# Left sidebar

The left sidebar in the Zulip web and desktop apps helps you navigate your
conversations, and [start new
ones](#start-a-new-conversation-from-the-left-sidebar). It's divided into
sections:

- **Views** provide various ways to get an overview of your messages.
- The **direct messages** section shows your [direct
  message](/help/direct-messages) conversations.
- [Channels](/help/introduction-to-channels) you are subscribed to are shown
  organized into sections by [folder](/help/channel-folders).

You can customize how channels are organized within the **channels**
section by:

- [Pinning channels](/help/pin-a-channel) so that they appear in a dedicated
  section at the top of the list of channels.
- [Changing channel colors](/help/change-the-color-of-a-channel).
- [Configuring](/help/channel-folders#configure-whether-channels-are-grouped-by-folder-in-the-left-sidebar)
  whether channels are grouped by folder.
- [Configuring](/help/manage-inactive-channels) whether inactive channels are
  hidden.

You can also [configure](#configure-where-channel-links-in-the-left-sidebar-go)
where clicking on channel links in the left sidebar takes you.

## Find a direct message conversation

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{!find-dm-conversation-left-sidebar.md!}

{end_tabs}

## Find a channel you're subscribed to

{!filter-channels.md!}

## Adjust what information is shown

There are many ways you can adjust the left sidebar to help you focus on the
information you need in the moment.

### Expand or collapse the views section

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Click the triangle to the left of the **views** heading in the left sidebar.

{end_tabs}

### Expand or collapse the direct messages section

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Click the triangle to the left of the **direct messages** heading in the left
   sidebar.

{end_tabs}

### Show more direct message conversations
{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{!view-dms-left-sidebar.md!}

!!! tip ""

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

{end_tabs}

### Show all topics in a channel

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Click on a channel in the left sidebar.

1. Click **show all topics** at the bottom of the list of recent topics in the
   selected channel.

!!! tip ""

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

{end_tabs}

### Filter by whether topics are resolved

{!filter-resolved-left-sidebar.md!}

### Show the left sidebar

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. At the top left corner, click the <i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-panel-left"></i> icon.

{end_tabs}

### Hide the left sidebar

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. At the top left corner, click the <i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-panel-left-dashed"></i> icon.

{end_tabs}

## Configure where channel links in the left sidebar go

{!configure-channel-links.md!}

## Start a new conversation from the left sidebar

You can start any new conversation from the left sidebar, regardless of what
you’re currently viewing.

### Start a new direct message conversation
{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Click the **new direct message** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-square-plus"></i>)
   button next to the **direct messages** heading in the left sidebar.

1. Start typing the name of the person or [group](/help/user-groups) you want to
   message, and select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue
   adding as many message recipients as you like.

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

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    You can also use the <kbd>X</kbd> keyboard shortcut to start a new direct
    message conversation.

{end_tabs}

### Start a new topic

{start_tabs}

{tab|via-left-sidebar}

{!start-topic-via-left-sidebar.md!}

{end_tabs}

## Related articles
* [Reading strategies](/help/reading-strategies)
* [Configuring unread message counters](/help/configure-unread-message-counters)
* [Inbox](/help/inbox)
* [Recent conversations](/help/recent-conversations)
* [Combined feed](/help/combined-feed)
* [Channel feed](/help/channel-feed)
* [List of topics in a channel](/help/list-of-topics)
* [View your mentions](/help/view-your-mentions)
* [Star a message](/help/star-a-message)
