Hidden Gems
Welcome to the power user section. Transform from a casual Matrix user into a power user with these tools, tips, and techniques.
What You'll Gain
After reading this section, you'll be able to:
- ⚡ Navigate Matrix at lightning speed with keyboard shortcuts
- 🤖 Automate workflows with bots and integrations
- 🛠️ Use admin tools to manage servers like a pro
- 🔐 Master encryption and security features
- 🎯 Discover clients with unique superpowers
Quick Start Guide
| Your Goal | Start Here |
|---|---|
| Navigate faster, format better | Power User Tips |
| Admin tools, CLI utilities | Power Tools |
| Bots, webhooks, CI/CD | Automation |
| Try unique clients | Lesser-Known Clients |
| Server optimization | Self-Hosting Tips |
Power Tools Preview
For Server Admins
| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
| synadm | CLI Swiss Army knife for Synapse |
| synapse-admin | Web-based admin UI |
| Draupnir | Next-gen moderation (Mjolnir successor) |
For Automation
| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Maubot | Plugin-based bot system |
| Hookshot | GitHub, GitLab, JIRA, RSS integration |
| matrix-commander | Scripting and CLI messaging |
| gomuks | Terminal client with web frontend |
Essential Shortcuts
Element Web (Must Know)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd + K | Quick room switch |
↑ (empty input) | Edit last message |
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + U | Upload file |
Ctrl/Cmd + / | Show all shortcuts |
Slash Commands
/me action - Emote
/topic text - Set room topic
/invite @user - Invite user
/op @user 50 - Set power level
/devtools - Developer tools
/shrug - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2025/2026 New Features
Threads
Organize long conversations into threaded replies. Available in Element X, FluffyChat, Cinny.
Polls
Create interactive polls in rooms. Native support in most clients.
Sticky Events (MSC4354)
Temporary per-user state for live location, call status, and more.
Element X
Next-gen mobile with Sliding Sync for instant startup and fast sync.
Verification Required (April 2026)
Element will require verified devices for E2EE messages.
Labs Features Worth Enabling
In Element → Settings → Labs:
| Feature | Why Enable |
|---|---|
| Threads | Organize discussions |
| Video rooms | Persistent video spaces |
| Rich text editor | Better formatting |
| Pinned messages | Highlight important content |
Client Superpowers
SchildiChat
- Mark as unread (other clients don't have this!)
- URL previews in encrypted rooms
- Don't auto-mark as read
- Swipe between spaces
FluffyChat
- Voice messages
- Location sharing
- Material You design
- Polls and threads
Cinny
- Custom CSS theming
- Vim-style navigation
- Beautiful Discord-like UI
gomuks
- Terminal-based
- New web frontend
- Power level commands
- Archive room history to JSON
Quick Automation Ideas
Send Alerts from Scripts
matrix-commander -m "🚨 Server alert!" -r '!alerts:server'
Subscribe to RSS Feeds
!hookshot feed https://blog.example.com/rss
Get GitHub Notifications
!hookshot github repo owner/repo
Schedule Reminders
!remind me tomorrow at 9am standup meeting
Explore the Guides
- Power User Tips - Keyboard shortcuts, formatting, navigation
- Power Tools - synadm, Draupnir, Maubot, gomuks
- Automation - Webhooks, CI/CD, scheduled messages
- Lesser-Known Clients - Cinny, FluffyChat, Nheko, SchildiChat
- Advanced Features - Widgets, integrations, deep dives
- Self-Hosting Tips - Performance, monitoring, optimization
Install the tools. Learn the shortcuts. Automate the boring stuff. Become a Matrix power user.