[hLsvZHKd]

Matrix is good in theory but its UI is still confusing. I'm also bitter that my old account that was closed a long time ago cannot be retrieved or reset, which means that I cannot use my phone number again (it's stuck forever to the closed account).

[quaintdev]

What are you talking about? You do not need phone number. I self host matrix instance and all I did was create username and passwords for people I know and shared with them. They then logged in and changed their passwords. At no point the sign up workflow asked for phone number.

Also, the UI has improved a lot recently. There are number of matrix clients that have appeared on app stores but I still prefer Element which gets regular updates and features.

[pferde]

You don't even need to create usernames/passwords in advance - you can just send your friends custom one-time URLs, which will allow them to enter their own desired usernames and passwords.

https://zeratax.github.io/matrix-registration/

[_flux]

I'm sure you can contact the admins of matrix.org and ask for the phone number to be released. (I'm assuming you used that instance, as you mentioned nothing else.) I believe they are reachable at [e-mail] .

Rather seems like a bug.

[johnisgood]

What phone number? I use Element, and I never had to enter my phone number at any point.

[_flux]

You can provide it for the benefit of your friends (or possibly enemies or attackers) to use it to find your Matrix ID from their pre-existing contact phone number.

[johnisgood]

I see. Seems like an useful feature for many people.

[gefhfff]

Matrix itself has as much as an UI as Email (even less)