# End to end encryption by default By default, Element will create encrypted DM rooms if the user you are chatting with has keys uploaded on their account. For private room creation, Element will default to encryption on but give you the choice to opt-out. ## Disabling encryption by default Set the following on your homeserver's `/.well-known/matrix/client` config: ```json { "io.element.e2ee": { "default": false } } ``` # Secure backup By default, Element strongly encourages (but does not require) users to set up Secure Backup so that cross-signing identity key and message keys can be recovered in case of a disaster where you lose access to all active devices. ## Requiring secure backup To require Secure Backup to be configured before Element can be used, set the following on your homeserver's `/.well-known/matrix/client` config: ```json { "io.element.e2ee": { "secure_backup_required": true } } ``` ## Preferring setup methods By default, Element offers users a choice of a random key or user-chosen passphrase when setting up Secure Backup. If a homeserver admin would like to only offer one of these, you can signal this via the `/.well-known/matrix/client` config, for example: ```json { "io.element.e2ee": { "secure_backup_setup_methods": ["passphrase"] } } ``` The field `secure_backup_setup_methods` is an array listing the methods the client should display. Supported values currently include `key` and `passphrase`. If the `secure_backup_setup_methods` field is not present or exists but does not contain any supported methods, Element will fallback to the default value of: `["key", "passphrase"]`. # Compatibility The settings above were first proposed under a `im.vector.riot.e2ee` key, which is now deprecated. Element will check for either key, preferring `io.element.e2ee` if both exist.