For: the account owner (admin)
This checklist takes you from "I just bought MatrixHost" to "my whole team is chatting". Plan about 30 minutes, plus two minutes per colleague. Go from top to bottom; each step links to a detailed guide.
Before you start
- The email address you used when you bought the plan (it is your portal login).
- A list of your colleagues with their names.
- Your phone, if you want to use the chat on it.
The checklist
- 1. Set your chat password. In the portal dashboard, card Your Matrix login, enter a password and click Set password. → Set your password and sign in
- 2. Sign in to Element. Use the username
admin, not your email address. → Which app should I use? - 3. Save your recovery key. Element shows it at your first sign-in. Store it in a password manager or print it. → Glossary: recovery key
- 4. Create an account for each colleague. Portal → Settings → Users → Create User. → Add your team
- 5. Send each colleague their login. Username, password and server address, with a ready-made message. → Send login details to a colleague
- 6. Create a team room. In Element, use the + button above the room list to create a new room, for example "Team".
- 7. Invite your colleagues to the room. Invite them by name or username, not by email address. → Invite people to a room
- 8. Connect WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram (optional). Each person links their own accounts. → Moving from WhatsApp
- 9. Install Element X on your phone. Sign in with your server address, username and password, then confirm the new device. → Which app should I use?
Done! Your team can now chat, share files and make calls, all on your own server.
Good to know
- Your plan includes a fixed number of users (10, 50, 100 or 500). The Plan card on the dashboard shows yours.
- Accounts are only created in the portal. There is no sign-up page and no invitation by email.
- Element asks for an "identity server" if you type an email address in the invite box. You don't need one: search for the person's name or username instead.