diff --git a/services/identity/src/database.rs b/services/identity/src/database.rs
--- a/services/identity/src/database.rs
+++ b/services/identity/src/database.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 pub use grpc_clients::identity::DeviceType;
 
 mod device_list;
-pub use device_list::{DeviceListRow, DeviceRow};
+pub use device_list::{DeviceListRow, DeviceListUpdate, DeviceRow};
 
 use self::device_list::Prekey;
 
diff --git a/services/identity/src/database/device_list.rs b/services/identity/src/database/device_list.rs
--- a/services/identity/src/database/device_list.rs
+++ b/services/identity/src/database/device_list.rs
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@
   pub prekey_signature: String,
 }
 
+/// A struct representing device list update request
+/// payload; issued by the primary device
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+pub struct DeviceListUpdate {
+  devices: Vec<String>,
+}
+
 impl DeviceRow {
   pub fn from_device_key_upload(
     user_id: impl Into<String>,
diff --git a/services/identity/src/grpc_services/authenticated.rs b/services/identity/src/grpc_services/authenticated.rs
--- a/services/identity/src/grpc_services/authenticated.rs
+++ b/services/identity/src/grpc_services/authenticated.rs
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@
   InboundKeyInfo, InboundKeysForUserRequest, InboundKeysForUserResponse,
   KeyserverKeysResponse, OutboundKeyInfo, OutboundKeysForUserRequest,
   OutboundKeysForUserResponse, RefreshUserPrekeysRequest,
-  UpdateUserPasswordFinishRequest, UpdateUserPasswordStartRequest,
-  UpdateUserPasswordStartResponse, UploadOneTimeKeysRequest,
+  UpdateDeviceListRequest, UpdateUserPasswordFinishRequest,
+  UpdateUserPasswordStartRequest, UpdateUserPasswordStartResponse,
+  UploadOneTimeKeysRequest,
 };
 use super::protos::unauth::Empty;
 
@@ -412,10 +413,17 @@
       device_list_updates: stringified_updates,
     }))
   }
+
+  async fn update_device_list_for_user(
+    &self,
+    _request: tonic::Request<UpdateDeviceListRequest>,
+  ) -> Result<Response<Empty>, tonic::Status> {
+    Err(tonic::Status::unimplemented("not implemented"))
+  }
 }
 
 // raw device list that can be serialized to JSON (and then signed in the future)
-#[derive(serde::Serialize)]
+#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 struct RawDeviceList {
   devices: Vec<String>,
   timestamp: i64,
@@ -430,7 +438,7 @@
   }
 }
 
-#[derive(serde::Serialize)]
+#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 struct SignedDeviceList {
   /// JSON-stringified [`RawDeviceList`]
@@ -451,6 +459,16 @@
   }
 }
 
+impl TryFrom<UpdateDeviceListRequest> for SignedDeviceList {
+  type Error = tonic::Status;
+  fn try_from(request: UpdateDeviceListRequest) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+    serde_json::from_str(&request.new_device_list).map_err(|err| {
+      error!("Failed to deserialize device list update: {}", err);
+      tonic::Status::failed_precondition("unexpected error")
+    })
+  }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
   use super::*;
diff --git a/shared/protos/identity_auth.proto b/shared/protos/identity_auth.proto
--- a/shared/protos/identity_auth.proto
+++ b/shared/protos/identity_auth.proto
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@
   // Returns device list history
   rpc GetDeviceListForUser(GetDeviceListRequest) returns
     (GetDeviceListResponse) {}
+
+  rpc UpdateDeviceListForUser(UpdateDeviceListRequest) returns
+    (identity.unauth.Empty) {}
 }
 
