Send messages
import useBaseUrl from '@docusaurus/useBaseUrl'; import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs'; import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';
You can send messages in public and private channels as well as to other users in Mattermost. Depending on when you compose a message, you can send it immediately, schedule it for later, or set its priority.
Mattermost may notify you when a recipient's availability is set to Do Not Disturb, and the recipient's local time is outside of regular business hours (between 10PM and 6AM). This warning displays directly above the message text field.
From Mattermost v11.5, you can access help resources for message formatting by selecting the Help link below the message text field.
Enter a message in the text field, then select Send <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/send_F048A.svg')} alt="Select the Send icon to post your message." className="theme-icon" /> to send the message.
You can also use a keyboard to send messages:
- Press Enter on Windows or Linux, or ↵ on Mac.
- You can configure Mattermost to require Shift Enter on Windows or Linux, or ⇧ ↵ on Mac to send multi-line messages. Select the gear <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/settings-outline_F08BB.svg')} alt="Use the Settings icon to customize your Mattermost user experience." className="theme-icon" /> icon to go to Settings, then select Advanced > Send messages on CTRL+ENTER.
- Tap the text field at the bottom of the Mattermost app to type a message.
- Tap Send <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/send_F048A.svg')} alt="Select the Send icon to post your message." className="theme-icon" /> icon to send it in the channel.
Rewrite messages with AI¶
You can use AI to enhance your messages before sending them. This feature helps you improve writing quality, fix spelling, adjust message length, or transform your text based on specific needs.
From Mattermost v11.5, when you use AI Rewrite while composing a reply in a thread, the AI incorporates context from the thread to generate suggestions that better fit the ongoing conversation.
From Mattermost v11.7, Rewrite is accessed through the AI Actions <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/creation-outline_F1C2B.svg')} alt="AI Actions icon." className="theme-icon" /> menu, alongside any custom prompts your system admin has made available.
On Web/Desktop or Mobile:
- Type your message in the message compose field.
- Open the AI Actions <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/creation-outline_F1C2B.svg')} alt="AI Actions icon." className="theme-icon" /> menu from the message actions, then select Rewrite.
- Select a bot from the list of available AI agents.
- Choose from available rewrite options:
- Improve writing: Enhance clarity and professionalism
- Fix spelling: Correct spelling and grammar errors
- Shorten: Make your message more concise
- Elaborate: Add more detail and context
- Simplify: Use clearer, easier-to-understand language
- Summarize: Condense your message to key points
- Custom prompt: Specify your own transformation instructions
- Review the AI-generated suggestion. Select Regenerate to try again or Discard to return to your original message.
- Select Send <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/send_F048A.svg')} alt="Select the Send icon to post your message." className="theme-icon" />
From Mattermost v11.7, system admins can publish custom prompts that appear alongside Rewrite in the AI Actions <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/creation-outline_F1C2B.svg')} alt="AI Actions icon." className="theme-icon" /> menu. If you don't see a custom prompt you expect, check with your system admin.
Messages that have been rewritten using AI are automatically marked as AI-generated content for transparency. Your system admin must configure AI agents for the rewrite feature to be available.
Send burn-on-read messages¶
From Mattermost v11.3, burn-on-read messages stay concealed until recipients reveal them. After revealing, the message is deleted for that recipient when the timer expires. Burn-on-read messages can't be replied to or edited. You can send burn-on-read messages unless your system admin has disabled the ability to do so in your Mattermost instance, or has restricted who can send them based on user attributes. When a user attribute policy restricts you, the Burn-on-read icon isn't available in the message toolbar and existing burn-on-read drafts can't be sent. Any burn-on-read messages you already scheduled will still send at their scheduled time, but can't be rescheduled or sent immediately.
- Compose your message.
- Select the Burn-on-read <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/fire_F0238.svg')} alt="Burn on Read icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon in the message toolbar.
