~* matrix sign-up guide *~

for cool cats who are new to matrix

/\_/\ ( ^.^ ) hi! you found the right server! > ^ <

matrix is just a chat protocol. like any other chat service, except your account lives on our server matrix.solarcat.eu instead of meta's. as a bonus, the client apps are clean and nice and do not send you to browse a feed, ask you to interact with ai, or any of that crap. none of your data ever does anything interesting on my server. you make the account once and it works from any matrix app, on any device. instructions below!

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step 1 :: get an app

the easiest one is element web — runs right in your browser, nothing to install. there are also apps for desktop, android and iphone. I recommend the old phone app instead of element x, cause this one is still a bit buggy.
(other nice ones: cinny — clean and pretty, in your browser — and fluffychat, great on phones. any matrix app works, the buttons are just in slightly different places.)

step 2 :: create your account

open the app and pick create account (not "sign in").
before anything else, change the homeserver: somewhere on that screen it says matrix.org — usually behind an "advanced" option or an "edit" button next to it. change it to matrix.solarcat.eu.
enter your email address and a password you'll remember.
hit continue / create account.

! important: if you leave it on matrix.org, you'll be making an account on the giant public server — not here. it won't work with our bridges. if it happens, no stress: just make the account again with the right homeserver.

step 3 :: check your email

you'll get a verification mail from matrix@solarcat.eu. it can take a few minutes, and it does land in spam sometimes — take a look there.
click the link in the mail — ideally in the same browser you started signing up in.

step 4 :: you're in!

if element asks about encryption — a "security phrase" or "recovery key" — it's safe and worth doing: write the key down somewhere safe. (skipping it can cost you old messages when you add a new device.)
to log in on another device later: choose log in, pick the homeserver https://matrix.solarcat.eu if it asks, then your email + password.
people here have addresses like @name:matrix.solarcat.eu — that's what you search for to find them.

if something goes wrong

"homeserver not found" → check the spelling: matrix.solarcat.eu (with the https:// if it wants a full address).
no email arrived → wait a few minutes, check spam, then try logging in with your email + password. if it says the account doesn't exist, the verification didn't complete — just create it again.
forgot password → use the reset link on the log-in screen, you'll get a mail.

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still stuck? message maya and she'll sort you out <3 in the worst case we can manually make an account!!