synapse
SHA-256Synapse is the reference implementation of a Matrix homeserver, developed and maintained by Element. It allows you to host your own private or public communication platform with end‑to‑end encryption, federation, instant messaging, voice/video calls, and file sharing.
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v1.152.1 · 8 MB
Self‑host a secure, federated real‑time communication server with end‑to‑end encryption.
Core Features
- Fully self‑hosted for complete data control
- Federation support to interoperate with other Matrix servers
- End‑to‑end encryption by default
- Rich REST API for administration, identity, push, and statistics
- Compatible with multiple client apps like Element, Fractal, etc.
What It Can't Do
- •No free support from Element – community support only via Matrix (#synapse:matrix.org). Requires Linux and database admin skills. High resource usage (≥2GB RAM recommended). Federation requires correct .well‑known and TLS setup. Commercial license must be purchased separately.
Use Cases
- Enterprise internal collaboration with data sovereignty
- Open source community discussion platform
- Privacy‑focused personal or family communication hub
- Secure academic networks for research institutions
Detailed Introduction
Synapse is the reference implementation of a Matrix homeserver, developed and maintained by Element. It allows you to host your own private or public communication platform with end‑to‑end encryption, federation (connecting to other Matrix servers), and support for instant messaging, voice/video calls, file sharing, and collaboration. It is dual‑licensed under AGPL-3.0 or a commercial license from Element. Synapse is the backbone of the Element Server Suite (ESS) and can be deployed standalone. It supports PostgreSQL, offers rich administration APIs, and integrates with a variety of clients (Element, Fractal, etc.). While powerful, it requires careful setup including a database and reverse proxy.
Troubleshooting & FAQ (2)
TroubleshootingWhy does Synapse mautrix bridge encryption fail with 'UnboundLocalError: cannot access local variable now_token' after enabling sticky events?
This is a known bug in Synapse v1.150.0 to v1.152.1 where sticky events cause a Python unbound local error in sync handling. The bug prevents bridges like mautrix-signal/WhatsApp from receiving decryption keys. Temporary workaround: downgrade Synapse to v1.149.0. A permanent fix is being tracked in the related GitHub issue #19409.
TroubleshootingWhy does Sliding Sync not send newly requested required_state events if the pos offset stays the same?
Known bug in Synapse 1.136.0 (and earlier) where changes to required_state are ignored until other room activity occurs. Workaround: trigger any event in the room (e.g., send a message) to force a sync. Permanent fix is being re-introduced via PR #19792.
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Getting Started
Download installer
Click the button above to download the installer for your system
Install the software
Install the appropriate package for your distro (dpkg / rpm / AppImage)
Step 1: Ensure your server meets requirements (2GB+ RAM, Ubuntu/Debian recommended)
Step 2: Install PostgreSQL, Python 3.8+ and dependencies (see official docs)
Step 3: Download Synapse (pip or Docker) and configure homeserver.yaml
- Step 1: Ensure your server meets requirements (2GB+ RAM, Ubuntu/Debian recommended)
- Step 2: Install PostgreSQL, Python 3.8+ and dependencies (see official docs)
- Step 3: Download Synapse (pip or Docker) and configure homeserver.yaml
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SHA256 Checksum
4a891313af2860371b8e8b2aeabf12dad56ecf54129a9bfc30e329dd7b9b2a0eThis checksum is extracted from the GitHub Release page. Verify file integrity after download.
All SHA-256 checksums on this platform are extracted from the project's official GitHub Release page, without any modification. You can independently verify them on the GitHub Releases page.
Open Source Transparency
View GitHub SourceUninstall Info
Stop the service, remove the installation directory (e.g., /opt/venvs/synapse), drop the database (psql drop database synapsis; drop user synapsis;), and clear reverse proxy configuration.
No Extra Dependencies
Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.
Having issues? Check the FAQ below
2 FAQs
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