- Select Send <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/send_F048A.svg')} alt="Select the Send icon to post your message." className="theme-icon" />
From Mattermost mobile v2.38.0, you can send burn-on-read messages from the mobile app.
- Compose your message.
- Tap the Burn-on-read <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/fire_F0238.svg')} alt="Burn on Read icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon in the message toolbar.
- Tap Send <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/send_F048A.svg')} alt="Select the Send icon to post your message." className="theme-icon" />
Recipients see a concealed placeholder with Reveal. After revealing, a timer shows when the message will be deleted.
As the message sender, hover over the Burn-on-read <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/fire_F0238.svg')} alt="Burn on Read icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon above the sent message to see how many recipients have read the message. You can also delete the burn-on-read message for all recipients before the timer expires by selecting the Burn-on-read <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/fire_F0238.svg')} alt="Burn on Read icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon above the sent message.
Draft messages¶
From Mattermost v7.7, when composing new messages, it's easy to return to a message in progress later, unless your system admin has disabled global drafts in the System Console.
By default, message drafts are synchronized on the Mattermost server and are accessible everywhere you access Mattermost, including a web browser or the desktop app. Limit drafts to your current Mattermost client only by going to Settings > Advanced > Allow message drafts to sync with the server to disable draft synchronization.
Draft messages are added to a Drafts view available at the top of the channel sidebar.
When composing a message, you can simply choose to complete it later. The partially composed message is kept in the text field and an Edit option <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/pencil-outline_F0CB6.svg')} alt="Edit icon." className="theme-icon" /> displays next to the channel name.
From Mattermost v10.5, you'll find local draft messages under Drafts. Drafts synchronized to the Mattermost server will be listed under Drafts in a future mobile app release.
Edit messages¶
All users can edit their own sent messages, unless the system admin has restricted the ability to do so.
- Using Mattermost in a web browser or the desktop app, select the More <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/dots-horizontal_F01D8.svg')} alt="Use the More icon to access additional message options." className="theme-icon" /> icon next to a message that you've sent.
- Select Edit to edit your own messages. Editing a message won't trigger new @mention notifications, or desktop notifications.
From Mattermost v10.5, using a web browser or the Mattermost Desktop app, you can also change or remove message attachments when editing your sent messages.
- Long press on the message that you want to edit and tap on Edit.
- Type the updated message and tap on Save.
From Mattermost v10.11 and mobile app v2.31.0, when editing messages on mobile, you can also view, delete, and save message attachments as you would when using Mattermost in a web browser or the desktop app.
Restore a previous version of an edited message¶
From Mattermost v7.9, Mattermost Enterprise or Professional customers can edit or delete messages after sending them if your system admin hasn't restricted the ability to do so using advanced permissions.
Message recipients can't see your message edit history, and restoring a previous message version won't trigger new @mention notifications.
Restoring a previous version of the message is available in the Mattermost desktop app or a web browser. The ability to restore using the mobile app isn't supported.
- Select the word Edited next to your message.
- In the right pane, review all previous versions of the message.
- Select the Restore <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/restore_F099B.svg')} alt="Use the Restore icon to restore a previous version of an edited message." className="theme-icon" /> icon next to the version you want to restore.
- Select Confirm.
Delete messages¶
All users can delete their own sent messages, unless the system admin has restricted the ability to do so.
- Using Mattermost in a web browser or the desktop app, select the More <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/dots-horizontal_F01D8.svg')} alt="Use the More icon to access additional message options." className="theme-icon" /> icon next to a message that you want to delete.
- Select Delete to delete your own messages. Select Delete again to confirm.
- Long Press on the message you want to delete and tap on Delete.
- Tap on Delete again to confirm your choice.
Do more with your messages¶
Using a RTL plugin, Mattermost can automatically detect and display messages written using right-to-left scripts, such as Arabic, Hebrew, or Persian. Your system admin must install the RTL Plugin to enable this functionality.
Do more with your Mattermost messages using the following features: