Matrix How To: Join the Elite Intel Community

Never used Matrix before? This guide walks you through joining the Elite Intel community chat. You don't need any technical knowledge, and it takes about five minutes.

👉 Our community room: #krondor:matrix.org 👈

What is Matrix?

Matrix is a free, open chat network. It works a bit like email: anyone can make an account, and people on different servers can still talk to each other. No phone number is needed.

Element is the app (or website) you use to get onto Matrix. Think of Matrix as the phone network and Element as your phone.

The Elite Intel community lives in a Matrix room called #krondor:matrix.org. That's where you can ask questions, report bugs, share ideas and chat with other commanders and the developer.

You can use Element in two ways:

	In your browser (Element Web)	Installed app (Element)
Install anything?	No	Yes
Good for	Trying it out, quick access	Daily use
Notifications	Limited	Reliable
Works on	Any modern browser	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

You can start in the browser and install the app later. The same account works in both.

The quick way (browser, no install)

Step 1: Open our community room

Click this link: https://app.element.io/#/room/#krondor:matrix.org

This opens Element in your browser and takes you straight to our room. Because you don't have an account yet, Element will ask you to sign in or create one.

Step 2: Create an account

Click Create Account.
Leave the homeserver as matrix.org. That's the default, and it's the same server our room is on.
Choose a username and a strong password. Your full Matrix ID will look like @yourname:matrix.org. This is how other people find you.
Complete the checks the server asks for (a captcha and an email address). Use an email you can actually get into. You'll need it if you ever forget your password.
Open the confirmation email and click the link in it.

Write your password down somewhere safe. If you lose it and can't get into your email, you can't get your account back.

Step 3: Set up key backup (important!)

Shortly after you sign in, Element will ask you to set up Secure Backup (it may also be called Recovery or Encryption keys). Say yes.

Why it matters:

Private chats (direct messages) are encrypted. Only you and the other person can read them.
The keys that unlock those messages are kept in your browser. If you clear your browser data or switch to another computer, you can lose access to your old private messages.
Backup stops that from happening.

Element will give you a recovery key, a long string of letters and numbers. Save it in a password manager or write it down. Don't skip this step.

Step 4: Join the room

After you finish creating your account, Element brings you back to #krondor:matrix.org. Click Join.

If you ended up somewhere else instead, just click the community link again, or:

Click the + next to "Rooms" and choose Explore public rooms.
Type #krondor:matrix.org into the search box.
Click Join.

You're in. Say hello, o7!

Installing the Element app (optional, recommended)

The installed app gives you reliable notifications and a smoother experience. You sign in with the account you just made. You don't need a new one.

Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Download it from https://element.io/download

Windows / macOS: download the installer and run it.
Linux: Element is available on Flathub (Flatpak) and in many distributions' package managers. The download page lists the options.

Phone or tablet

Search for Element in Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone/iPad). Make sure the publisher is Element (New Vector Ltd), not a lookalike app.

Signing in to the app

Open the app and choose Sign in.
Check that the homeserver is matrix.org.
Enter your username and password.
Verify the new session (see the next section).
Open the room list. #krondor:matrix.org will already be there, because you joined it with your account and not just the browser.

Verifying a new session

Every time you sign in on a new device or browser, Element asks you to confirm it's really you. Until you do, you won't be able to read your old encrypted private messages.

When you see a prompt like Verify this device, choose one of these:

Use another device you're already signed in on. Both screens show a row of emoji. Check that they match and confirm.
Enter your recovery key (the one you saved in Step 3).

Once the device is verified, your old private messages become readable again.

Public rooms like #krondor:matrix.org aren't encrypted, so you can always read them, even before you verify.

Public rooms vs. private chats

	Public rooms (like #krondor)	Private chats (DMs)
Who can read	Anyone who joins	Only the people invited
Encrypted?	No	Yes
History on a new device	Always visible	Needs verification or key backup

Sending a private message

Click the + next to "People" (or Start chat).
Search for the person's Matrix ID, for example @name:matrix.org. You can also click someone's name in the room and choose Message.
Click Go / Start chat.

The first time you message someone, they get an invitation they need to accept before they see your message.

Notifications

In the browser:

When Element asks to show notifications, click Allow.
You only get alerts while the tab is open (or if you install it as an app, see the tip below).
Browsers on phones aren't reliable for notifications. Use the Element phone app if you want alerts.

In the installed app:

Notifications work in the background like any other chat app.
Go to Settings > Notifications to choose which rooms alert you. You can also right-click a room (or long-press it on a phone) to change notifications for just that room.

Tip: install Element Web as an app (no download)

In Chrome, Edge and other Chromium-based browsers, you can "install" the website:

Open https://app.element.io.
Look for the install icon in the address bar, or open the browser menu and choose Install Element.
Confirm.

Element now opens in its own window with its own icon, and notifications work better. You don't need a separate download.

Common problems

"Unable to decrypt message" in a private chat Your session isn't verified yet, or the other person's isn't. Follow the steps in Verifying a new session. If it's a brand-new message, ask the sender to open Element and wait a moment.

I lost my old private messages after switching browsers This happens when key backup wasn't set up. New messages will work, but older private ones may be gone for good. Public rooms like #krondor aren't affected.

I'm not getting notifications Check that you allowed notifications in your browser or phone settings, then check Settings > Notifications in Element. For the most reliable alerts, use the phone or desktop app.

I forgot my password Click Forgot password? on the sign-in screen. This uses the email you registered with, which is why a real email matters.

I forgot my recovery key Sign in on a device that's still verified, go to Settings > Security & Privacy and set up a new recovery key. If you have no verified device left, your old encrypted private history may be lost. Public rooms aren't affected.

I signed up in a private/incognito window Don't use private or incognito windows for Matrix. Closing the window deletes your keys, and you start over every time.

The link opens a page asking which app to use Choose Element (or Continue in browser). Any Matrix app can join our room, but this guide assumes Element.

Checklist for new users

Created an account (and saved the password)
Set up key backup and saved the recovery key
Joined #krondor:matrix.org
Allowed notifications (or installed the app)
Installed Element on your phone or desktop if you plan to stick around

Need help?

Stuck before you can get into the room? See Contact for other ways to reach us.

Once you're in #krondor:matrix.org, just ask. When reporting a problem with Elite Intel, say what you were doing, what you expected to happen and what actually happened. Screenshots help.

Welcome aboard, Commander! o7