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# Fractal 8 Released: The Linux Matrix Messaging App Gets Better!
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/fractal-8-release/
- Published: 2024-08-05T07:13:48.000Z
- Updated: 2024-08-05T07:13:48.000Z
- Description: A new upgrade has landed for Matrix users!
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Application Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

Fractal is undoubtedly one of the [best Matrix clients for decentralized messaging](https://itsfoss.com/best-matrix-clients/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) around. Even though it's tailored for the GNOME desktop environment, its features and portability ensure that it can be used on most popular Linux distros comfortably.

Did I mention it's [Rust](https://itsfoss.com/tag/rust-basics/)\-based? 

Well, its developers have recently introduced a new release that features some important quality-of-life upgrades.

Let's take a look without further ado. 😃

## 🆕 Fractal 8: What's New?

![a screenshot of fractal 8 with the official matrix room of fedora open](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/07/Fractal_8-1.png)

We start off with the upgrades to drafts. **Unsent typed messages are now stored separately, on a room-by-room basis**, and are not lost on application restart. The latter was made possible by due to tweaks in the database code.

Similarly, there is now support for authenticated media, **improvements to the mention behavior (sent intentionally)**, fixes for the history media viewers, a new banner that shows up when synchronization with a homeserver fails, and a streamlined verification and account recovery process.

The developers have also brought about **persistence for collapsed categories in the sidebar** across application/system restarts, with the “*Historical*” category being collapsed by default. 

Additionally, they have implemented more robust HTML rendering, and **code blocks now have support for syntax highlighting**. Lists also see some useful refinements, with those now having the ability to be nested, and numbered lists being able to start with a random number.

## 📥 Download Fractal 8

The most straightforward way to get this release of Fractal is by getting it from the [Flathub store](https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.Fractal?ref=news.itsfoss.com). If you are interested in the source code, then head to its [GitLab](https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/fractal?ref=news.itsfoss.com) repo.

[Fractal 8 (Flathub Store)](https://flathub.org/apps/org.gnome.Fractal?ref=news.itsfoss.com)

**Suggested Read** 📖

[9 Best Matrix Clients for Decentralized MessagingMatrix clients help you experience secure, and decentralized messaging. Here are the best options if you want to use it.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSAnkush Das![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/06/best-matrix-clients.jpg)](https://itsfoss.com/best-matrix-clients/?ref=news.itsfoss.com)