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

1. Open **Messages**.
2. Click the **+** next to **Direct Messages**, or click **New message**.
3. In **To**, type a name and pick someone from the list.
4. Optionally write a first message (Shift+Enter for a new line).
5. 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](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/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](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/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](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messaging-with-self-reporters).

## Related articles

- [Messages overview](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messages-overview)
- [Creating and managing channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/creating-and-managing-channels)
- [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels)