# Chat in the App Source: https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/support-worker-app/chat-in-the-app > Use team chat from within the Support Worker app. Scheduling add-on - This feature requires the Scheduling add-on, which is available on Astalty Premium. See How to enable Scheduling. > **Enabling Chat** > > Chat is an optional feature. The Account Owner can turn it on from the [Optional Features](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/settings/optional-features) page. ## Overview **Chat** is Astalty's built-in messaging feature for team conversations in the app. With Chat, you can: - Send direct messages to individual team members - View and respond to chats that you are a member of for team or topic-based conversations - Start a conversation with an allowed User Group, if Admin has enabled this for your role - Share files, mention colleagues, react to messages, and pin important information - See a colleague's current Chat status when the presence feature is available ![The Chat screen in the Astalty app listing direct and group conversations under the Active tab with their latest message, time and unread counts, with search, plus and status icons at the top and an unread badge on the Chat tab.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-14.png) ## Key Concepts ### Direct Messages A direct message is a private, one-on-one conversation between you and another team member. Only the two members can see the messages in a direct conversation. ### Group Channels A group channel is a conversation with multiple team members. Group channels have a name (e.g., "Team Standup" or "SIL House A") and can have members added or removed at any time. When creating a new conversation, you can select a User Group so everyone in the group is included from the start. ## Using Chat ### Accessing Chats Select **Chat** at the bottom of the app. The icon shows the number of unread messages. The Chat screen lists your existing chats. Use search to find a message, or select **+** in the top-right corner to start a chat. > **Letting your team know you're away** > > The smiley icon at the top of the Chat screen sets **Your status** to away, busy, or do not disturb, with an emoji, a message, and a time to clear. Approved leave sets it for you. See [Status and Availability](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat/status-and-availability). ![The Chat screen in the Astalty app with the Chat tab in the bottom bar and the conversation list highlighted, and arrows pointing to the search and plus icons at the top.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-1.png) ### Replying in Conversations Open a conversation and enter your reply in the message field. Use the **+** button below the message field to attach images, videos, or PDF files, or use the microphone to record a voice message. A message can have up to 10 attachments. Type **@** and select a member to mention them. ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with the message area highlighted at the bottom: the Type a message field with microphone and send buttons, and the + attachment button and formatting buttons below.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-3.png) ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with the attachment menu from the + button highlighted, offering Camera, Photo Library and Choose File.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-4.png) ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with an arrow pointing to the microphone icon inside the Type a message field.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-6.png) ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with a voice recording highlighted in the message area, showing a play button, waveform and duration, between a bin icon and the send button.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-5.png) ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with @ typed in the message field and the list of members to mention highlighted above it, starting with Everyone.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-9.png) > **Half-written messages are saved** > > Message text you have not sent yet is saved as a draft, so switching conversations or closing the app will not lose it. If a message fails to send, the text is restored the next time you open that conversation. Files and voice messages are not saved as part of a draft. See [Message Drafts](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat/message-drafts). > **Read receipts on your own messages** > > Messages you send show a tick next to the time, which turns into a blue double tick once everyone else in the conversation has read it. The list of names showing exactly who has and has not read a message is only available in the web browser version of Astalty. See [Read Receipts](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat/read-receipts). ### Voting in a Poll If someone sends a **poll** to a conversation, you can vote from the app by tapping the answer you want. The results update live, and you can change or take back your vote while the poll is open. Polls can only be **created** and **closed** from the web app. See [Polls](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat/polls) for the full detail. ## Message Actions Press and hold a message to open the actions available to you. Depending on the message, you can: - Add a reaction or open the full reaction picker. - Reply to the message. - Copy a text message. - Pin or unpin a message. Support Workers cannot pin messages. - Edit a text message you sent when message editing is enabled. - Delete a message you sent when message deletion is enabled. Deleting a message is permanent. Poll messages cannot be edited in the app. ### Creating New Conversations To start a new conversation: 1. Tap the **+** button at the top right of the Chat screen 2. Select one or more available **User Groups**, if they appear for your role 3. Search for and select any individual users you also want to include 4. Add a group name if you are creating a group chat 5. Tap the tick icon to create the conversation When you select a User Group, everyone in that group is added to the conversation automatically. > **Note** > > Support Workers will only be able to create conversations with the users and User Groups allowed by Admin in [Chat settings](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/chat/chat-configuration). If no User Groups appear, your role has not been allowed to start chats with any User Groups. ![The Chat screen in the Astalty app with the Active tab showing No conversations yet, and an arrow pointing to the plus icon in the top right.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-7.png) ![The New Conversation screen in the Astalty app, with the letters an typed in the Search users field above a list of matching users, each with a circle to select them.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-8.png) ### Pinned Messages To see pinned messages, select the Pin icon at the top of the Chat. ![A group conversation in the Astalty app with an arrow pointing to the Pin icon and pinned message count in the top right.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-10.png) ![The Pinned Messages panel highlighted over a group conversation in the Astalty app, showing a pinned message with its sender, date and Pinned by line.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-11.png) ### Searching in Chats To search your messages, select the Search icon at the top of the Chat screen and enter a keyword. Matching messages are displayed for selection, each with its conversation. ![The Chat screen in the Astalty app with an arrow pointing to the Search icon at the top, above the conversation list.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-12.png) ![The message search screen in the Astalty app with the keyword compliance entered in the Search messages field at the bottom, an arrow pointing to it, and the matching messages highlighted above, each showing its conversation, sender, date and text.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/chat-13.png) Tap on the relevant Chat to view the feed and send a reply.