 // Helper types
@@ -197,3 +200,16 @@
   // }
   repeated string device_list_updates = 1;
 }
+
+// UpdateDeviceListForUser
+
+message UpdateDeviceListRequest {
+  // A stringified JSON object of the following format:
+  // {
+  //   "rawDeviceList": JSON.stringify({
+  //     "devices": [<device_id: string>, ...]
+  //     "timestamp": <UTC timestamp in milliseconds: int>,
+  //   })
+  // }
+  string new_device_list = 1;
+}
diff --git a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs
--- a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs
+++ b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs
@@ -749,5 +749,66 @@
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * @const
+ * @type {!grpc.web.MethodDescriptor<
+ *   !proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest,
+ *   !proto.identity.unauth.Empty>}
+ */
+const methodDescriptor_IdentityClientService_UpdateDeviceListForUser = new grpc.web.MethodDescriptor(
+  '/identity.auth.IdentityClientService/UpdateDeviceListForUser',
+  grpc.web.MethodType.UNARY,
+  proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest,
+  identity_unauth_pb.Empty,
+  /**
+   * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} request
+   * @return {!Uint8Array}
+   */
+  function(request) {
+    return request.serializeBinary();
+  },
+  identity_unauth_pb.Empty.deserializeBinary
+);
+
+
+/**
+ * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} request The
+ *     request proto
+ * @param {?Object<string, string>} metadata User defined
+ *     call metadata
+ * @param {function(?grpc.web.RpcError, ?proto.identity.unauth.Empty)}
+ *     callback The callback function(error, response)
+ * @return {!grpc.web.ClientReadableStream<!proto.identity.unauth.Empty>|undefined}
+ *     The XHR Node Readable Stream
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.IdentityClientServiceClient.prototype.updateDeviceListForUser =
+    function(request, metadata, callback) {
+  return this.client_.rpcCall(this.hostname_ +
+      '/identity.auth.IdentityClientService/UpdateDeviceListForUser',
+      request,
+      metadata || {},
+      methodDescriptor_IdentityClientService_UpdateDeviceListForUser,
+      callback);
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} request The
+ *     request proto
+ * @param {?Object<string, string>=} metadata User defined
+ *     call metadata
+ * @return {!Promise<!proto.identity.unauth.Empty>}
+ *     Promise that resolves to the response
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.IdentityClientServicePromiseClient.prototype.updateDeviceListForUser =
+    function(request, metadata) {
+  return this.client_.unaryCall(this.hostname_ +
+      '/identity.auth.IdentityClientService/UpdateDeviceListForUser',
+      request,
+      metadata || {},
+      methodDescriptor_IdentityClientService_UpdateDeviceListForUser);
+};
+
+
 module.exports = proto.identity.auth;
 
diff --git a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs.flow b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs.flow
--- a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs.flow
+++ b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-client.cjs.flow
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@
     callback: (err: grpcWeb.RpcError,
                response: identityAuthStructs.GetDeviceListResponse) => void
   ): grpcWeb.ClientReadableStream<identityAuthStructs.GetDeviceListResponse>;
+
+  updateDeviceListForUser(
+    request: identityAuthStructs.UpdateDeviceListRequest,
+    metadata: grpcWeb.Metadata | void,
+    callback: (err: grpcWeb.RpcError,
+               response: identityStructs.Empty) => void
+  ): grpcWeb.ClientReadableStream<identityStructs.Empty>;
 }
 
 declare export class IdentityClientServicePromiseClient {
@@ -148,4 +155,9 @@
     request: identityAuthStructs.GetDeviceListRequest,
     metadata?: grpcWeb.Metadata
   ): Promise<identityAuthStructs.GetDeviceListResponse>;
+
+  updateDeviceListForUser(
+    request: identityAuthStructs.UpdateDeviceListRequest,
+    metadata?: grpcWeb.Metadata
+  ): Promise<identityStructs.Empty>;
 }
diff --git a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs
--- a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs
+++ b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.OutboundKeysForUserRequest', null, global);
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.OutboundKeysForUserResponse', null, global);
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.RefreshUserPrekeysRequest', null, global);
+goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest', null, global);
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.UpdateUserPasswordFinishRequest', null, global);
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.UpdateUserPasswordStartRequest', null, global);
 goog.exportSymbol('proto.identity.auth.UpdateUserPasswordStartResponse', null, global);
@@ -422,6 +423,27 @@
    */
   proto.identity.auth.GetDeviceListResponse.displayName = 'proto.identity.auth.GetDeviceListResponse';
 }
+/**
+ * Generated by JsPbCodeGenerator.
+ * @param {Array=} opt_data Optional initial data array, typically from a
+ * server response, or constructed directly in Javascript. The array is used
+ * in place and becomes part of the constructed object. It is not cloned.
+ * If no data is provided, the constructed object will be empty, but still
+ * valid.
+ * @extends {jspb.Message}
+ * @constructor
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest = function(opt_data) {
+  jspb.Message.initialize(this, opt_data, 0, -1, null, null);
+};
+goog.inherits(proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest, jspb.Message);
+if (goog.DEBUG && !COMPILED) {
+  /**
+   * @public
+   * @override
+   */
+  proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.displayName = 'proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest';
+}
 
 
 
@@ -3853,4 +3875,134 @@
 };
 
