Feature Preview in Rocket.Chat allows workspace administrators and users to try out experimental features that are still in development. These features may be unstable, incomplete, or subject to change before official release.
Accessing feature preview
To access and configure Feature Preview in your workspace:
Go to Manage → Workspace → Feature Preview.
Enable Allow Feature Preview to make experimental features available to all workspace members.
Once enabled, users can manage their own feature preview settings by going to Account → Preferences → Feature Preview in their profile.
For administrators
Workspace administrators can:
Enable or disable the Feature Preview option for all members.
Select which preview features are available for users to test.
Any features enabled here become available to users in their individual Feature Preview settings.
Feature previews are being tested and may not be stable or fully functional. Features may become premium capabilities once officially released.
For users
After the administrator enables Feature Preview, users can:
Go to Account → Preferences → Feature Preview.
Enable or disable the available experimental features according to their preference.
Individual user settings will override the workspace defaults.
Feature preview options
Below are the currently available preview features:
Navigation
Filters and secondary sidebar: Reduce noise and increase focus using sidebar filters and a secondary navigation layer. Filter your mentions, favorite rooms, or discussions, or filter by a specific room to see its associated channels and discussions.
Drafts in sidebar: Removed as a preview option in Rocket.Chat 8.8.0. The draft indicator is now on for everyone. See Drafts in the sidebar, side panel, and threads.
AI
AI Search: Adds semantic, AI-assisted results to workspace search, finding relevant messages even when the exact words are not used. Refer to AI Search guide for more details.
Drafts in the sidebar, side panel, and threads
Drafts in sidebar is no longer a Feature Preview option since Rocket.Chat 8.0.0. The draft indicator is on for all users and requires no setup.
When you start typing a message and leave the room without sending it, a pencil icon appears next to the room name in the sidebar and in the side panel. This lets you find the message you started without opening every room. The indicator works the same way for channels, teams, and direct messages.
Unsent thread replies are kept per thread. A reply typed in one thread stays with that thread, and typing in a second thread no longer clears it. A thread with an unsent reply is marked in the room's Threads list, and the room itself shows the pencil icon in the sidebar.
Drafts survive switching rooms and reloading the page. Sending the message or clearing the composer removes the indicator.
No setup is required. The draft indicator is now enabled for all users, including those who never turned on the Drafts in sidebar preview.