Add formatting to your Google Chat messages

To change the appearance of your Chat messages, you can use the format menu, use markdown formatting or add block quotes.

Format Google Chat messages

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
   • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
2. Go to a conversation.
3. Enter a message.
4. Highlight the text that you want to format.
5. Click Format or select one of the formatting options on the floating toolbar.
6. Select an option:
   • To strike through: Click Strikethrough .
   • To apply bold: Click Bold .
   • To italicise: Click Italic .
   • To underline: Click Underline .
   • To change the text colour: Click Text colour .
   • To add a bullet point before the text: Click Bulleted list .
   • To highlight a text or citation: Click Block quote .
   • To insert a link:
     1. Click Insert link .
     2. Enter the link.
   • To add inline code: Click Code .
   • To add multi-line code block: Click Code block .

   Tip: You can also use Markdown formatting to add styling to your messages. Learn more about how to use Markdown formatting in Google Chat.

7. Click Send .

Tip: To remove a text format, highlight the text and repeat steps 5 and 6.

Use markdown formatting in Google Chat

You can use Markdown formatting to add styling to your messages using special characters.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
2. As you type your message, add characters to update the formatting of your text:

Format option	Markdown example
Bold	*Text*
Italicise	_Text_
Strikethrough	~Text~
Inline code block	`Text`
Multi-line code block	```Text```
Block quote	>Text
Bullet	- Text or * text

Tips:

• An inline code block wraps the text.
• After a multi-line code block is sent, you can use a toggle to turn the line wrapping on or off.
• You can choose to have Live Markdown on or off. If you turn off Live Markdown, the text converts to the format after you send the message.

Turn Live Markdown on or off in Google Chat

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. At the top right, click Settings See all settings.
3. At the top, click Chat and Meet Manage chat settings.
4. On the left, click Messages and media.
5. Turn Live Markdown on or off.

Turn Live Markdown on or off in Chat for Gmail

1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
2. At the top right, click Settings .
3. On the left, click Messages and media.
4. Turn Live Markdown on or off.
5. If you turn off this setting, you can include special characters in the text. After you send the message, the text converts to the format.

Add block quotes

To highlight key text or citations in your Chat messages, use block quotes.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
   • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
2. Go to a conversation.
3. Enter a message.
4. To format the text, highlight it.
5. To use a block quote, click Formatting options Block quote enter a message.
   • Or you can:
     1. Enter a message.
     2. Highlight the text that you want to format.
     3. Click Formatting options Block quote .
6. Click Send .

Related resources

• Send a direct message
• Edit or delete a message