The left sidebar in the Zulip web and desktop apps helps you navigate your
conversations, and start new
ones. It's divided into
sections:
- Views provide various ways to get an overview of your messages.
- The direct messages section shows your direct
message conversations.
- Channels you are subscribed to are shown
organized into sections by folder.
You can customize how channels are organized within the channels
section by:
You can also configure
where clicking on channel links in the left sidebar takes you.
Find a direct message conversation
-
If the direct messages section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click on
the direct messages heading to expand it.
-
Click on a recent DM conversation to view it, or click more
conversations. If you don't see this link, then you are already viewing all
of your direct message conversations.
-
Type the name of a participant in the conversation you're looking for.
Find a channel you're subscribed to
- Type the name of the channel you are looking for in the Filter channels
box below the direct messages section in the left sidebar.
You can also use the Q keyboard shortcut to start searching for
a channel.
There are many ways you can adjust the left sidebar to help you focus on the
information you need in the moment.
Expand or collapse the views section
- Click the triangle to the left of the views heading in the left sidebar.
Expand or collapse the direct messages section
- Click the triangle to the left of the direct messages heading in the left
sidebar.
Show more direct message conversations
-
If the direct messages section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click on
the direct messages heading to expand it.
-
Click on a recent DM conversation to view it, or click more
conversations. If you don't see this link, then you are already viewing all
of your direct message conversations.
To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click the back to
channels link above the search box.
Show all topics in a channel
-
Click on a channel in the left sidebar.
-
Click show all topics at the bottom of the list of recent topics in the
selected channel.
To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click the back to
channels link above the search box.
Filter by whether topics are resolved
-
Click on a channel in the left sidebar.
-
Click show all topics at the bottom of the list of recent topics in the
selected channel.
-
In the search box at the top of the list of topics, type is:.
-
Choose Unresolved topics or Resolved topics from the typeahead
suggestions.
- At the top left corner, click the icon.
- At the top left corner, click the icon.
You can configure whether channel links in the left
sidebar go to the channel feed, a list of topics in the
channel, the top topic, or the top unread topic.
-
Go to Preferences.
-
Under Navigation, select your preferred option from the
Channel links in the left sidebar go to dropdown.
You can start any new conversation from the left sidebar, regardless of what
you’re currently viewing.
Start a new direct message conversation
-
Click the new direct message ()
button next to the direct messages heading in the left sidebar.
-
Start typing the name of the person or group you want to
message, and select their name from the list of suggestions. You can continue
adding as many message recipients as you like.
-
Click on the compose box, or press Tab to compose your message. You
can preview your message before
sending.
-
Click the Send () button, or
use a keyboard shortcut to send your
message.
You can also use the X keyboard shortcut to start a new direct
message conversation.
Start a new topic
-
Click the new topic () button
next to the name of the channel where you'd like to start a conversation.
-
Enter a topic name. Think about finishing the sentence: “Hey, can we chat about… ?”
-
Click on the compose box, or press Tab to compose your message. You
can preview your message before
sending.
-
Click the Send () button, or
use a keyboard shortcut to send your
message.
You can also use the C keyboard shortcut to start a new topic in
the channel you're viewing.
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