Files
zulip/help/direct-messages.md
Lauryn Menard 61aa6d83bb help: Add mobile view your DMs instructions for Flutter launch.
Updates the "View your DMs" section to have an instruction block
for locating recent DM conversations in the Flutter app.

Part of #34748.
2025-06-16 10:03:10 -07:00

117 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown

# Direct messages
**Direct messages (DMs)** are conversations with other users that happen outside
of a [channel](/help/introduction-to-channels). 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](/help/create-a-channel) for your
conversations. This lets you organize your discussion into topics, and subscribe
or unsubscribe people as needed.
## Send a DM
{!send-dm.md!}
## View your DMs
There are a few different ways to view your DM conversations.
{start_tabs}
{tab|via-left-sidebar}
{!view-dms-left-sidebar.md!}
{tab|via-right-sidebar}
1. If the [user list](/help/user-list) in the right sidebar is hidden, click the
**user list** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-user-list"></i> ) icon in
the upper right to show it.
1. 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.
{tab|via-search-box}
1. Click the **search** (<i class="search_icon zulip-icon
zulip-icon-search"></i>) icon in the top bar to open the [search
box](/help/search-for-messages).
1. Start typing a user's name. You'll be able to select DMs with that user
from the list of suggestions.
1. *(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.
{tab|via-compose-box}
1. Click the **New direct message** button at the bottom of the app, or use the
<kbd>X</kbd> keyboard shortcut to [open the compose box](/help/open-the-compose-box).
1. 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.
1. Click the highlighted **Go to conversation** (<i class="zulip-icon
zulip-icon-chevron-right"></i>) button at the top of the compose box, or use
the <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>.</kbd> keyboard shortcut to view that DM
conversation.
{tab|mobile}
1. Tap the **Direct messages**
(<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-user mobile-help"></i>) tab at the
bottom of the app.
1. Tap a recent DM conversation to view it.
{end_tabs}
## Find a direct message conversation
{start_tabs}
{tab|desktop-web}
1. If the **direct messages** section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click on
the **direct messages** heading to expand it.
1. At the bottom of the list of your recent direct messages, click **more
conversations**. If you don't see this link, you are already viewing all of
your direct message conversations.
1. Type the name of a participant in the conversation you're looking for.
!!! tip ""
To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click the **back to
channels** link above the search box.
{end_tabs}
## View direct message feed
{start_tabs}
{tab|desktop-web}
1. In the left sidebar, click the **Direct message feed**
(<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-all-messages"></i>) icon to the right of the
**direct messages** heading, or use the <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd>
keyboard shortcut.
{end_tabs}
## Related articles
* [Typing notifications](/help/typing-notifications)
* [Open the compose box](/help/open-the-compose-box)