Element Messenger
Complete Installation Guide for Secure Matrix Communication
Prerequisites
Before you begin:
- Android device running Android 6.0+ or iOS device running iOS 11.0+
- Email address for account registration (required for Matrix protocol)
- Compatible with any Matrix server worldwide
- About 100MB of free storage space
Step 1: Choose Your Version
Element Mobile
The flagship Matrix client for Android and iOS devices
- Official Matrix client for mobile devices
- End-to-end encryption with cross-signing
- Voice and video calls with screen sharing
- Rich text messaging and file sharing
- Push notifications and background sync
- Touch-optimized interface for mobile use
Element Desktop
Full-featured desktop client for Windows, Mac & Linux
- Synchronized with mobile devices
- Multi-account support
- Advanced room management features
- Keyboard shortcuts and productivity tools
- Self-hosted server support
Step 2: Installation Methods
Method 1: Google Play Store (Android)
1
Open Google Play Store
Launch the Play Store app on your Android device
2
Search for Element
Search for "Element" and select "Element - Secure Messenger" by Element
3
Install the App
Tap "Install" and wait for the download and installation to complete
4
Launch Element
Tap "Open" or find Element in your app drawer to launch the application
Method 2: Apple App Store (iOS)
1
Open App Store
Launch the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad
2
Search for Element
Tap the "Search" tab and search for "Element Messenger"
3
Download the App
Select "Element Messenger" by Element and tap "GET" or the cloud download icon
4
Authenticate Download
Use Face ID, Touch ID, or enter your Apple ID password to confirm the download
5
Launch Element
Tap "Open" or find Element on your home screen to launch the application
iOS Note: Element on iOS requires iOS 11.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Method 3: F-Droid Repository (Android)
1
Install F-Droid
Download F-Droid from f-droid.org and install it following the unknown sources procedure
2
Update Repositories
Open F-Droid, wait for repositories to update, then search for "Element"
3
Install Element
Select "Element" from the search results and tap "Install"
Method 4: Direct APK Download (Android)
2
Download APK
Download the
app-gplay-release-[version].apk file
3
Enable Unknown Sources
Go to Settings → Security → Install unknown apps → Select your browser → Enable installation
4
Install APK
Tap the downloaded APK file and follow the installation prompts
Step 3: Account Setup and Configuration
Choose a Server
Select matrix.org (default) or choose a custom Matrix homeserver
Create Account
Choose a username and password. Your full Matrix ID will be @username:server.com
Use a strong, unique password as this protects your encryption keys
Set Up Key Backup
Create a Security Key and/or Security Phrase to backup your encryption keys. Store this safely!
This allows you to access encrypted messages from other devices
Verify Your Session
Complete the initial verification process to enable cross-signing between your devices
Configure Privacy Settings
Settings → Security & Privacy → Review who can find you and send you messages
Step 4: Getting Started with Element
1
Join Your First Room
Tap "+" → "Join public room" → Search for communities like #element-android:matrix.org or #matrix:matrix.org
2
Start a Direct Chat
Tap "+" → "Start chat
