The Digital Press

Element has released a major update to its Web and Desktop apps, aligning their design and features more closely with the Element X mobile experience. The update introduces new filters, improved notifications, and accessibility enhancements aimed at creating a more unified, faster, and user-friendly platform.

Why it matters: The redesign simplifies managing conversations and improves clarity, making Element more intuitive and accessible across devices.

The big picture: This update is the first step toward a consistent, resilient technical foundation across Element’s Web, Desktop, and mobile platforms.

Accessibility & tech: Improvements include keyboard navigation fixes, WCAG AA compliance, and a move to MVVM architecture with experimental Sliding Sync for better performance.

Commenters say: Users appreciate the modernized design but express frustration over lost features, increased complexity for self-hosters, and concerns about breaking muscle memory.