Error Severity Levels
Council uses a tiered error handling system for the best user experience. Understanding the difference between soft and hard errors helps you know when to wait and when to take action.
Soft Errors (Auto-Retry)
- Temporary issues that may resolve on their own
- App automatically retries up to 3 times
- You'll see a subtle toast notification
- No action needed unless all retries fail
Hard Errors (User Action Required)
- Issues that need your input to resolve
- Shows a bottom sheet with clear options
- Includes "Get Help" link for more information
- Provides specific recovery actions (retry, sign in, etc.)
How to identify error types
Each error code page on this support site indicates whether the error is a soft error (auto-retry) or a hard error (requires action). Look for the "Auto-retry enabled" badge on error pages.
Getting more help
Every error screen in the app includes a "Get Help" button that opens the relevant support page with detailed troubleshooting steps.
Common soft errors
- Network connection issues
- Server timeouts
- Message send failures
- Download/upload interruptions
Common hard errors
- Invalid credentials
- Expired sessions
- Wrong encryption key
- Expired invitations