---
title: "Create a new Direct Message"
slug: "create-a-new-direct-message"
status: "update"
updated: 2026-11-06T17:03:04Z
published: 2026-11-06T17:03:04Z
canonical: "docs.rocket.chat/create-a-new-direct-message"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rocket.chat/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a New Direct Message

You can create a Direct Message (DM) in Rocket.Chat to communicate privately with one or more users.

## Create a 1:1 or 1:M DM

**Web/Desktop**

To create a direct message from the menu bar:

1. On the menu bar, click **Create new** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-12-22 194724(1).png) → **Direct message** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/image-1766412426845.png).
2. Select one or more users you want to message. You can add multiple users to create a **1:M DM**, allowing you to chat privately with several users at once.
3. Click **Create**.

A new DM is opened with the selected user(s), and you can start communicating privately.

**Mobile**

To create a direct message from the Rocket.Chat mobile app:

1. In the rooms list, tap the **Create new** button (+) at the bottom of the screen and select **Direct message** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/image(231).png). On iOS 26, the button is next to the search field.
2. Choose one or more users you want to message. You can add multiple users to create a **1:M DM** for group messaging.
3. Tap **Create**.

A new DM is opened with the selected user(s), and you can start chatting privately.

## Create a 1:1 DM from a room

**Web/Desktop**

To create a 1:1 DM from a room:

1. Click the **Members** icon at the top-right of the header, or click the kebab menu **(⋮)** and select **Team Members** to view the list of members.
2. Select the member from the list with whom you want to start a DM. You can also search for a specific member using the **search bar**.
3. Next to the search bar, you can filter the list to show all members or only online members.
4. Once you’ve selected the member, their **User Info** page opens. Click **Direct message** below their avatar to start a private 1:1 conversation.

**Mobile**

You can open a 1:1 direct message on Rocket.Chat mobile app with a user if you are in the same room by following these steps:

1. Tap the user’s avatar or name to open their **User Info** page. Then, tap **Message** to start a direct message with that user.
2. Alternatively, tap the room name to open the room options. Tap **Members**, select the user you want to message, and tap **Direct message**. A new DM room opens where you can chat privately with that user.

Here are some important features to note about DM rooms:

- You can't create a multi-user DM with the same user combination.
- Once a DM is created, the membership can't be updated. So, you can't add or remove members to the DM.
- No one is the owner, unlike [channels](/v1/docs/channels).
- The DM can't be deleted. You can only hide the conversation.
- You can't ignore, block, mute, or remove a user in multi-user DMs. However, you can start a call or a 1:1 DM with them.

> [!NOTE]
> We recommend a maximum of 8 users in a DM. However, contact your workspace administrator if you need to update it to suit your needs.

## Mark DM as favorite

Marking a DM as a favorite keeps it pinned at the top of your sidebar for quick access.

You can favorite a DM in two ways:

- **From the sidebar:** Hover over the DM, click the kebab menu **(⋮)**, then select **Favorite**.
- **Inside the DM:** At the top of the DM screen, click the **star** icon next to the DM name to mark that DM as **Favorite**.

To remove a DM from your favorites, repeat the same steps and select **Unfavorite**.