{start_tabs}
1. Click the **New private message** button at the bottom of the Zulip window,
   or type `x`.

2. Type the names of one or more recipients. Auto-complete will provide
   suggestions for users you can message.

{!compose-and-send-message.md!}

{end_tabs}

!!! tip ""
    Rather than kicking off a group thread, consider starting the conversation in
    a new topic to make it easier to browse later on.
