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Send messages

Send messages and join the conversation in a text channel.

Send a message​

  1. Select a text channel from the channel list.
  2. Type your message in the text field at the bottom. Shift+Enter opens a new line without sending the message.
  3. Press Enter to send.

When your message contains a URL, Root automatically displays a preview card with the page's title, description, and image.

A message can be up to 10,000 characters. If you go over, a counter shows how many characters to remove before you can send.

Retry a message that failed to send​

If a message cannot be sent, it stays in the channel marked as failed instead of disappearing.

The message shows Failed to send with a Try again link next to it. Select Try again to resend.

Format your message​

Add emphasis and structure to your messages. Highlight text and use the formatting options, or type Markdown directly, like **bold** or *italic*. On mobile, the formatting options appear in the menu that shows when you select text.

For everything you can do, headings, lists, spoilers, code blocks, and the exact steps on desktop and mobile, see Markdown formatting.

Add attachments​

Share files, images, and GIFs in your messages.

Use the buttons on the right side of the message field:

ButtonDescription
Attach Files (paperclip)Upload files from your computer. See Share files and images.
Gifs Search and insert animated GIFs. See Send GIFs.

You can also drag and drop files directly into the message field.

Add emojis​

Express yourself with emojis in your messages. The emoji picker includes standard emojis and any custom emojis uploaded by community owners.

Skip the picker

Type : followed by at least two characters to search emoji by name as you type, without opening the picker at all. Typing :tha will find 🙏, and community emoji show up first.

In channels where you have the Use External Emojis permission, you can use custom emoji from any community you belong to.

  1. Select the Emojis button on the right side of the message field.
  2. Browse or search for an emoji. Community emoji appear in their own section.
  3. Select an emoji to insert it into your message.
Add several at once

Hold Shift while you select emoji in the picker. The picker stays open, so you can keep adding more.

Reply to a message​

A reply links your message to a specific message in the conversation, creating a visual thread that helps others follow the discussion. When you reply to a message, your response appears with a reference to the original message, making it easy to see what you're responding to.

You can reply to up to 5 messages at once, which is helpful when addressing multiple points in a conversation.

  1. Start a reply using one of these methods:
    • Select the message, if Tap to reply is on in Chat settings (it's on by default)
    • Hover over a message and select the Reply icon
    • Right-click a message and select Reply
  2. Type your reply in the text field (the original message appears above).
  3. Press Enter to send.

The reply bar above the message field has an @ toggle that controls whether the person you are replying to gets a notification. It is on by default.

Select the small reference above a reply to jump to the original message.

Mention a user or role​

A mention notifies a specific user or everyone with a particular role that you're addressing them. When you mention someone, they receive a notification (if enabled) and your message highlights their name, making it easy to spot.

Mentioning a role notifies all members who have that role assigned to them.

  1. Type @ followed by the username or role name.
  2. Select the correct user or role from the popup list.
  3. Complete your message and press Enter.

Mention everyone​

The suggestion list also offers two mentions that reach more than one person:

MentionWho it notifies
@AllEveryone in the channel
@HereEveryone in the channel who is online right now

@All and @Here only show up if you have the Use Global Mentions permission in that channel. Without it, the list also leaves out roles that aren't set as Mentionable. New roles start with this permission off. See Manage roles.

Type # followed by the channel name, then pick the channel from the list. The channel name becomes a link that takes people straight there.

Open a mention​

Select someone's mention in a message to open their profile.

Select the mention to open the person's profile.

Copy a message​

Right-click the message and select Copy message.

When a message contains a link, selecting it opens the site. Root shows a confirmation first so you can check where you are going. See Open external links.

On mobile you can also press and hold a link for Link options, which offers Copy link and Open link.

To share a link that jumps someone straight to a message, channel, or app inside Root, see Message and app links.