Direct messages
Direct messages (DMs) are private conversations outside channels: with one colleague, or with a small group of up to 16 people, you included. Only the people in a DM can read it. Messages in a DM work as they do in a channel: replies in threads, reactions, files, formatting and the rest are explained in Channels and threads.
Start a direct message#
- Open DMs: in the sidebar on a computer, or the bottom bar on a phone.
- Next to Direct messages at the top of the list, select New message (the + button).
- Type in Search people to find colleagues by name or email, and tick one person or several.
- Select Start.
If you already have a DM with exactly those people, it opens instead of a new one. Each set of people has one conversation, so you never end up with two DMs with the same colleague.
You can also message someone straight from their card: select a person’s name where it’s mentioned in a message, then Message.
Note: Starting a DM needs a connection. Offline, the + button shows Needs a connection.
Group DMs#
Pick more than one person in New message to start a group DM. A group can have up to 16 people, including you.
The people in a group DM are fixed. To bring someone else in, open the group’s details and select New group with these people: it opens New message with everyone already ticked, so you can add more. The old conversation stays as it is, and the new group starts empty.
For guests#
Guests can only start a DM with people who share a channel with them. In New message, other people show Not in any of your channels and can’t be picked. A DM you already have keeps working, even after you stop sharing a channel.
The DMs list#
The list shows your one-to-one and group DMs. Each row shows:
- the person’s picture with their status dot, or a group icon;
- their name, or the group’s names;
- the last message, up to two lines. Your own messages start with "You: ", and in a group others’ start with their first name. Photos, files, GIFs, polls and calls show as a short label, such as “Photo” or “report.pdf”.
An unread DM shows its name and last message in bold. While you have an unsent draft there, Draft takes the last message’s place. The DMs badge counts your unread messages.
Sort, pin and mute#
- Sort: the sort button in the list’s header picks Recent activity (the default for DMs) or A–Z.
- Pin to sidebar keeps a DM at the top of the list, under Pinned. Use Move up and Move down to order your pins, or Reorder pins on a phone.
- Mute moves a DM to the end of the list and leaves it out of the badges. Unmute brings it back.
On a computer, right-click a row (or press Shift+F10) for these actions. On a phone, press and hold the row.
Tip: On a wide window you can resize the list by dragging its right edge, or fold it away with Hide list.
Conversation details#
Select the name at the top of a DM to open Conversation details. On a wide window it opens in a panel beside the chat; on a phone, as its own page.
- Notifications: choose All messages, Mentions and replies or Nothing for this DM. The bell at the top of the conversation has the same choices.
- Pin to sidebar or Unpin from sidebar.
- Search: find messages in this DM only. See Search.
- Copy link: a link to this DM, which works only for the people in it.
- Pinned: the messages pinned in this DM.
- In a one-to-one DM, Profile shows the other person: their picture, role, status and, if your role lets you see it, their email.
- In a group, People lists everyone with their status, and New group with these people.
You can’t leave a DM or remove people from it. To stop hearing from one, mute it or set its notifications to Nothing.
Calls from a DM#
Select the call button at the top of a DM to call the person, or everyone in the group. See Calls and meetings.
Status and presence#
The dot on someone’s picture shows whether they’re around. Each kind has its own shape, so you don’t need to tell colours apart:
| Dot | Means |
|---|---|
| Filled circle | Active |
| Hollow ring | Away: idle for about 30 minutes, outside their working hours, or set by them |
| Bar | Busy |
| Phone | In a call |
| Arrow back | Out of office: on time off |
| Moon | Their notifications are paused |
No dot means they’re offline. Point at a dot (or press and hold on a phone) to read it, such as “Busy, notifications paused”. On their card and in a DM’s details, you may also see when they’re back, such as “Away · Back at 9:00 AM”.
Set your own status#
Open the menu under your picture (at the top left) and select your status row, or Set a status:
- an emoji and a short line, or one of the Suggestions: In a meeting, Focusing, Out sick, Commuting or Lunch;
- your Availability: Automatic, Active, Away or Busy. Automatic works it out from your activity, your working hours and your time off;
- Clear after: when the status goes back to normal (Today by default).
The same menu has Pause notifications, for 30 minutes up to a date and time you choose. While they’re paused, others see the moon on your dot, and calls to you don’t ring. Resume turns them back on.
On a computer, the tray icon’s menu (and the Dock menu on a Mac) sets your availability and pauses notifications without opening the window.
Your emoji and line show only in your own account menu. Other people see your availability on your dot, and when you’re back.
For working hours, time off and Follow my working hours, see Your settings and Schedule.