Chat FAQ
Common questions about messaging, channels, reactions, and notifications in Grūps App chat.
How many chat channels can a group have?
There is no strict limit on channels. However, the number of channels practically available may vary by plan. See Chat for details.
Can I send a private message to just one person?
Direct messages within a group allow you to message another member privately. Open the group chat, tap the + or the channel list, and start a direct message with a member. Direct messages are only visible to the two participants and group admins.
How do I mention someone in a message?
Type @ followed by the person's display name to mention them. A suggestion list appears as you type. Mentioned members receive a notification even if their chat notification level is set to @Mentions only. You can also use @here to notify all members currently active in the channel, or @channel to notify all members regardless of activity.
Can I edit or delete a message I sent?
Yes. Tap and hold (or right-click on desktop) any message you sent to see edit and delete options. Edited messages show an "edited" label. Deleted messages show a "message deleted" placeholder so the conversation context is preserved. Admins can delete any member's message.
What file types can I share in chat?
You can share images, videos, documents, and most common file types directly in chat. The maximum file size per attachment depends on your plan. Images and videos show inline previews. Other files appear as downloadable attachments.
How far back does chat history go?
Chat history retention depends on your plan. Messages older than your plan's retention limit are no longer accessible. Upgrading your plan does not restore previously expired messages.
What do reactions do?
Emoji reactions let you respond to a message without sending a new one. Tap and hold a message (or hover and click the emoji icon on desktop) to pick a reaction. Any emoji is available. Tapping an existing reaction adds your reaction to the same emoji; tapping it again removes it. Reaction counts are visible to everyone.
How do I reply to a specific message?
Swipe right on a message (mobile) or hover and tap the reply icon (desktop) to reply in a thread. Threaded replies are visually nested under the original message and keep conversations organized without cluttering the main channel.
Why aren't I getting notifications for new messages?
Check in this order: (1) your device has notifications allowed for Grūps App in system settings; (2) the group's push notifications are not muted in My Group Settings; (3) the channel's notification level is not set to Off or @Mentions only (if you're not being mentioned). See Notification Preferences.
Can I mute a channel without leaving it?
Yes. Open the channel info panel (tap the channel name or the info icon) and set the notification level to Off. You can still read the channel normally — you just won't receive push alerts for it. Per-channel notification levels may vary by plan.
What is the difference between @here and @channel?
@here notifies members who are currently active in the app. @channel notifies all members of the channel regardless of their current status. Use @here for non-urgent messages; use @channel for things that everyone needs to see promptly. Admins can restrict who is allowed to use @here and @channel.
Can I search through old messages?
Yes. Tap the search icon in the chat header to search within the current channel. Search covers all messages within your plan's history retention window. You can filter results by date range or by sender.
What does pinning a message do?
Pinned messages are permanently accessible in the channel's Pinned Messages panel, regardless of how far back they are in history. Admins and members with the Manage Chat Messages permission can pin any message. Tap the pin icon in the channel info panel to view all pinned messages.