Direct messages in ClickUp

Direct messages in ClickUp give you a fast way to chat with teammates, share details, and keep important conversations organized alongside your work. This guide walks you through how to open, use, and manage direct messages step by step.

Direct messages are part of the Chats feature, which lets you communicate without leaving your workspace. You can quickly reach individuals, reference tasks, and keep a history of discussions so nothing gets lost.

What are direct messages in ClickUp?

Direct messages are private or small-group chat threads between you and one or more people in your Workspace. They are separate from task comments and are ideal for quick questions or informal discussions.

With direct messages in ClickUp you can:

• Start one-to-one chats with any member or guest.
• Create small group conversations with multiple people.
• Send text messages, attachments, and rich content.
• Keep conversations searchable and easy to revisit.

Direct messages appear in the same area as other Chat views so you can quickly switch between one-to-one discussions and broader team channels.

Where to find direct messages in ClickUp

You can access direct messages from the primary navigation and from anywhere you see a user avatar. This makes it easy to start or resume a conversation without breaking your workflow.

Open the Chat sidebar in ClickUp

To access your existing direct messages:

1. Open your Workspace.
2. Locate the Chat or Messages section in the sidebar.
3. Look for a list of people or conversations you have recently messaged.
4. Click any direct message thread to open it.

From here, you can scroll through message history, send new messages, and manage settings for each conversation.

Start from a user profile in ClickUp

You can also open a direct message from a person’s avatar or profile. This is helpful when you are viewing tasks or activity that involve a specific teammate.

1. Find the user’s avatar in a task, comment, or activity log.
2. Hover over or click the avatar to open user options.
3. Select the option to send a message or open chat.
4. A direct message thread opens where you can start typing immediately.

How to start a new direct message in ClickUp

Starting a conversation is quick and can be done from several places. Use these steps as a general pattern to open a new direct message with any user.

Start a one-to-one direct message

1. Open the Chat or Messages area in ClickUp.
2. Click the option to create a new message or conversation.
3. Search for the person’s name or email.
4. Select the user from the list of results.
5. Type your message in the composer field.
6. Press Enter or click Send to start the conversation.

Once you send the first message, the new direct message thread is pinned to your list of recent conversations for easy access.

Create a group direct message in ClickUp

Group direct messages are useful when you need a focused discussion with a few teammates without creating a full chat channel.

1. Open the Chat or Messages section.
2. Choose to create a new conversation.
3. Add two or more people by searching and selecting each user.
4. Confirm the list of participants.
5. Write your first message and send it.

Everyone in the group will see the new conversation and can reply in real time. You can come back to this group message anytime from your message list.

Send and format messages in ClickUp direct chats

Direct messages support more than plain text. You can format content and share files to keep information clear and actionable.

Compose and format text

To write clear messages:

• Use the message field at the bottom of the direct message window.
• Apply basic formatting options such as bold or lists (where available) to structure information.
• Mention people by name using @mentions when you need specific input.
• Paste links to tasks, docs, or views to provide more context.

Short, well-structured messages make it easier for teammates to understand and respond quickly.

Share files and task links in ClickUp chats

To keep discussions tied to work:

• Attach relevant files directly in the direct message.
• Paste links to ClickUp tasks so everyone can open them with one click.
• Include screenshots or short clips when describing issues or updates.

Sharing resources within the conversation keeps everything in one place and reduces the need to switch between tools.

Manage your direct messages in ClickUp

Efficient management keeps your ClickUp message list organized and helps you focus on important conversations.

Search and filter direct messages

When you have many conversations, use search and filtering features:

• Search by person’s name to locate a direct thread fast.
• Search by keyword to find specific discussions.
• Filter by recent or unread conversations to see what needs attention.

This makes it easy to revisit agreements, requirements, or shared information later.

Mute or manage notifications in ClickUp chats

To stay focused on deep work, you can control how and when direct messages notify you:

• Open the direct message settings or options menu.
• Adjust notification preferences for the specific conversation.
• Mute non-urgent threads if you do not need real-time alerts.

Balancing notifications ensures you see important messages without constant interruptions.

Best practices for using ClickUp direct messages

Direct messages are powerful when used intentionally. Combine them with other collaboration tools in your Workspace for the best results.

• Use direct messages for quick questions and clarifications.
• Move final decisions or long-term information into tasks or Docs.
• Link tasks in your messages whenever you discuss work items.
• Keep conversations professional and focused on current goals.

Pairing direct chats with structured tasks helps your team maintain a reliable record of work while still communicating in real time.

Learn more about ClickUp direct messages

For detailed, always up-to-date instructions and visuals, you can review the official documentation on direct messages in ClickUp. Visit the source help section here: Intro to direct messages.

If you want strategic help setting up workflows, optimizing how your team uses ClickUp, or integrating communication with task management, you can also explore consulting resources such as Consultevo for additional guidance.

By combining strong workspace organization with effective use of direct messages, your team can keep conversations clear, searchable, and aligned to your day-to-day work inside ClickUp.

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