Initial setup of Messenger / Chat using the MATRIX protocol

To ensure the highest security standards and digital sovereignty, GroupAlarm uses the backend of the Bundesmessenger. The Bundesmessenger was developed specifically to meet the high security requirements of public administration in Germany.

Thanks to the Matrix protocol, GroupAlarm benefits from technology that guarantees full end-to-end encryption.

To use the Messenger on your device, please follow the instructions in the Messenger section of your GroupAlarm App during the initial setup.

If you have used the Messenger before, you will need to reset your identity once. The Messenger will prompt you to do so. Please confirm the reset using the relevant button and select ‘Finish reset’ on the following page.

Once you have reset your identity, you can set a recovery key. You will need this key if you wish to log in to Messenger again or use it on another device. Please use a secure password here.

Once you have set your recovery key, the system will prompt you to enter the key to unlock Messenger.

Below is a list of other possible causes and their solutions for restricted usage, which we have compiled over time.

1️⃣ The Messenger login page remains blank.

As this process involves loading your web browser, specific issues with the browser in question may arise. Please ensure that the browser you are using is up to date. Users of Firefox on Android appear to be particularly affected. In this case, you could also try using a different browser. We have had good results with Chrome, the browser native to Android.

2️⃣ Where can I find my recovery key?

You set the recovery key yourself after you have initially reset your profile. When you are on the screen where you need to enter the recovery key and confirm it, you can set a key there yourself. If you no longer remember the recovery key you initially set, please use the “Forgotten” function on the screen for the one-time entry of the recovery key.

3️⃣ I’m getting the message Insecure connection and my messages aren’t being sent.

In this case, there is another connection to Messenger that has not yet been fully completed. This can happen if you cancel the registration process or, for example, have not completed it on a secondary device. In this case, please navigate to the app’s settings via the cog icon and go to the Messenger section. There, select Sessions. Please check there to see if there are any other sessions, for example, those with an outdated ‘Last active’ timestamp. On iOS, you can even identify the exact device ID by pressing and holding one of your messages in Messenger that has not been sent. Once you have removed the old connection, you should be able to send messages again.

Updated on: 30/04/2026