A direct message (DM) is a private thread between you and one other person in your organization. Use DMs for quick questions; use a channel when more than two people need to talk.
Start a new message
On the web
- Open Messages.
- Click the + next to Direct Messages, or click New message.
- In To, type a name and pick someone from the list.
- Optionally write a first message (Shift+Enter for a new line).
- Click Send.
You can message only people who appear in your roster — teammates you are allowed to contact under your role and profile access. If someone is missing, they may not share a profile with you, or (for self-reporters) Send/Receive Messages may be off on their profile.
When messaging is on for a profile, you and that self-reporter can DM each other. Either of you can start.
On mobile
Open Messages, start a new conversation, pick one recipient from the roster, and send. The same company and access rules apply.
Continuing a conversation
Open an existing DM from the Direct Messages list. Unread chats show a marker in the list; the top-nav Messages icon can show an unread badge.
If you previously archived a DM with the same person, starting a new message with them may reopen that thread rather than creating a second empty chat.
Typing and read receipts
In a DM on the web:
- While the other person is composing, you may see … is typing… (requires a live connection).
- When they have opened the chat and seen your messages, a Read label can appear under the furthest message of yours they’ve caught up to — like a simple read receipt.
Channels don’t use that Read label. There’s no receipt under individual messages, and you can’t see who has or hasn’t seen a post. You only get an unread marker on the channel in the left list until you open it and catch up.
Mute notifications
On a conversation’s ⋯ menu, choose Mute notifications to stop new-message alerts for that DM. Choose Unmute notifications to restore them.
What DMs are not for
- Messages are not saved to a profile’s clinical record. To document care, use Daily Tracking — or ask a manager to use Document on a message. See Discussing notes and documenting messages.
- You cannot @mention other people inside an existing DM composer (there is only one recipient). Mentions apply in channels.
- Managers can still search and review DMs. See Mentions, search, and manager review.
Common questions
- Can I DM two people at once? — No. Start a channel for group chat.
- Can I message someone at another company? — No.
- Why can’t I pick a self-reporter? — Their profile needs Send/Receive Messages enabled. See Messaging with self-reporters.