this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2025
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Lemmy Support

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Support / questions about Lemmy.

Matrix Space: #lemmy-space

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How do I join (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago by JennyDarlene@lemmy.world to c/lemmy_support@lemmy.ml
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How do I join, I am so frustrated now because you are wasting my time. First it says I need a invite, then I think ok maybe if I create an account on lemmy.world. Then I do that and try but am being asked for a instance. All I know is I am trying to join https://lemmy.world/c/autism but now very much suspecting that this community will be unmoderated and hostile as well given how many tricks you have been using. Communities are either unmoderated or moderated but apply unwritten rules.

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[–] Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

you've already got an account, click !autism@lemmy.world and then the Subscribe button

are you using a mobile app or just the lemmy.world website?

I dont know what Instance I am

you are on lemmy.world

but am being asked for a instance

it sounds like you were trying to Subscribe without being logged in

so I'm guessing you have your login in an app instead of the website and then you opened the community in your web browser instead of in the app which already had your login

the link I provided should work in your app or wherever you're commenting from

[–] CaptainBlagbird@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I try to explain this in a structured way, so that you hopefully don't feel too overwhelmed. Feel free to ask if something doesn't make sense.

Lemmy

Lemmy is like e-Mail, there are multiple websites where you can make an account, but you can still communicate/participate with users from other sites. (This is called decentralisation.)

Instance

An instance is a website that you use for logging in to Lemmy. You only need an account on one website to participate (e.g. writing posts/comments) in Lemmy.

So, since you already have an account, that means you already have chosen an instance, it's lemmy.world.

Community

Like users, communities can be created on different instances. There can even be a community with the same name on two different instances.

For example:

  • lemmy.world/c/Autism
  • lemmy.dbzer0.com/c/Autism

These communities can still be accessed on your instance, they are all synced. (With some exceptions which I'm not going into right now.)

How to participate in communities of your instance

  1. Go to your instance (lemmy.world)
  2. Log in
  3. Go to the community you want to participate in (lemmy.world/c/Autism)
  4. You don't need to "join" a community, but you can subscribe, so that new posts show up in your feed

How to participate in other instances

  1. Go to your instance (lemmy.world)
  2. Log in
  3. Go to the community you want to participate in but add the instance to the back like this: lemmy.world/c/autism@lemmy.dbzer0.com
  4. You don't need to "join" a community, but you can subscribe, so that new posts show up in your feed

So in summary it's the same Aso for communities of your instance, just make sure to always start/login on your instance.

Direct links

Since constructing the URL like described above is quite annoying, Lemmy can use special links that work across all instances. They are as follows:

Apps

There exist many Lemmy apps. They can facilitate things (especially when you want to browse on your phone), but this also means that the look&feel is different. Some step by step guides might not work exactly the same on different apps.

[–] JennyDarlene@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

This was extremely helpful. I do apologize for my panic attack and this clears things up for me. I was able to get access and have a better understanding.

[–] JennyDarlene@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If I want to try element-desktop , I am able to login to my account but these discussions are not there. I checked and see there are sessions which I click to verify but they expect me to press something on the device. The device is my case is nixos 24.11 stable on firefox 137.0 but nothing appears. I tried in element to search for lemmy.world and even https://lemmy.world/c/autism@lemmy.world which I think your saying is a community on the lemmy.world instance, but nothing is found in the search for public spaces or places. When I logged into element it had an option for changing server and I tried lemmy.world but my account was not found and I had to switch back to matrix.com. I guess all is well if I just keep using the browser but I was curious about trying the various clients. Which you say each have their own guides. I guess i should research their guide.

[–] CaptainBlagbird@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I have no experience with Element, as far as I can tell it's a client for Matrix, which is not directly connected to Lemmy.

What I found was this post. Apparently lemmy.world has Matrix support in addition to Lemmy itself.

This can be a bit confusing since both apparently use "lemmy.world", but I don't think Lemmy and Matrix are connected directly (as in synced). And that's why you can find lemmy.world with Element, but can't see Lemmy stuff with your Matrix login.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[–] ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I followed it from my instance without issue just now. The link you sent asks me to enter the instance I am on so that I can follow it. The main mod @Lexam@lemmy.world seems quite active. I think you will be welcome there :)

Don't worry! The fediverse and lemmy are confusing. You are not alone.

[–] JennyDarlene@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I dont understand what instance to issue. I appreciate your trying to help me. I was having a panic and getting sad and overwhelmed. I can understand if matrix is decentralized but beyond that I have not researched it so I dont know what Instance I am on or what to put there.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 3 points 3 days ago

"your instance" is where you made your account, so lemmy.world

take a breather and come back to it later, the place will still be here :)

[–] DougHolland@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

You can read c/autism and post comments there without joining anything at all.

I'm surprised it's asking you for an 'invite', though. Never seen that. I'd suggest sending a note to the listed moderator. Just click 'send message' on their page.

Lemmy is kinda confusing, but it's worth the hassle. (:

[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago

That's probably your app's UI being more confusing than it needs to.
Your account is on lemmy.world (at least the one you posted this from).
You can just open it in a browser and go to https://lemmy.world/
I find the web version less confusing than most client apps.

[–] Lexam@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Hey Jenny sorry you're having issues with the sub. c/autism is an open sub, so you can subscribe to it and see posts in your subscribed feed. When you click subscribe it should change to "joined" (it should be "subscribed" but that is the instance not the sub) But otherwise you should be able to post to the sub just like you did here. If you have any concerns or questions you can DM me. I may not have the answer but I will do my best to find it!