Messages # Direct messages Private conversations live apart from public posts, and you always know exactly who's in each one. ## Direct messages Talk one-to-one or with a group in a separate inbox. It also works with compatible Fediverse direct messages. - ### [Fediverse direct messages](https://welley.com/messages/federated-dm-inbox/) Your direct conversations stay separate from public posts and notifications. - Welley sends and receives ActivityPub direct messages. - It also handles the way Mastodon threads direct conversations. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. Not every feature works the same way in other software. ![The direct message inbox beside a conversation of Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and Maya Chen with formatted text, a list, reaction chips, a thread link and the reply composer.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-inbox-group-2000.bfa5a873.webp) Direct conversations have their own inbox. This one, with three people, has formatted messages, reactions and a thread. - ### [Know who gets the message](https://welley.com/messages/explicit-dm-recipients/) Pick who's in the conversation before you write. Typing a mention doesn't add someone as a recipient. - The message goes to the people on the member list. - You don't need to repeat their handles in the message. - Incoming messages still show recipient addresses that Welley couldn't resolve. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. ![The Conversation details dialog lists the three members Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and Maya Chen beside the Files and Links tabs.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-exact-members-1200.2c4d36a7.webp) Each conversation has a set list of members. Only those people get its messages. - ### [Message several people](https://welley.com/messages/group-direct-messages/) Start a direct conversation with one person or several. - A conversation can have up to 20 people, including you. - The header and member list show who's in the conversation. - A different set of people means a separate conversation. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. For now, the members of a conversation are fixed. You can't add people, remove people or leave. ![The direct message inbox beside a conversation of Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and Maya Chen with formatted text, a list, reaction chips, a thread link and the reply composer.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-inbox-group-2000.bfa5a873.webp) Direct conversations have their own inbox. This one, with three people, has formatted messages, reactions and a thread. [See all screens](https://welley.com/messages/group-direct-messages/) - ### [Reply in a thread](https://welley.com/messages/dm-thread-replies/) Reply to a message in a thread next to the main conversation. - On desktop, you can see the conversation and the thread together. - On a phone, you see one panel at a time. - A search result can open a thread right at the matching reply. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. Mastodon handles conversations differently, so threads can look different there. ![The main conversation beside a Thread panel with Maya Chen’s message about the bulbs, two replies and a separate reply composer.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-thread-panel-1584.1af5fae2.webp) Reply in a thread without breaking into the main conversation. The thread has its own box for writing. - ### [Formatting and attachments](https://welley.com/messages/dm-rich-media/) Format your message and add images, videos or files. - You get the same text editor as for posts. - You can send attachments without any text. - Text you haven't sent yet is still there when the composer reloads. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. Unsent text is kept in memory. Attachments are lost when the composer reloads. ![The direct message inbox beside a conversation of Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and Maya Chen with formatted text, a list, reaction chips, a thread link and the reply composer.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-inbox-group-2000.bfa5a873.webp) Direct conversations have their own inbox. This one, with three people, has formatted messages, reactions and a thread. - ### [Message actions](https://welley.com/messages/dm-message-actions/) React with emoji or use other message actions right in the conversation. - The action bar has quick reactions, an emoji picker and a way to reply. - You can edit or delete your own eligible messages. - If a message that started a thread is deleted, a placeholder can stay so the replies are still reachable. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. ![The action bar of a direct message with heart, fire and thumbs-up quick reactions, an emoji picker, a reply control and a menu with Edit and Delete.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-message-controls-1584.cd77d664.webp) React to a message, reply to it, or edit and delete your own messages. We didn't change any message. - ### [Find messages, files and links](https://welley.com/messages/dm-search-and-media/) Search a conversation and browse the files and links shared in it. - The details dialog shows files, links and members separately. - In the files view, you can preview files and download the ones you pick. - Search inside a conversation can take you to the matching message. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. Search across all message text isn't available. File type filters only apply to the parts of a conversation that have loaded. ![The open conversation menu offers Add to favorites, Files, Links, Members and Mute above the conversation of Alex, Sam and Maya.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-conversation-menu-1584.0b8230da.webp) Add a conversation to your favorites, mute it, or open its shared files, links and members. [See all screens](https://welley.com/messages/dm-search-and-media/) - ### [Who's online and typing](https://welley.com/messages/dm-presence-and-typing/) The header can show who's online and who's typing. - Online status and typing follow each person's privacy settings. - A block hides this status. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. Read receipts aren't available yet. ![The conversation header shows Maya Chen with her handle, an Online label and a green presence dot.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-online-header-1584.20f8c870.webp) The header shows when the other person is online. [See all screens](https://welley.com/messages/dm-presence-and-typing/) - ### [Favorites and mute](https://welley.com/messages/dm-favorites-and-mute/) Add a conversation to your favorites, or mute it so it doesn't interrupt you. - Favorite and mute options are in the room menu and the conversation list. - Muted conversations are marked as muted in the list. Direct conversations use the optional chats app. Your server needs to install it and turn on rooms. The current app doesn't have controls to pin, archive or delete a conversation, or to handle requests. ![The open conversation menu offers Add to favorites, Files, Links, Members and Mute above the conversation of Alex, Sam and Maya.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-conversation-menu-1584.0b8230da.webp) Add a conversation to your favorites, mute it, or open its shared files, links and members. - ### [End-to-end encrypted messages (coming soon)](https://welley.com/messages/encrypted-dms-planned/) We're planning an end-to-end encrypted mode for direct conversations. - Direct messages today aren't end-to-end encrypted. - We've written down the requirements for a future encrypted mode. We haven't announced a release date. ![The direct message inbox beside a conversation of Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and Maya Chen with formatted text, a list, reaction chips, a thread link and the reply composer.](https://welley.com/assets/media/dm-inbox-group-2000.bfa5a873.webp) Direct conversations have their own inbox. This one, with three people, has formatted messages, reactions and a thread.