M8Chat User Manual – Element Desktop

Setting Up Element Desktop

A dedicated chat app for your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.

Use this guide when: You want a dedicated chat application on your computer that runs independently of your web browser.

Why Use the Desktop App Instead of the Web?

  • Runs independently of your browser — close all your tabs and still receive messages
  • Desktop notifications even when the browser is closed
  • Slightly faster performance
1

Download Element Desktop

Visit https://element.io/download and choose your operating system:

Windows

.exe installer

macOS

.dmg file

Linux

AppImage, .deb, or Flatpak

Download and install it as you would any other application.

2

Open Element Desktop and Click “Sign In”

When you first open the app, you’ll see a welcome screen.

DO NOT click “Create Account”. Your account already exists. Click “Sign In”.

3

Change the Homeserver

CRITICAL: The homeserver MUST be matrix.m8chat.au. The default is wrong.

  1. Click “Edit” next to the homeserver field
  2. Type: matrix.m8chat.au
  3. Click “Continue”
4

Enter Your Credentials and Sign In

Use the same username and password from your M8Chat subscription. Click “Sign In”.

5

Verify Your Device

Element needs to verify this new device for security.

  • If you already have a Security Phrase (from setting up the web or mobile app), enter it now.
  • If you haven’t set one up yet, follow the same process described in the Element Web guide.
✓

You’re Ready

Your rooms appear in the left panel. Desktop notifications are enabled by default, so you’ll get alerts when new messages arrive even when the app is in the background.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

“Which version should I download?”

Download the latest stable version. If you see a choice between “Element” and “Element X” on the download page, choose Element. The desktop version is still called “Element”, not “Element X” (unlike the mobile app).

“The app won’t connect”

Check that your internet connection is working. Make sure the homeserver is set to matrix.m8chat.au (not matrix.org or anything else).

“My password doesn’t work”

Confirm the homeserver is correct first. If it is, try resetting your password.

What Happens Next?

Your messages sync across all your devices. Anything you send or receive on the desktop app also appears on the web and your phone.

The desktop app starts automatically with your computer by default. You can change this in the app settings if you prefer.

Related Pages

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