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Send a chat message
Message a person or group
You can send a direct message in Chat to one or more people within your organization. You can direct message an individual outside of your organization, but you can't include external people in a group message.
Tip: To chat with external guests in a group, create a space.
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.
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Click New chat.
- Enter a name or an email addres.
- 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.
- In the reply area, enter a message.
- Click Send
.
Learn more at the Google Chat Help Center
Format a Chat message
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Go to a conversation.
- Enter a message.
- Highlight the text you want to format.
- Click Format
.
- Select an option:
- To bold: Click Bold
.
- To italicize: Click Italic
.
- To underline: Click Underline
.
- To change the text color: Click Text color
.
- To add a bullet point before the text: Click Bulleted list
.
- To strikethrough: Click Strikethrough
.
- To insert a link:
- Click Insert link
.
- Enter the link.
- Click Insert link
- To bold: Click Bold
- Click Send
.
Learn more at the Google Chat Help Center
Reply to a chat message
Reply to a message
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- Open a chat message.
- Below the message, click the reply area.
- Enter your message or select a suggestion.
- You can customize a suggested message before you send it.
- Press Return or click Send
Use other options in Chat replies
- To add a person to the conversation or mention them: Type
, then enter a name.
- To add emojis to your message: Click Emoji
.
- To share files from your device: Click Upload file
.
- Everyone in a space can find shared files.
- To share files from Google Drive: Click Add Google Drive file
.
- Everyone in a space can find shared Drive files.
- To start a video call: Click Add video meeting
.
-
- To schedule a calendar meeting: Click Calendar
.
- To send a GIF: Click GIF
.
- To add formatting to text: Click Format
Learn more at the Google Chat Help Center
Edit or delete a message you sent
If you make a mistake or need to update a message you sent, you can edit or delete the message.
Edit a chat message
- On your computer, go to a conversation and hover over your message.
- Click Edit
.
- Make your changes.
- Click Update.
Delete a sent message
- On your computer, go to a conversation and hover over your message.
- Click More
Delete
.
- To confirm, click Delete.
Learn more at the Google Chat Help Center
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