Send a direct message

Find your DMs

2. On the left, click Direct messages.

Tip:To search for DMs, use the search bar at the top. Learn how to search for messages .

Send a DM

Important:If this is your first time sending a message to someone else, they need to accept your message request before you can chat with them.

2. Click New chat.
3. Enter a name or an email address.
4. Click Start chat.
   • When you enter a name or email address, you can get suggestions.
   • To start a group DM, add more names or email addresses.
5. In the reply area, enter a message.
6. Click Send.

Tip:To start a new DM easily, next to a person’s name:

• Click Start chat.
• Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Enter/ ⌘ + Enter.

Message options

Turn a DM into a space

Important:If there are 2 or more people in the DM, you can turn a DM into a space.

2. Open a DM.
3. At the top, click the conversation name.
4. Click Turn this chat into a space.

Start a new Meeting Conversation

Important:All Business and Enterprise users have access to continuous meeting chat.

You can create a continuous meeting chat when you:

• Select “Chat with Guests” from a Calendar invite.
• Access the group chat within your Chat list of conversations.
• Send the first message with the embedded chat in Meet.
  • These messages sync to the Google Chat group direct message (GDM).
• Click the calendar nudge in the Chat roster.

Learn how to use Chat with Google Meet .

For every instance of recurring events in Calendar, it generates a separate Meeting Conversation. To find these Meeting Conversations, check under the “Direct Messages” section of your Chat conversations list.

The Meeting Conversation name combines the event name and date. For example:

• "Sales Team Weekly - Nov 8"
• "Sales Team Weekly - Nov 15”

The date in the title uses the format and language of your current language settings in your account. Learn how to change your language on the web .

When you use a group chat from a Calendar invite:

• The group chat automatically includes all guests within your workspace, regardless of their RSVP status.
• The chat and event titles match.

Manage updates

• If you add or remove guests or update the event title before the event, your changes are automatically reflected in the group chat.
• If you reschedule a calendar event or change the roster, the group chat stays linked to the original calendar event.
• Users within the workspace can access and send messages in the group after the meeting ends.

Learn how to use Chat with Google Meet .

Tips:

• When you invite external guests to a meeting through the "Chat with Guests" feature in Calendar, they aren't automatically added to the Meeting Conversation.
• If no one sends a message before or during the meeting, Calendar won't create or display a new Meeting Conversation in your Chat conversations list.
• The same retention policies apply to both Meeting Conversations and Google Chat spaces. Learn about message history for conversations with work or school accounts .