Use threads in Chat spaces

In addition to the main conversation in the space, you can reply to any message and create a separate thread. With a thread, you can track important discussions and prevent the main conversation from being cluttered.

Google Chat: In-line threading

Learn how inline threading in spaces works

To create a single, streamlined flow of conversation in Google Chat, use in-line threading for spaces. In a space with in-line threading, you can either:

  • Send a message to the entire group in the main conversation window.
  • Quote a previous message.
  • Reply to a single message to start a thread.
    • If you use in-line threading to reply to a single message, your message branches into a separate conversation with up to 500 replies.

A space with in-line threading allows users to:

  • Follow specific threads and receive notifications for replies and mentions in the thread.
  • Find out who replies to a thread. Each thread shows avatars of users that reply to the thread.

In this article, learn how to:

Reply in a thread

  1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.

    • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.

  2. Select a space.
  3. Point to the message.
  4. In the menu, click Reply in thread .
  5. In the thread panel, to the right of the space, enter your message.
  6. Click Send .

Tips:

  • To open the thread panel for a thread with replies, click below the message where it says "X replies."
  • To resize the thread panel, click and drag the bar on the left border of the panel.

Follow or unfollow a thread

Your followed threads show up directly on your home screen. Instead of searching for the space and thread, click on a thread from home to go straight to the conversation.

  1. At the top right corner of the space, click Threads .
  2. In the thread panel, point to a thread:
    • To follow a thread, click Follow.
    • To unfollow a thread, click Following.
  3. At the top of the thread panel, to filter the list of available threads, click:
    • Mentions me: Threads where you’re mentioned.
    • Following: Threads that you follow.

A thread is automatically followed if:

  • You’re the author of the main message that initiates the thread.
  • You reply via thread or were mentioned.
  • You set the notification setting of a specific space to notify for “All.”

Manage thread notifications

In a thread, you can adjust how and when you’re notified of new messages.

  1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
    • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
  2. At the top of the space, click the space name and then Notifications.
  3. Select an option for notifications:
    • All: Notifications for all new messages and replies to threads.
      • If you select “All,” you automatically follow all new threads for that space.
      • To unfollow a thread, click Threads and then Following.
    • Main conversations: Notifications for all new main conversations, @mentions, and replies to threads you follow.
    • For you: Notifications for @mentions and replies to threads you follow.
    • None: No notifications, just an indicator for @mentions.
  4. Optional: If you don’t want the conversation to be in bold and moved to the top of your conversation list, select the box next to "Mute conversation."
  5. Click Save.

Tip: If you follow a thread in a space, you’re notified with a dot whenever there’s activity in that thread unless the space is muted. You can find the number of unread messages next to each thread in a space.

Find threads in Home or in a space

Find followed threads in Home

To find your followed threads in Home:

  1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
  2. In "Home," click Threads .
    • Tip: To show only unread threads, click Unread .

An image of the Home shortcut in Chat, showing where you can filter by threads and unread messages

Find threads in a space
  1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
  2. To open a space, click on a space.
  3. At the top right corner of the space, select Threads .
  4. Optional: To show only threads where you’re mentioned or that you followed, at the top, click Mentions me or Following.

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