Quickstart for Element

Element is a Matrix-based end-to-end encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app. It’s decentralised for digital sovereign self-hosting, or through a hosting service such as Element Matrix Services. Element operates on the open Matrix network to provide interoperability and easy connections.

Deploy Element on Elestio

1. Open the Element deployment page and sign in, or create an account.
2. Choose a cloud provider, a region and a data center. Pick the region closest to your users for the lowest latency.
3. Choose an instance size. Elestio only lists the sizes that can run Element properly (at least 1 vCPU).
4. Choose your support plan and the maintenance window for system and software updates (times are in UTC).
5. Click Create Service. Element is deployed and ready in a few minutes, and you receive an email with the access details.

The full walkthrough with screenshots is in the installation guide.

Access Element

Open your service in the Elestio dashboard and go to the Overview tab. Click Display Admin UI to reveal the URL, username and password of your Element instance.

If the password field is blank, Element does not ship with a pre-created admin user: open the admin URL to start its setup. Software without a web interface, such as databases, is reached with the credentials and port listed in the same tab. See Admin UI and credentials.

Next steps

• Custom domain and SSL: point your own domain to Element (guide).
• Backups: new services follow a 3-2-1 backup strategy by default (backups).
• Updates: manage the Element version and update policy (software versions and updates).
• Learn Element: read the official Element documentation.