 
+
+
+
+if (jspb.Message.GENERATE_TO_OBJECT) {
+/**
+ * Creates an object representation of this proto.
+ * Field names that are reserved in JavaScript and will be renamed to pb_name.
+ * Optional fields that are not set will be set to undefined.
+ * To access a reserved field use, foo.pb_<name>, eg, foo.pb_default.
+ * For the list of reserved names please see:
+ *     net/proto2/compiler/js/internal/generator.cc#kKeyword.
+ * @param {boolean=} opt_includeInstance Deprecated. whether to include the
+ *     JSPB instance for transitional soy proto support:
+ *     http://goto/soy-param-migration
+ * @return {!Object}
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.prototype.toObject = function(opt_includeInstance) {
+  return proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.toObject(opt_includeInstance, this);
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Static version of the {@see toObject} method.
+ * @param {boolean|undefined} includeInstance Deprecated. Whether to include
+ *     the JSPB instance for transitional soy proto support:
+ *     http://goto/soy-param-migration
+ * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} msg The msg instance to transform.
+ * @return {!Object}
+ * @suppress {unusedLocalVariables} f is only used for nested messages
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.toObject = function(includeInstance, msg) {
+  var f, obj = {
+    newDeviceList: jspb.Message.getFieldWithDefault(msg, 1, "")
+  };
+
+  if (includeInstance) {
+    obj.$jspbMessageInstance = msg;
+  }
+  return obj;
+};
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Deserializes binary data (in protobuf wire format).
+ * @param {jspb.ByteSource} bytes The bytes to deserialize.
+ * @return {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest}
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.deserializeBinary = function(bytes) {
+  var reader = new jspb.BinaryReader(bytes);
+  var msg = new proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest;
+  return proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.deserializeBinaryFromReader(msg, reader);
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Deserializes binary data (in protobuf wire format) from the
+ * given reader into the given message object.
+ * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} msg The message object to deserialize into.
+ * @param {!jspb.BinaryReader} reader The BinaryReader to use.
+ * @return {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest}
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.deserializeBinaryFromReader = function(msg, reader) {
+  while (reader.nextField()) {
+    if (reader.isEndGroup()) {
+      break;
+    }
+    var field = reader.getFieldNumber();
+    switch (field) {
+    case 1:
+      var value = /** @type {string} */ (reader.readString());
+      msg.setNewDeviceList(value);
+      break;
+    default:
+      reader.skipField();
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  return msg;
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Serializes the message to binary data (in protobuf wire format).
+ * @return {!Uint8Array}
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.prototype.serializeBinary = function() {
+  var writer = new jspb.BinaryWriter();
+  proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.serializeBinaryToWriter(this, writer);
+  return writer.getResultBuffer();
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Serializes the given message to binary data (in protobuf wire
+ * format), writing to the given BinaryWriter.
+ * @param {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} message
+ * @param {!jspb.BinaryWriter} writer
+ * @suppress {unusedLocalVariables} f is only used for nested messages
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.serializeBinaryToWriter = function(message, writer) {
+  var f = undefined;
+  f = message.getNewDeviceList();
+  if (f.length > 0) {
+    writer.writeString(
+      1,
+      f
+    );
+  }
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * optional string new_device_list = 1;
+ * @return {string}
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.prototype.getNewDeviceList = function() {
+  return /** @type {string} */ (jspb.Message.getFieldWithDefault(this, 1, ""));
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @param {string} value
+ * @return {!proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest} returns this
+ */
+proto.identity.auth.UpdateDeviceListRequest.prototype.setNewDeviceList = function(value) {
+  return jspb.Message.setProto3StringField(this, 1, value);
+};
+
+
 goog.object.extend(exports, proto.identity.auth);
diff --git a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs.flow b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs.flow
--- a/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs.flow
+++ b/web/protobufs/identity-auth-structs.cjs.flow
@@ -418,3 +418,20 @@
 export type GetDeviceListResponseObject = {
   deviceListUpdatesList: Array<string>,
 }
+
+declare export class UpdateDeviceListRequest extends Message {
+  getNewDeviceList(): string;
+  setNewDeviceList(value: string): UpdateDeviceListRequest;
+
+  serializeBinary(): Uint8Array;
+  toObject(includeInstance?: boolean): UpdateDeviceListRequestObject;
+  static toObject(includeInstance: boolean, msg: UpdateDeviceListRequest): UpdateDeviceListRequestObject;
+  static serializeBinaryToWriter(message: UpdateDeviceListRequest, writer: BinaryWriter): void;
+  static deserializeBinary(bytes: Uint8Array): UpdateDeviceListRequest;
+  static deserializeBinaryFromReader(message: UpdateDeviceListRequest, reader: BinaryReader): UpdateDeviceListRequest;
+}
+
+export type UpdateDeviceListRequestObject = {
+  newDeviceList: string,
+}
+