Direct messages
Direct messages (DMs) are conversations with other users that happen outside
of a channel. They are convenient for 1:1 and
small group conversations.
If you find yourself frequently conversing with the same person or group, it
often works best to create a private channel for your
conversations. This lets you organize your discussion into topics, and subscribe
or unsubscribe people as needed.
Send a DM
-
Click the new direct message ()
button next to the direct messages heading in the left sidebar, or
the New direct message button at the bottom of the app.
-
Start typing the name of the person or group you want to
message, and select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue
adding as many message recipients as you like.
-
Click on the compose box, or press Tab to compose your message. You
can preview your message before
sending.
-
Click the Send () button, or
use a keyboard shortcut to send your
message.
You can also use the X keyboard shortcut to start a new direct
message conversation.
You can also click on any user in the right sidebar to start composing
a direct message to them. Or open their user card by clicking on
their profile picture or name, and select Send direct message.
-
Tap the Direct messages
() tab at the
bottom of the app.
-
Tap the New DM button.
-
Start typing the name of the person you want to message, and
select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue
adding as many message recipients as you like.
-
Approve by tapping the Compose button in the top right corner of the app.
-
Compose your message, and tap the Send
() button in the
bottom right corner of the app.
You can also tap on a user's profile picture or name, and tap the
Send direct message button at the bottom of the app.
View your direct message conversations
There are a few different ways to view your DM conversations.
- Via left sidebar
- Via right sidebar
- Via compose box
- Mobile
-
If the direct messages section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click on
the direct messages heading to expand it.
-
Click on a recent DM conversation to view it, or click more
conversations. If you don't see this link, then you are already viewing all
of your direct message conversations.
To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click the back to
channels link above the search box.
-
If the user list in the right sidebar is hidden, click the
user list () icon in
the upper right to show it.
-
Click on any user to view your 1:1 DM conversation.
You can find a user by typing their name in the Filter users box at the
top of the right sidebar.
-
Click the New direct message button at the bottom of the app, or use the
X keyboard shortcut to open the compose box.
-
Start typing a user's name in the recipient bar, and select their name from
the list of suggestions. Continue to add users for a group DM conversation.
-
Click the highlighted Go to conversation () button at the top of the compose box, or use
the Ctrl + . keyboard shortcut to view that DM
conversation.
-
Tap the Direct messages
() tab at the
bottom of the app.
-
Tap a recent DM conversation to view it.
Find a direct message conversation
- Via left sidebar
- Via search box
DM conversations hidden under more conversations will be included in your
search.
- Type the name of a participant in the conversation you're looking for in the
Filter left sidebar box at the top of the left sidebar.
You can also use the Q keyboard shortcut to start searching for
a conversation.
-
Click the search () icon in the top bar to open the search
box.
-
Start typing a user's name. You'll be able to select DMs with that user
from the list of suggestions.
-
(optional) Continue to add users via the search box for a group DM
conversation.
You can also type dm-including in the search box to find all 1:1 and group
DM conversations that include a particular user.
Go to direct message feed
You can see all your direct messages in one place.
-
In the left sidebar, click the Direct message feed
() icon to the right of the
direct messages heading, or use the Shift + P
keyboard shortcut.
-
Read your direct messages, starting from your first unread message. You can
scroll using your mouse, the arrow keys, End, or page up/down.
You can click on a conversation in the left sidebar or a message recipient
bar to view that conversation.
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