Element
Also called element messenger, riot.im, riot matrix
A Matrix protocol chat client, formerly Riot. On Windows the process is Element.exe.
What you need to know
Element is a Matrix client. It is not Slack.
Element.exe talks to a Matrix homeserver. Slack is a different product. Discord is a third community chat.
- What is it?
- Chat
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Element?
Element is a Matrix protocol desktop client. The Windows executable is Element.exe. The homeserver can be matrix.org or a private server.
If you have never used it
If someone said join the Matrix room in Element, this is the Matrix client formerly called Riot, not Slack. Download it from element.io/download. You need a Matrix account on a homeserver. The process is Element.exe. slack.exe is a different vendor.
What is it used for?
Federated chat rooms. Slack workspaces do not federate this way.
Element documents encryption for Matrix rooms. That is not Slack Enterprise Key Management.
Optional bridges to other networks. Those are server features, not Windows services.
Who is it for?
- People whose community already picked Matrix
- Users who still remember the Riot.im name
- Anyone who was handed an Element link and thought it was Slack
Current status
Element (2016) is a current chat from Element. The vendor still points Windows users at https://element.io/download.
How old is it?
Riot.im launched in 2016 and was renamed Element in 2020. It is newer than Slack (2013) and not IRC. Current Element is still a Matrix client.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| Element.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Element can start with Windows from its own setting.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\element-desktop\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Login fails because the homeserver is wrong
Element asks for a server URL. matrix.org is not every community's server.
People hunt slack.exe after a rename
Riot became Element. Slack was never this app.
Getting unstuck
Install from element.io/download
A Riot 2020 exe from a forum is stale. Current branding is Element.
Confirm the homeserver in the login box
element.io/help covers account and encryption. Slack Help will not.
Quit Element.exe from the tray
The Electron host can stay resident after the window closes.
Alternatives
Slack if the org already lives there. Discord for servers. Signal for 1:1 encrypted phone-number chat.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | element.io/download Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | element.io/help Vendor support |
| Official site | element.io/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
RAM follows Electron plus encrypted room history. A GPU is optional for the message list.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Element official site · Vendor product page
- Element help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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