Create, send & reply to messages in Google Chat

You can send a direct message to a person or group of people in Google Chat.

Create a direct message

To send a new message:

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
   • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
2. At the top left, click New chat .
3. Enter the person’s name you want to message.
   • To create a group direct message, enter multiple names.
4. Click Start chat.

Send & reply to messages

To send or reply to a message, you can use the message field in Chat. There are multiple ways to reply.

When you reply, you can:

Send a message	Send the message you wrote in the message field.
Share files and more	Share Google Drive files, set up a Calendar invite, or add apps to a message.
Start a meeting	Start a video call with Google Meet.
Add a video meeting	Add a Google Meet link to a video meeting.
Edit a message	Edit a sent message.
Delete a message	Delete a sent message.
Format messages	Bold or italicize text, use bullet points, or add color.
React to messages	Add an emoji.
Upload a file	Share a file from your computer.
Share a GIF	React with an animated GIF.
Quote a message	To directly respond, quote a previous message in Chat.
Start a thread	In a space, create a new thread based on a message.

Troubleshoot permissions

Contact the Workspace administrator if you:

• Can’t create a new conversation
• Can’t add members to a space
• Get a permission error like "You don't have permission to start a new conversation”

Learn how to manage space settings.

Related resources

• Create a space
• Learn about spaces
• Use threads in Chat spaces