--- title: "Messages" canonical: "https://resources.pathify.com/space/Communicat/55084209/Messages" format: markdown --- > ℹ️ # **TL/DR** > ℹ️ > ℹ️ - The Messaging feature enables private conversations, allowing Users to communicate individually or with multiple recipients. > ℹ️ - Privacy settings include options to manage message and read receipts, offering customization for visibility based on personal preferences. > ℹ️ - Unread messages are promptly highlighted through a notification system within the Messages section. > ℹ️ - Users receive notifications specifying the number of unread messages, ensuring timely awareness of new and unread Messages. > ℹ️ - The Messaging feature supports attachments, allowing Users to send files and images, enhancing collaborative interactions on the platform. > ℹ️ - Users can react to Chat messages with emojis in both Community Chats and Direct Chats, enabling quick, expressive responses without sending a full reply. The Messaging feature within the portal empowers Users to engage in private conversations with one another. Users have the flexibility to send Messages either to a specific individual or to multiple recipients, facilitating seamless communication across the portal. Within the User's privacy settings, individuals can exert control over Message and read receipts, tailoring their visibility based on personal preferences. Additionally, the portal employs a notification system to highlight unread Messages, ensuring Users promptly receive information about new and unread communication within the Messages section. Furthermore, Users can send Messages with attachments, including files and images, enhancing the collaborative and interactive nature of their interactions on the platform. Users can also react to messages with emojis, offering a quick way to acknowledge or respond to a message without typing a full reply. Reactions are available in both Community Chats and Direct Chats. --- --- # Configurations in this article > Macro (toc) --- ## Manage Messages In this section, we focus on the comprehensive management of Messages within your portal. You will learn how to create and send Messages, view incoming Messages, respond to inquiries, and effectively search through your Message history. ### Create and Send a Message 1. Click on the **Messages **icon in the upper-right corner. 2. Click on the **New Chat **icon. 3. Click in the **Search name** field. 4. Begin typing the recipient's name. 5. Select the recipient's name when it appears. 6. To add more recipients, repeat Steps 3-5. > ⚠️ There is no limit to the number of recipients, but recipients must be added one name at a time. 7. Click in the **Message **field**.** 8. Type your message. 9. Click **Send**. A file or image may be attached by clicking the **Media and conferencing icon **and selecting **Attach files/Attach images **(limit of 20 attachments at 200 MB per attachment). > ℹ️ Links may also be embedded in a Message. A preview of the embedded link will become available. Only one preview will be available, regardless if multiple links are posted. A user may also add alt-text to an image by either clicking the image preview or the sent image to add an image description. “Image description” can be found in the upper right-hand corner of the image. ### View Unread Messages 1. Click the **Messages icon** in the top right-hand corner next to User Options. 2. Click on the **unread Message**. > 📝 A salmon-colored oval indicates new messages, and the number in the oval indicates how many. ### Answer a Message 1. Click the **Messages icon** in the upper right-hand corner next to User Options. 2. Click on the unread Message. 3. Click in the** Message field**. 4. Type the message. 5. Select the **arrow icon** to send. ### **React to a Message** Users can react to any message in a Community Chat or Direct Chat with an emoji, providing a quick way to acknowledge, agree with, or respond to a message without typing a reply. 1. Navigate to the Chat message to react to. 2. Hover over (or long-press on mobile) the specific message. 3. Select an emoji from the reaction options that appear. The selected emoji will appear below the message with a count of how many Users have used that reaction. To add your reaction to one that already exists on a message, click the existing emoji reaction below the message. Click the same reaction again to remove it. Messages can receive multiple emoji reactions simultaneously, allowing Users to express a range of responses to any single message. Admins configure the preset reactions available across Community Discussions, Community Chats, and Direct Chats via ***Admin Center > Settings > Reactions***. The same set of preset reactions applies to all three communication surfaces. ### Search a Message 1. Click the **Messages icon** next to User Options. 2. Select **See All** to display all Messages. 3. Select the **Message** to search. 4. Click the **Search icon** in the upper right-hand corner. 5. Type a search term or phrase. 6. Select from the search results.