matrix.to forgot that I had an Element Desktop?

[richvdh]

For some reason, links suddenly started opening in element web. (matrix.to was linking to https://app.element.io/).

I have now gone "Continue with Element [Change]" -> "Element" (ie, what looks like a no-op), and now it's correctly linking to element://.

So it's now working again, but I am confused about what broke it.

[MadLittleMods]

Just played around with it and here is how it's working:

• The default after choosing Element from the list of clients is the nativePlatform which is Element desktop and the local storage key preferred_client looks like {"id":"element.io","platform":"Linux"} or {"id":"element.io","platform":"macOS"}, etc depending on your platform
• If you click Continue in your browser, it chooses the webPlatform which is Element Web and the preferred_client local storage key looks like {"id":"element.io","platform":"DesktopWeb"}

From the code, it seems like the only way it chooses web first is if you have previously set your preferred_client to DesktopWeb or MobileWeb. Doing the Continue with Element [Change] -> Element flow actually sets your preference back to Linux/macOS/Windows (it's not a no-op behind the scenes) and seems like the only way in the UI to reset your preference back to desktop after choosing the browser.

I didn't spot how this could spontaneously change without selecting Continue in your browser. There is a bit of smoke where it matches platforms against supported platforms but I didn't investigate deep into that.

[t3chguy]

and seems like the only way in the UI to reset your preference back to desktop after choosing the browser.

this would also do it I believe

[richvdh]

• If you click Continue in your browser, it chooses the webPlatform which is Element Web and the preferred_client local storage key looks like {"id":"element.io","platform":"DesktopWeb"}

Oh, if "Continue in your browser" permanently changes your preference to "webPlatform", that would explain it -- I can well believe that I hit that button at some point during testing. It's not at all obvious that will be a permanent change rather than a one-off.

[richvdh]

I'll open a new issue

[richvdh]

#368. Thanks for the help, both.