> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.kibu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Messages

> Send direct messages, talk in channels, and read announcements with your team, on the web and in the Kibu app.

> [card] Who can use this feature?
>
> Staff in organizations with Messages turned on, on the web and in the Kibu app. Members cannot use Messages.

Messages is chat for your staff, built into Kibu. Use it for the quick things: asking a coworker to cover a shift, sending the house team a photo of the new med cart, or telling everyone the day program is closed for snow.

![The Messages page](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-overview.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=5b22a643eacbcd2450132fc098e42c58)

Your conversations on the left, the open conversation on the right.

## What you need to know

* **Direct messages**  are with one person or a small group, up to 100 people.
* **Channels**  have a name and a set list of participants, like "Overnight staff".
* **Announcements**  reach every staff member in your organization.
* You cannot edit a message after you send it, but you can [delete it](#delete-a-message).
* Push notifications show who wrote to you, never what they wrote.

## Find your messages

> [tab] Web
>
> Click **Messages** in the left sidebar. The number beside it is how many messages you have not read.
>
> ![Messages in the sidebar, with an unread count](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-sidebar.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=c7b7dc9fe8265fb1bc95cf49df0ea2ba)
>
> Messages in the sidebar, with your inbox beside it.
>
> Your inbox groups conversations into **Direct Messages**, **Announcements**, and **Channels**.

> [tab] Mobile
>
> Tap **Messages** at the bottom of the Kibu app. Use **All**, **DMs**, **Announcements**, or **Channels** to filter the list.

## Start a conversation

> [tab] Web
>
> **1. Click New**
>
> Click  **New** at the top of your inbox, then choose **New Message** or **New Channel**.
>
> **2. Pick the people**
>
> Search by name or email. A channel also needs a name.
>
> **3. Click Start Conversation**
>
> For a channel, click **Create Channel**.
>
> ![Picking people for a new message](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-new-message.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=57e58a3d848567b74b5afbfe4e9fc17b)
>
> Pick one person or several. Everyone you pick shares the conversation.

> [tab] Mobile
>
> **1. Tap the pencil**
>
> Tap  at the top right, then choose **New Message** or **New Channel**.
>
> **2. Pick the people**
>
> Search by name or email. A channel also needs a name.
>
> **3. Tap Start Conversation**
>
> For a channel, tap **Create Channel**.

> [!TIP]
>
> Messaging someone you have talked to before opens your existing conversation with them.

## Send a message

Type in the message box and press Enter, or click  **Send Message**. A message can be up to 4,000 characters.

*  **Attach files:** up to 10 images, PDFs, or text files per message, 25 MB each.
*  **React:** pick 👍 ❤️ 😂 😮 😢 🙏, or  for any emoji. One per person. Pick another to change it.
*  **Reply:** quote the message you are answering.

On the web, hover over a message to see these buttons. On mobile, press and hold the message.

![The reaction picker open beside a message, with six quick emojis](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-actions.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=2c60bb9aaef37278108fecc43f4d5cd2)

Click the smiley to pick a reaction. Plus opens every emoji.

## Read receipts

In direct messages and channels, your most recent message shows **Seen** once the other person has read it.

In a group, it shows **Seen by** and the number of people who have read it. Hover over it on the web, or tap it on mobile, to see who.

![Seen under a message](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-seen.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=39d24cca8253831403d670723a3b3948)

Seen means the other person has read your message.

## Typing indicator

Three moving dots appear when someone is writing a reply. In a group, the names of the people typing show above the dots.

![The typing indicator, with a name above it](https://mintcdn.com/kibu/FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj/images/messages-typing.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=FxIpVacL5SvqsDjj\&q=85\&s=376efe2996eb37bb658287e8e2bd58ff)

In a channel, the name of the person typing shows above the dots.

Announcements show no read receipts and no typing indicator.

## Channels

Whoever creates a channel is its **channel admin**. To rename it or change who is in it, click  at the top right and choose **Manage Channel**.

People you add see messages from the moment they join, not before. If you are a channel's only admin, Kibu asks you to pick a new one before you leave.

## Announcements

Staff who manage organization settings create announcement channels from **New** > **New Announcement Channel**, and choose who can post:

| Who Can Post | Who posts |
| - | - |
| All staff | Every staff member |
| Administrators only | Staff who manage organization settings |

Everyone can read and react. Nobody can leave or mute an announcement channel.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Archiving an announcement channel removes it from every inbox, and it cannot be reopened.

## Mute, leave, or delete

Click  at the top right of a conversation.

| Action | Works in | What happens |
| - | - | - |
| **Mute** | Direct messages and channels | No push notifications or bell alerts. It still shows as unread. |
| **Leave Channel** | Channels | You stop getting its messages. An admin can add you back. |
| **Delete Conversation** | Direct messages | Removed from your inbox only. Everyone else keeps it. |

### Delete a message

Hover over your message and click  **Delete Message**. On mobile, press and hold it. It disappears for everyone.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Deleting hides a message. It does not erase it. Kibu keeps every message, like the rest of your records.

## Notifications

You hear about new messages four ways:

* The unread count on **Messages** in the sidebar and in the app
* A row in the  [notification bell](https://help.kibu.com/documentation/notification-center.md) for each conversation with unread messages
* A push notification on your phone, if you allow them for the Kibu app
* A sound on the web, when the message is in a conversation you are not looking at. Click  at the top of your inbox to turn it off.

> [!TIP]
>
> Not seeing Messages? It is turned on for each organization. Contact [Kibu Support](https://help.kibu.com/support/contact.md). If you can open Messages but cannot find anyone with **New**, your role needs permission to view staff accounts. Every standard role has it.


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