement {
           updates,
           currentVersion: window.getVersion(),
           startUpdate,
+          retryGetQrCode: () => {
+            setRetryCounter(count => count + 1);
+            setState(INITIAL_STATE);
+          },
           OS: OS.getName(),
         },
       };
diff --git a/ts/types/support.ts b/ts/types/support.ts
index 8e2fa41ca127..251fb37f7a5a 100644
--- a/ts/types/support.ts
+++ b/ts/types/support.ts
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ export const PRODUCTION_DOWNLOAD_URL = 'https://signal.org/download/';
 export const BETA_DOWNLOAD_URL = 'https://support.signal.org/beta';
 export const UNSUPPORTED_OS_URL =
   'https://support.signal.org/hc/articles/5109141421850';
+export const LINK_SIGNAL_DESKTOP =
+  'https://support.signal.org/hc/articles/360007320451#desktop_multiple_device';