In Google Chat, you don't have to chat with people you don't know. The first time that someone sends you a direct message, you get a request. If you use Google Chat with a Google Workspace account, you may get requests from people within your organisation. You can accept requests or ignore them.
What happens when you accept or ignore a message
If you accept a message request
- The requester can view your basic profile details (name, avatar, email address) and can tell if you're online.
- You can view all attachments that the person sends and reply to their messages.
- The requestor can add you to chat spaces.
If you ignore a message request
- The message goes away. To find the request again, search for the person in Google Chat. You may need to use their email address when you search.
- The requestor can't tell that you ignored them.
- You can block the requestor from sending you more requests. Learn how to block a person.
Spam message requests
Google Chat filters message requests that appear to be spam into a separate section. You can accept or block messages that are marked as spam.
Accept or ignore a chat message request in Chat or Gmail
- On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
- In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
- Click New chat
Message requests.
- Click the name. Their message appears with the request.
- Click Accept or Ignore.
- Optional: To stop additional message requests from a person, click Also block
Ignore.
- Optional: To stop additional message requests from a person, click Also block
Message requests.