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

Desktop/Web

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Click on the compose box, or press Tab to compose your message. You can preview your message before sending.
4. Click the Send () button, or use a keyboard shortcut to send your message.

Keyboard tip: You can also use the X keyboard shortcut to start a new direct message conversation.

Tip: 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.

Mobile

1. Tap the Direct messages () tab at the bottom of the app.
2. Tap the New DM button.
3. 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.
4. Approve by tapping the Compose button in the top right corner of the app.
5. Compose your message, and tap the Send () button in the bottom right corner of the app.

Tip: 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

1. If the direct messages section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click on the direct messages heading to expand it.
2. 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.

Tip: To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click the back to channels link above the search box.

Via right sidebar

1. If the user list in the right sidebar is hidden, click the user list () icon in the upper right to show it.
2. Click on any user to view your 1:1 DM conversation.

Tip: You can find a user by typing their name in the Filter users box at the top of the right sidebar.

Via compose box

1. Click the New direct message button at the bottom of the app, or use the X keyboard shortcut to open the compose box.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Mobile

1. Tap the Direct messages () tab at the bottom of the app.
2. Tap a recent DM conversation to view it.

Find a direct message conversation

Via left sidebar

DM conversations hidden under more conversations will be included in your search.

1. 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.

Keyboard tip: You can also use the Q keyboard shortcut to start searching for a conversation.

Via search box

1. Click the search () icon in the top bar to open the search box.
2. Start typing a user’s name. You’ll be able to select DMs with that user from the list of suggestions.
3. (optional) Continue to add users via the search box for a group DM conversation.

Tip: 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.

Desktop/Web

1. 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.
2. Read your direct messages, starting from your first unread message. You can scroll using your mouse, the arrow keys, End, or page up/down.

Tip: You can click on a conversation in the left sidebar or a message recipient bar to view that conversation.

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