Matrix 1.19 launches with encrypted room history sharing, custom emojis, and six new MSCs

Matrix 1.19 delivers several enhancements to this open standard and protocol for real-time communication. The update introduces encrypted room history sharing, allowing clients to specify which devices can receive historical message keys. Bulk key sharing is now supported, making it more efficient for users to access past encrypted conversations when joining a room. At the same time, the release adds long-requested support for custom emoji. Users can now send custom emoticons and share image packs for others to use, with general improvements also made to sticker pack handling.

Following these feature updates, Matrix 1.19 incorporates six new Matrix Spec Changes (MSCs) since version 1.18, released just over three months earlier. These spec changes expand the protocol’s capabilities and mark a rapid pace of iteration.

Complementing these headline features, the release clarifies that server access control lists (ACLs) are case-insensitive, introduces mutual room lookup, and defines room directory ordering as implementation-defined. These clarifications help to ensure more consistent behavior for implementers.