---
title: Private chat overview
description: chat, messanger, DM
---
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# Private chat overview
### Private Chat Overview
Your website and Member Portal/mobile app include a chat feature for private communication among members — no need for other platforms or messaging apps.
### How to Open Private Chat
- Log in to your website account through the **Log In** link at the top of any website page, or log in to the mobile app.
- Click the chat icon (a pair of speech balloons) in the website menu bar, or the corresponding icon in the bottom bar of the app.
- A red dot (unread-message indicator) next to the chat icon means you have a new message or reply.
- Mobile app users: see the "App for Mobile Devices" guide for app-specific chat instructions.
### Starting a New Message
1. On your website, the messaging window slides in from the right side of your screen and shows any chat threads you're currently part of.
2. Click **New Message**.
### Choosing Recipients
- **Send to a group:** use the **Add Groups to Message** dropdown to select one or more committees or interest groups.
- **Send to individual members:** click in the **Search and Add Members** field and start typing a member's name.
- The Search field narrows results as you type more characters.
- Click the **plus sign** next to a member's name to add them as a recipient.
- Click the **minus sign** next to a member's name to remove them.
- Repeat the search as many times as needed to add everyone you want.
### Composing and Sending
1. Type your message in the message box.
2. To attach a photo or document, click **Browse** and select the file.
3. Click **Send** to transmit your message, or **Cancel** to stop without sending.
4. Click **View all messages** near the top of the window to exit the new-message process.
### Managing Existing Conversations
- **Refresh:** the message window does not update automatically — click the Refresh icon to check for new messages. Unread messages appear highlighted in blue.
- **Reply:** click a conversation listing, add your reply at the bottom of the window, then click **Send**.
- Attach a photo: click the camera icon.
- Attach another document type: click **Upload**.
- **Edit or remove a sent message:** click the 3-dots icon on the message and choose the action.
- **View participants:** click **View participants** to see everyone in the chat. Use the 3-dots icon to leave the conversation or remove another participant.
- **Add people to an existing chat:** start typing in the **Search and Add Members** field and select the name to add.
- **Exit Messaging:** click the **X** at the top right corner of the chat window.
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