Private messages

Private messages (PMs) are one-on-one conversations between you and another user. Group private messages (group PMs) are small discussions with a group of users.

PMs and group PMs work well for one-off conversations. If you find yourself frequently conversing with the same person or the same group of people, we highly recommend creating a private stream for your conversations instead.

Note that group PMs are not the same as user groups or private streams. PMs and group PMs do not have topics, and do not appear in your list of streams.

Send a (group) private message

  1. Open the compose box by typing x or clicking New private message at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Start typing a user's name, and select the user from the list of suggestions. Repeat as necessary.

  3. Compose a message, and click Send.

Access a (group) private message

There are several ways to access an existing PM or group PM.

  • For recent conversations, click on Private messages near the top of the left sidebar.
  • Click on any user or group in the right sidebar.
  • Start typing a user's name in search. You'll be able to select PMs or group PMs with that user.
  • Open the compose box, and enter in a (list of) users. Type Ctr + . (or Cmd + . on a mac) to open that conversation.