Is Element down? User reports indicate possible problems with Element

Is Element Down Right Now?

Element is the main chat app for the Matrix network, an open system for secure and decentralized messaging. Chats are end-to-end encrypted, and your account lives on a homeserver such as matrix.org. The Element status below comes from reports by other users.

Is Element down today? Most days the service runs fine, and problems stay local to one homeserver or one app install. Still, matrix.org has had real incidents where sign-ins failed and messages queued for hours. The reports on this page help you tell a wide Element outage from a fault on your own device. Magazine readers know that split too, since an Elle page that loads on one phone and not another is rarely the publisher’s fault.

Is Element Down for Me or Everyone?

Start with a simple test. Open Element on a second device or in a browser. If your rooms load there, the problem sits with the first app or device, not with the service.

If nothing loads anywhere, check whether your homeserver answers. A matrix.org account fails when that server is down, while a work or self-hosted server fails on its own schedule. Ask a contact on another server if they can reach you. Wide reports here point to a shared Element outage.

Why Are My Element Messages Not Syncing?

Slow or stuck sync is the most reported Element problem. The app pulls new events from your homeserver, and a weak connection or a busy server can stall that flow. Rooms then show old messages, and new ones arrive in a burst minutes later.

On Element Web, use the clear cache and reload option under Help and About in settings. On mobile, force close the app and reopen it. If sync still stalls, sign out and back in.

Why Does Element Say Unable to Decrypt a Message?

Encrypted rooms can show an unable to decrypt notice. This usually means your device lacks the key for that message. It often happens right after you sign in on a new device or browser.

Verify the new session from an older signed-in device when prompted. Verification shares the keys your account trusts. Messages sent before you joined a room may stay unreadable, because keys are shared from your join point.

Why Are Element Notifications Not Arriving?

Push notifications travel through Apple or Google servers, and several settings can block them. A room set to mentions only stays quiet for normal messages. Battery savers on Android also delay or drop pushes.

Check the notification settings inside Element first, then the system settings for the app. The desktop app must stay open or sit in the tray for notifications. A quick test message from a friend confirms if pushes flow again.

Common Element Problems and Fixes

App stuck on the loading spinner

App stuck on the loading spinner: Clear the app cache, or use clear cache and reload in Element Web settings. A corrupted local store is the usual cause. Signing out and back in rebuilds the store. Verify your session afterwards to restore encrypted history.

Messages stuck on sending

Messages stuck on sending: Check your connection, then leave and rejoin the room if the message still shows a clock icon. Homeserver lag can delay sends during busy periods. Waiting a few minutes clears most queues.

Calls will not connect

Calls will not connect: Allow microphone and camera access for the app in system settings. On Element Web, try another browser, because blocked permissions stop calls silently. Group calls also fail when your homeserver admin has calling turned off.

Error when joining a room

Error when joining a room: Large rooms can take time while your homeserver copies their history. Wait and try again rather than tapping repeatedly. If the error lasts a day, the room server may be unreachable or the invite may have expired.

Search finds no old messages

Search finds no old messages: Search covers history your device has downloaded or indexed. Element Web indexes in the background, and large accounts take a while. Give it time after a fresh sign-in, and check that search is enabled in settings.