# Community Chat Feature > Welcome to Community Chats , where you can easily connect with your community through 1-on-1 private messaging. Whether you're a regular user or an… - Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/memberships-and-communities/communities/community-chat-feature - Section: Memberships & Communities / Communities - Reading time: 2 min - Images: 6, each explained below - Modified on Fri, 8 Nov, 2024 at 8:33 AM --- Welcome to **Community Chats**, where you can easily connect with your community through 1-on-1 private messaging. Whether you're a regular user or an admin, this guide will walk you through all the features and privacy settings to ensure you have an amazing and secure experience. ## **How to Start a Chat** To start a chat with any member of your community: 1. **Join a Group**: You need to be a member of a group within the community to initiate chats. Go to the **Groups** section, search for a group, and join it. 2. **Open Community Chat**: Once you’ve joined a group, head to the **Community Chat** tab in your app. 3. **Select a User**: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click on their name to start a private conversation. ![Step 3 of 3: Select a User: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click…](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036252494/original/sGANJSXB2_5kj85r8CuP5V0w5j354NHB6w.png) **Step 3 of 3: Select a User: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click…** This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 3 in the "How to Start a Chat" section of "Community Chat Feature". At this point in the walkthrough you select a User: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click on their name to start a private conversation. - What to choose: Select a User: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click on their name to start a private conversation. - Controls: Select a User, Join a Group, Groups, Open Community Chat, Community Chat Full procedure: 1. Join a Group: You need to be a member of a group within the community to initiate chats. Go to the Groups section, search for a group, and join it. 2. Open Community Chat: Once you’ve joined a group, head to the Community Chat tab in your app. 3. Select a User: Choose any user from the group’s member list and click on their name to start a private conversation. <- this image ## **What You Can Do in Chats** With the new Community Chats feature, you can: - **Private Messaging**: Have 1-on-1 conversations with any community member. - **Push Notifications**: Stay up-to-date with new messages by enabling push notifications. - **Enable Push Notifications**: Go to your mobile app settings and allow notifications. You'll receive instant alerts, complete with sound, whenever you get a new message. - **Share Media & Files**: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more to enhance your chats. ![Step 4 of 5: Share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more…](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036251821/original/qLXK8-GPnn3W0pj61wKxHuwDXmeTpVBPIg.png) **Step 4 of 5: Share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more…** This screenshot accompanies step 4 of 5 in the "What You Can Do in Chats" section of "Community Chat Feature". At this point in the walkthrough you share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more to enhance your chats. The next step is to use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! - What this covers: Share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more to enhance your chats. - Controls: Share Media & Files, Private Messaging, Push Notifications, Enable Push Notifications, Use Emojis & GIFs - Next: Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! Full procedure: 1. Private Messaging: Have 1-on-1 conversations with any community member. 2. Push Notifications: Stay up-to-date with new messages by enabling push notifications. 3. Enable Push Notifications: Go to your mobile app settings and allow notifications. You'll receive instant alerts, complete with sound, whenever you get a new message. 4. Share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more to enhance your chats. <- this image 5. Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! - **Use Emojis & GIFs**: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! ![Step 5 of 5: Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis…](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036251948/original/-_74ZV7vnwlISCzk9eQWqQLZl_ziho04Mw.png) **Step 5 of 5: Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis…** This screenshot accompanies step 5 of 5 in the "What You Can Do in Chats" section of "Community Chat Feature". At this point in the walkthrough you use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! - What this covers: Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! - Controls: Use Emojis & GIFs, Private Messaging, Push Notifications, Enable Push Notifications, Share Media & Files Full procedure: 1. Private Messaging: Have 1-on-1 conversations with any community member. 2. Push Notifications: Stay up-to-date with new messages by enabling push notifications. 3. Enable Push Notifications: Go to your mobile app settings and allow notifications. You'll receive instant alerts, complete with sound, whenever you get a new message. 4. Share Media & Files: Easily send photos, videos, documents, and more to enhance your chats. 5. Use Emojis & GIFs: Express yourself fully with a wide range of emojis and GIFs! <- this image ## **Privacy & Security Features** We understand the importance of keeping your chats safe and ensuring you have control over your experience. Here are some privacy options available to you: ### **Disable Chats for Specific Groups** If you prefer not to participate in chats for certain groups, you can easily turn off the chat feature: 1. Go to **Profile** > **Account Settings** ![Step 1 of 2: Go to Profile > Account Settings](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036251756/original/7EzeXWzGhCmep-iJImd915OE719891TLoQ.png) **Step 1 of 2: Go to Profile > Account Settings** This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 2 in the "Disable Chats for Specific Groups" section of "Community Chat Feature". At this point in the walkthrough you go to Profile > Account Settings. For context, this section explains: If you prefer not to participate in chats for certain groups, you can easily turn off the chat feature. The navigation path used here is Profile > Account Settings. The next step is to inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. - Path: Profile > Account Settings - Where to go: Go to Profile > Account Settings - Controls: Profile, Account Settings, Community Chat,, Enable Chat - Next: Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. Full procedure: 1. Go to Profile > Account Settings <- this image 2. Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. 2. Inside **Community Chat,** Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off **Enable Chat**.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. ![Step 2 of 2: Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle…](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036247193/original/9NNSOTGCgv6ba92mdoJDrrQ-En2JFUdWHQ.jpeg) **Step 2 of 2: Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle…** This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 2 in the "Disable Chats for Specific Groups" section of "Community Chat Feature". At this point in the walkthrough you inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. The navigation path used here is Profile > Account Settings Inside Community Chat. - Path: Profile > Account Settings Inside Community Chat - What to choose: Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. - Controls: Community Chat,, Enable Chat, Profile, Account Settings Full procedure: 1. Go to Profile > Account Settings 2. Inside Community Chat, Find the group you’d like to mute and toggle off Enable Chat.You can turn chats back on at any time by following the same steps. <- this image ### **Blocking Unwanted Messages** If someone is sending you unwanted messages or spamming your DMs, you can block them: 1. Open the chat with the user you want to block. 2. Click on the **Options** dropdown in the chat window. 3. Select **Block User**. Once blocked, they won’t be able to send you any further messages. ## ![Blocking Unwanted Messages (image 6 of 6)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155036246967/original/g1lHVecbmffpPziJ0p7TqyVn6HH1vL_DFg.png) **Blocking Unwanted Messages (image 6 of 6)** This screenshot appears in the "Blocking Unwanted Messages" section of "Community Chat Feature". The text alongside this image reads: Open the chat with the user you want to block. Click on the Options dropdown in the chat window. Select Block User. Once blocked, they won’t be able to send you any further messages. Immediately after, the guide continues: No, you must join a group before you can chat with other members. Once you're part of a group, you can message any member. - Where to go: Open the chat with the user you want to block. Click on the Options dropdown in the chat window. Select Block User. Once blocked, they won’t be able to send you any further messages. - Next: No, you must join a group before you can chat with other members. Once you're part of a group, you can message any member. ## **FAQs** ### 1\. **Can I start a chat without joining a group?** No, you must join a group before you can chat with other members. Once you're part of a group, you can message any member. --- Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com