---
title: "Direct messages"
space: "Raven"
url: "https://docs.frappe.io/raven/direct-messages/send-direct-messages"
updated: "2026-10-19"
---

A direct message is a private conversation between you and one other person. Only the two of you can see it. Direct messages are not part of a workspace, so you see them from every workspace.

## Open your direct messages

Click the people icon in the left rail. The **Direct Messages** list shows your conversations, with the most recent at the top. A count on a row shows how many messages you haven't read. If you have started a message and not sent it, the row shows it as a draft.

Click a conversation to open it.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-dm-page.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-dm-page.webp" alt="The Direct Messages page">
</picture>

To move between conversations with the keyboard, press **Alt + Down arrow** or **Alt + Up arrow**, or **Option + Down arrow** or **Option + Up arrow** on a Mac. Add **Shift** to jump to the next conversation with unread messages.

## Start a direct message

There are a few ways to start one:

- **From a message:** point to a person's name or photo on a message, or to a mention of them. Their profile card opens. Click **Message**.
- **From the command palette:** press **Ctrl + K**, or **⌘ + K** on a Mac. Type the person's name, then click them in the list.
- **From a channel's members:** click the channel name, then **Members**. Point to the person's row, click **⋯**, then click **Message**.
- **From the Direct Messages list:** while you have fewer than five conversations, people you haven't messaged yet are listed below them. Click a name.

If you already have a conversation with the person, it opens. Otherwise a new one starts.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-dm-profile-card.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-dm-profile-card.webp" alt="The profile card, with the Message button" width="736">
</picture>

The profile card shows the person's name, email address, availability and status. It shows their phone number too, if they have added one.

## Conversation details

Click the person's name at the top of the conversation.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-dm-header-menu.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-dm-header-menu.webp" alt="The menu at the top of a direct message" width="248">
</picture>

- **View profile** shows the person's email address and phone number. Click one to copy it.
- **Files** lists the photos, videos and documents shared in the conversation.
- **Links** lists the links shared in the conversation.
- **Threads** lists the threads started in the conversation.

The panel also has a **Pins** tab with the pinned messages. When the conversation has pinned messages, the pin icon next to the name shows how many.

If the other person's account is deactivated, you can still read the conversation, but you can't send new messages.

## On the mobile app

Tap **DMs** at the bottom of the screen. Tap a conversation to open it. To start a new one, tap a person's name or photo on a message, then tap **Message**.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-ios-dms.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-ios-dms.webp" alt="The DMs tab on the mobile app" width="300">
</picture>
