Matrix Element Setup

Getting Started

Welcome, This guide should get you set up using our Element Community Instance. Select your device in the contents list to skip to it, or simply scroll to find it. I Don't use MacOS or IPhones, so I cannot test this and by extension set up a guide. If anyone volunteers to make one I'll add it here at such a time, however Element X App should work on IOS.

Mobile App

For advanced users, you probably know this but more than just Element X can connect to Synapse Servers, however we use the Element Call and MatrixRTC backends, so I cannot guarantee functionality outside of Element X.

1. Install Element X from your App Repository of choice (Google Play for regular Android). Make sure it is from the company "Element Creations Limited".
   
   
   
2. Open the app, you will be greeted by the sign in page, Click "Create account".
   
   
   
3. Click "Change account provider", then "Other" next to the magnifying glass. Input matrix.atarkacomms.org in the Account Provider field, this will target the server privately owned by me. Select it from the list it creates (There's only normally one option here anyway).
   
   
   
4. Create your account, as I did with burner1 here. Note that your username is what you log in with, you can set a different Displayname later. In my case this means I used "lasse" as my username because it's easy to type, but I use "Lasse Ker'Khan" as my Displayname. If you're going to use your Real Name, be aware anyone on the atarkacomms server can see your username, so probably stick to first name like I did (In case you didn't guess Ker'Khan is made up :D). Please use a secure password.
   Burner accounts have been deleted, hence why I can safely show you passwords and later on keys to these accounts.
   
   
   
5. Click continue. Don't panic if this takes a while to load, this is my own hardware in my home so it may well take a bit longer than enterprise servers like WhatsApp or Discord to register your Account.
6. Choose your Display Name, this is what will be shown when you Chat. however your username is still visible to people. Click Continue again on the "Continue to Element X Page", I don't know why the app asks you to press continue so often :).
7. If it asks whether you want to send analytics or not, it's up to you. If you're in doubt at all about it simply select "Not now".
8. On your initial sign in you will be prompted to set up recovery keys as shown, click on the Set up recovery button.
   
   
   
9. Save your recovery key somewhere safe, be that as a note in your Password Manager, or in your physical documents. This is used to recover your account if you lose it or your device.
   
   DO NOT SHARE YOUR RECOVERY KEY WITH ANYONE. I can show this one because the account linked to it has been deleted.
   
   
10. You will now be greeted by the regular Start Screen. Select "Start Chat" to be greeted by a Search Bar. Search for your contacts here by username, upon selecting them from the list you will be able to start chatting normally.
    I cannot access your messages as the server owner unless your chat bar explicitly states "Send an unencrypted message", and even then I just... won't.
11. To join a Room you need an invite link unless it is set to public. If it is set to public you can access it by searching specifically for the room address after selecting "Public Room" in "Start Chat". For example our general public room is #pubGeneral:atarkacomms.org. If you need any further assistance, just ask there :D.