On this page
- Send a chat message
- Reply to a chat message
- Edit or delete a message you sent
- Create polls in Chat and vote
Send a chat message
Message a person or group
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Click New chat.
- Enter a name or an email address.
- Click Start chat.
- When you enter a name or email address, you can get suggestions.
- To start a group DM, add more names or email addresses.
- In the reply area, enter a message.
- Click Send
.
Format a Chat message
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Go to a conversation.
- Enter a message.
- Highlight the text you want to format.
- Click Format
.
- Select an option:
- To bold: Click Bold
.
- To italicize: Click Italic
.
- To underline: Click Underline
.
- To change the text color: Click Text color
.
- To add a bullet point before the text: Click Bulleted list
.
- To strikethrough: Click Strikethrough
.
- To insert a link:
- Click Insert link
.
- Enter the link.
- Click Insert link
- To add inline code: Click Code
.
- To add multi-line code block: Click Code block
.
- To bold: Click Bold
- Click Send
.
Reply to a chat message
Reply to a message
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- Open a chat message.
- Below the message, click the reply area.
- Enter your message or select a suggestion.
- You can customize a suggested message before you send it.
- Press Return or click Send
.
Use other options in Chat replies
-To add a person to the conversation or mention them: Type
-To add emojis to your message: Click Emoji

-To share files from your device: Click Upload file

Everyone in a space can find shared files.
- To share files from Google Drive: Click Add Google Drive file

Everyone in a space can find shared Drive files.
-To start a video call: Click Add video meeting

-To schedule a calendar meeting: Click Calendar

-To send a GIF: Click GIF

-To add formatting to text: Click Format

Edit or delete a message you sent
If you make a mistake or need to update a message you sent, you can edit or delete the message.
Edit a chat message
- On your computer, go to Google Chat.
- Open a conversation, such as a direct message, group direct message, or space.
- Hover over the message you want to edit.
- Click Edit
.
- Make your changes.
- Click Update.
Delete a sent message
- On your computer, go to Google Chat.
- Open a conversation, such as a direct message, group direct message, or space.
- Hover over the message you want to delete.
- Click More
Delete
.
- To confirm, click Delete.
Create polls in Chat and vote
Create a poll
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail on the left, click Chat
.
- In Gmail on the left, click Chat
- To add the Poll app:
- Select a direct message, group message, or space.
- In the reply field, enter
/poll
or@poll
. - Select the Poll app.
- If you are using the app for the first time, in the window that appears, click Add app & send.
- Click Create a poll. In the poll window, enter a question and up to 4 choices.
- Click Create.
Vote in a poll
When someone creates a poll, you receive a chat notification.
- To vote in a poll, next to your preferred choice, click Vote.
- To find more details about the poll results, click Show results
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