troubleshooting

the usual fixes, in the order to try them.

the popup says offline#

1. run el install again. it registers the native host with every browser it finds.
2. using a less common chromium browser? run el install --dir "<its user-data folder>" (the folder with its Default profile).
3. reload the extension in chrome://extensions, or restart the browser.
4. check el status, and the hub's log in ~/.element/hub.log.

my agent doesn't get picks#

• is the session running? el sessions lists them. the session appears when the agent starts.
• is the tab assigned to another session? the toolbar badge shows the owner; reassign it in the drawer's sessions tab (⌥⇧S).
• codex, muse, cursor cli: a new codex window shows up after its first message. chips need tmux, iTerm2, cmux, WezTerm, herdr, Zellij, GNU screen, kitty (with remote control on), Konsole (with its D-Bus API on) or Ghostty on macOS.
• claude code: restart it after el install --claude.
• anything else: ask the agent to run el get.

a machine's sessions don't show up#

• signed in? remote sessions without ssh are part of Pro and Max: both machines need el login with the same account. el status on each says remote sessions: on, or why not (node 22 or later is needed).
• did you allow it? the browser asks once, in the tab in front. el status lists who is asking; el allow <host> answers from a terminal, and also undoes an earlier deny.
• over ssh: el link <host> needs Pro or Max on this machine (signed in) and element installed there, and stays up only while it runs. if it says the hub was started by an older element, run el stop and the browser starts the new one.

nothing lights up when i hold ⌥#

element can't run on the chrome web store, chrome:// pages or the pdf viewer. on normal pages, reload the tab once after installing or updating the extension. if you changed the pick shortcut, check it in settings → shortcuts.

on linux, some desktops (kde, xfce, cinnamon, mate) move windows with alt+drag and take alt+click before the page sees it. change pick in settings → shortcuts, or the desktop's window-move key.

save & share doesn't work#

just upgraded? plans reach the cli and extension when your key refreshes. el whoami refreshes it right away.

still stuck#

talk to us on the support page (also in the drawer: ? → contact support), or email support@elmts.dev, with what you tried and the output of el status. a person will get back to you.