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Reset Cross Signing

Only do this if you have forgotten or lost your cross signing backup passphrase.

Please read through the entire document before starting to make sure you understand the consequences of doing this.

If you have an active session

  1. You may wish to backup your keys before doing this just to be on the safe side if something goes wrong: See Export and Import E2E Room Keys

  2. Go to Element Security & Privacy settings
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  3. Click Reset cross-signing and secret storage
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  4. Click Clear cross-signing keys
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  5. Click Generate a Security Key or Enter a Security Phrase. Then Continue
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  6. Take note of your key then click Continue
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  7. Enter your account password and click Continue
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  8. You can delete any untrusted sessions in Element Security & Privacy settings. Select the sessions you want to remove and click Delete 1 session
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If you DO NOT have an active session

Doing this will destroy all your keys and you will NOT be able to access any historical encrypted messages.

  1. Log in to Element
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  2. Click Skip
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  3. Click Skip again
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  4. Do not connect to Key Backup or verify session when asked

  5. Note that you will not be able to decrypt any previous messages after doing this
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  6. Follow the steps from If you have an active session

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