Troubleshooting

Common issues with login, encryption, connectivity, and clients

Login & registration

“Invalid username or password”

  • Check password case sensitivity.
  • Try the full Matrix ID (@name:plauder.party) instead of the short username only.
  • Ensure homeserver is plauder.party - not another Matrix server.

Confirmation email never arrives

  • Check spam/junk folders.
  • Wait a few minutes and request again.
  • Wrong email at registration? Contact support - fixes are often manual only.

Registration disabled

Registration may be closed temporarily (capacity, abuse). Check announcements on the home page or community rooms.

Encryption (E2EE)

“Unable to decrypt messages”

Common on a new device without key backup:

  1. Open an already signed-in client where messages still decrypt.
  2. Export or sync encryption keys (Cinny/Element: Settings → Security / Keys).
  3. Import keys on the new device.

Without backup, old encrypted messages may stay unreadable on the new device - that is a Matrix security feature, not necessarily a platform bug.

Verifying devices

Element and Cinny can verify sessions (QR code or emoji comparison). That protects against man-in-the-middle attacks between your own devices.

Connectivity & sync

Messages arrive late

  • Check your internet connection.
  • Reload the client or sign out and back in.
  • During maintenance: check status on the main site or announcement rooms.

“Unable to connect to homeserver”

  • Verify homeserver URL: plauder.party or your documented Matrix URL.
  • Firewall/VPN: some networks block unusual ports - try another network.
  • Browser extensions (privacy/ad blockers) can break Matrix API calls - test with them disabled.

Voice & video (LiveKit)

SymptomWhat to do
No join buttonRoom may not support LiveKit - ask moderators
Black screen in videoGrant camera permission; try another browser
High latencyDisable video; use wired network

Details: Voice & Video.

Client-specific

Cinny shows an empty room list

  • Hard refresh (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R).
  • Clear cache or try a private window.
  • Confirm you are signed in to the Plauder.Party homeserver.

Element cannot find the server

Enter the custom server URL exactly - with https:// if required. Wrong URLs are the most common cause.

Getting more help

  1. Community rooms - often #support or #help (adjust aliases to your setup)
  2. GitHub issues - github.com/plauder-party for client or documentation bugs
  3. Contact operators - via channels on the home page

When reporting a problem, include: client + version, browser/OS, approximate time, error message (screenshot helps), and whether it happens in one room or everywhere.