When signing in or creating an account on any Matrix client, you must set the homeserver to enacted.org before logging in. Most clients default to matrix.org — you will need to change this manually. If you skip this step, you will end up on the wrong server.
The quickest way to get started is through one of our hosted web clients. There is nothing to download — just open your browser and go.
If you prefer a native desktop application, we recommend Element Desktop or Commet. Both are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Element X is recommended; it is the only mobile client that supports voice and video calls and is available on both iOS and Android. FluffyChat (Messenger-like, iOS & Android) and SchildiChat (WhatsApp-like, Android only) are also good alternatives.
Matrix uses end-to-end encryption to keep your messages private. When you sign in on a new device or client, you will be asked to verify the session to prove it is really you. This is a security feature — it ensures that no one else can impersonate your account on an unauthorized device.
The verification process works by comparing a set of emojis between your new session and an existing one. Here is how it works:
If you no longer have access to a previously verified session, you can also verify using your recovery key or recovery passphrase — which you should have saved when you first created your account.
Your recovery key is the only way to restore access to your encrypted messages if you lose all of your verified sessions. Without it, your message history is gone permanently — no one, including server administrators, can recover it for you. Save your recovery key in a secure location such as a password manager, an encrypted note, or a physical printout stored somewhere safe. Do this immediately after creating your account.