---
title: "Element"
category: "Messaging and meetings"
tagline: "The Matrix chat app, set up to use your Federated Computer Core's chat server."
source: "pacman"
package: "element-desktop"
command: "element-desktop"
replaces: ["Slack", "Microsoft Teams"]
website: "https://element.io/"
code: "https://github.com/element-hq/element-desktop"
links:
  - name: "Matrix"
    url: "https://matrix.org/"
---

## What it is

Element is a chat and calling app for Matrix, an open standard for messaging. Matrix works like email: anyone can run a server, and people on different servers can talk to each other. Element gives you direct messages, group rooms, threads, file sharing, and voice and video calls, with end-to-end encryption on by default for private chats.

## Why it's here

- **Your own chat server.** Your Federated Computer Core runs a Matrix server, and Element is the desktop app for it.
- **Team chat without a vendor.** Rooms, threads and spaces cover what teams use Slack or Teams for.
- **Encrypted by default.** Direct messages and private rooms are end-to-end encrypted.

## On CoreDesktop

CoreDesktop installs Element from pacman. Running `configure core` points it at your Core's Matrix server (`matrix.<your domain>`), so you only choose **Sign in** and log in with your Core account through single sign-on. Reboot once after installing CoreDesktop so Element can find the keychain it keeps its encryption keys in.

Open Element from the app grid or run `element-desktop`. The sandboxed AI agents can't read its data in `~/.config/Element`. `update` keeps it current with the rest of the pacman packages.