I am trying to work out how to verify my harbour-hydrogen session. I added the security code and I am able to read encrypted messages (written before first logging into that particular hydrogen session). So far, so good.
However, Element as well as nheko both keep telling me (nagging really) there is an unverified device and prompt me to verify it. Unfortunately, nothing ever happens on the Hydrogen side. I would expect the emojis to come up (or something at all), but there is nothing going on on that screen. Element used to have a text based verification where youād just say āyeah, that looks like my deviceā, alas thatās gone. So, I am stuck. 
Do you have a suggestion on how to best verify a Hydrogen session?
So, I tried this all over again, deleting the org.github.hydrogen-sailfishos.harbour-hydrogen directory from .cache, .config and .local/share, logged in again and provided the security code. Alas, the outcome remained the same, i.e. the device remains unverified.
Iām on matrix.org and I assume this will turn into a major issue in October this year when they will start blocking unverified devices. (link) Will all Hydrogen users be left behind just because of this?
However, I am still hopeful that somebody might know of a way to verify a Hydrogen session. It has worked in the past somehow.
Does Hydrogen even support verification? I know Sailtrix does. Not sure whether I ever saw it on Hydrogen in the past.
How did you deal with this issue of verification? I always thought uploading the key ought to be enough. Apparently, it is not.
I would go as far as saying that Harbour-hydrogen is not developed anymore, and that almost goes for Sailtrix as well.
I raised this at a Community Meeting this spring: Community meeting on 26th March 2026 - #5 by frankps
My hope is that somebody contributes to Sailtrix or do a new client (hopefully a port of Element X or Fluffychat). Another great option would be if Jolla implemented Chatty as a replacement of Telepathy: https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/Chatty
SFOS needs updated chat clients for Mattermost, XMPP, Nextcloud Talk and Matrix.
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I am all in favour of new clients for Sailfish. Actually, I once asked the nheko developer about an SFOS version. While he was aware of Sailfish, he just didnāt have any time to explore this.
But I digress, the main thing that irks me the most at the moment is the fact that I am happily running Hydrogen on three other SFOS devices. Back when I installed it, verification was not a problem (apparently). I am pretty sure I did not use that old text based approach where youād just say āit fitsā (that was no longer available on Element). So, I must have used some other method, presumably the emojis. Then again, my memory might betray me. Thus, hereās my question again, is Hydrogen able to respond to emoji verification requests? Could somebody please confirm this to me?
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I seem to not even be able to log in to Hydrogen: Could not query login methods supported by matrix.org
I am working on a new matrix.org client for Sailfish. Itās a hobby project.
What is working: sending/receiving messages, also images, e2e encryption including device verification also. You need to be connected to the internet to login and view messages, I donāt store message information on the device, only token, device, user and room information in encrypted format.
What is not implemented yet and is included in my āminimum viable productā: sending images in encrypted room, inviting people to room, room mgt, internationalisation (now only English, I would at least like to add a second language).
Aiming to get this working by end of next week (as I have holiday next week :-), then I need to figure out how to get it in on one of the stores. Certainly looking for people wanting to test it.
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Amazing that you are working with new matrix client! Canāt wait to test it
as a side note and I know you probably have thought about it, but would it make sense to make those contributions towards Sailtrix? Would be super to have more devs working with the projects compared to have one per project.
But as this is your hobby and you can do anything with your freetime that makes you happy, Iām happy for you anyway. And greatful!
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Thank you so much for looking into this. Thatās an unexpected outcome, though. I had no problems logging Hydrogen into my matrix.org account. Actually, I successfully tried several time. I was also able to upload the security code. (To my mind, that final step should have prevented that session from being marked as unverified, alas I was wrong.
)
@mo, I am absolutely delighted to hear about your project!
I am really looking forward to testing it.
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Thank you for pushing me.
Worked fine on 2nd attempt. Also the emoji verification with Element X.
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Kudos and thanks a million for proving that this does work!
Thatās a relief.
Now I need to work out how to completely reset Hydrogen on my device. Deleting the org.github.hydrogen-sailfishos.harbour-hydrogen directory from .cache, .config and .local/share may not have been enough. Is there any other data stored elsewhere?
There seems to be more.
I deleted what I found, but have not gotten the emoji handshake window up again. Perhaps I need to remove the device at auth.matrix.org for that?
Also the loading the security key seems not to work, so I cannot decrypt previous messages.
Logging in first time on Hydrogen fails. Restarting the app and choosing my user account logs me successfully!
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Ever since I received your response I have been trying to replicate that result by constantly logging in, testing something and out again (looking at the clock now that has taken quite a while for sure
).
Yes, I can confirm this weird phenomenon! So, dear future user reading this, please do not be frustrated by that first error message. Just restart. 
Second, before trying to verify the Hydrogen device, go to settings and enable cross-signing! That seems to be essential.
It would be great to have a Sailfish Wiki similar to the ArchLinux one even if just to remind myself when Iāll have to verify yet another device. 
Again, @frankps, thank you so much for staying with me. It helped a whole lot! 
Oh, sorry to hear and you are welcome. Letās hope for a better native app!
Iām normally on Element X⦠(I guess there is a reason whyā¦)
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I realize this is off topic, however, here is an observation. āRegular peopleā (i.e. the non-SFOS folks) seem to shun Element generally. Fluffychat on the other hand easily gains they acceptance. Something about the UI I guess.
Indeed, or alternatively some more contributions to Sailtrix and Hydrogen. After all, those two have been my constant companion for years now.
Anyway, I am drifting off. I am just happy everything is up and running now.
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FluffyChat is a cute, feature rich client.
I translated it to Norwegian bokmĆ„l and maintained the translation for a while. Also did the same with Elementā¦
Hydrogen is not really native, itās just webapp, not?