Access your most recent direct message and Channel conversations.

Open the Chat Sidebar

To open the Chat Sidebar: 

1. In your Global Navigation, click Chat.
   • If you don't see the item in your Global Navigation, click More and select it.
   • To keep the item visible in your Global Navigation, pin it.
2. You'll see direct messages and Channels sorted by recent activity.

Channels you follow and direct messages with unread replies are bold. Channels and direct messages with unread replies to threads you follow display a thread icon.

The number of unread direct messages or unread @mentions in channels is displayed to the right of the direct message or Channel.

Click any message to open its thread.

Filter the Chat Sidebar

To filter conversations in your Chat Sidebar, click one of the filters at the top:

• Unread: Only view direct messages and Channels with unread messages.
• DMs: Only view direct messages.
• Channels: Only view Channels.

If you don't see the filters, hover over the Chat Sidebar and click the filter icon at the top.

To clear a filter, click it again.

Send a message

Click any Channel or person in the Chat Sidebar to open it and continue your conversation.

You can also send a message from the Chat Sidebar:

1. In the upper-right corner of the Chat Sidebar, click the plus icon.
2. Select Message.
3. Type the name of a person or Channel. To start a group direct message, separate the names of recipients with commas.
4. Click the person, group, or Channel.
5. Type your message or use Talk to Text to transcribe your voice.
   • Optional: To make your message a Post, click the Message dropdown under your draft and select Post.
6. Click the send icon.

Create a Channel

To create a Channel from the Chat Sidebar:

1. In the upper-right corner of the Chat Sidebar, click the plus icon.
2. Select Channel.
3. Name the Channel.
   • Optional: To create a new List and associate the Channel with it, click the Add a List toggle and select a Space or Folder from the dropdown menu.
   • Optional: To make the Channel private, click the Make Private toggle.
4. Click Create.
5. The Channel will be created, and you'll automatically be following it.

Search direct messages and Channels

To search the Chat Sidebar for a direct message or Channel name.

1. Hover over the Chat Sidebar and click the search icon at the top.
   
2. Enter someone's name or the name of a Channel.
3. Click the direct message or Channel to open it.

Chat Sidebar layouts

There are two available layouts for the Chat Sidebar:

• Organized: Direct messages and Channels are grouped by section and type.
• Recents: Direct messages and Channels are listed from newest activity to oldest.

You can switch layouts by clicking the icons in the lower-left corner of the Chat Sidebar.

Open or close the Chat Sidebar

Adjust the visibility of the Chat Sidebar.

If you have keyboard shortcuts enabled, close and open the Sidebar by pressing Cmd + \ on Mac or Ctrl + \ on PC.

Close the Chat Sidebar

Show more of your screen by closing the Chat Sidebar:

1. Hover over the Chat Sidebar.
2. At the top of the Chat Sidebar, click the arrows icon.

Open the Chat Sidebar

To open the Sidebar, click the arrows icon at the top of your Global Navigation.