> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.onform.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.onform.com/coaching/teach-and-share/chat-and-messages.md).

# Chat and messages

Chat privately or in groups, send videos, files and voice messages, reply in threads, react, pin, edit, delete and schedule messages in Onform.

Works on: iPhone, iPad, Android and web. Voice messages are recorded on Android and the web app. You can't record a video from a chat in the web app.

Every workspace has its own chats. Use them to send feedback, videos and files to an athlete, a parent, a group or your whole team, and to keep the conversation next to the videos it's about.

## Find your chats

Open a workspace from Home. You'll see:

* **Chat**: in a 1:1 workspace, your chat with the person you coach.
* **Groups**: group chats, starting with **Everyone**. Every workspace's **Everyone** group includes all its members, and Onform keeps it up to date for you.
* **Members**: tap a person's name to chat with them privately.

## Who sees what

| Where you send it                 | Who sees it                                                                     |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Your private chat with one person | Only you and that person. Parents don't see your private chat with their child. |
| A group                           | Everyone in the group.                                                          |
| **Everyone** in a team            | Every athlete, every parent and all staff in the team.                          |

If you coach young athletes, message them in a group that includes a parent. See [Safeguarding and SafeSport with Onform](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/get-started/how-onform-works/safe-sport-compliance-with-onform.md).

## Make a group

Coaches and workspace admins can make groups in a team, for example "Goalkeepers", "Relay squad" or "Staff".

1. Open the team and tap **+** next to **Groups**.
2. Pick at least two people. You're added to the group automatically.
3. Name the group and tap **Create Group**.

To rename a group, change who's in it or delete it, open the group's chat, tap the three dots at the top, and choose **Rename Group**, **Edit Group Membership** or **Delete Group**. You can't rename, change or delete **Everyone**.

## Send a message, video or file

Type in the box at the bottom of the chat and tap the send button. On a computer, press Enter to send and Shift+Enter for a new line.

The buttons under the box let you add more:

| Button       | What it does                                                                       |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Video camera | Record a video and send it straight to this chat. Not in the web app.              |
| Folder       | **Add From Onform Library**, **Import From Camera Roll** or **Import From Files**. |
| Tray         | Insert a [saved reply](#saved-replies). For coaches.                               |
| Clock        | [Schedule the message](#schedule-a-message) for later. For coaches.                |

To share several videos with several people at once, share from the **Library** instead. See [Share videos with one or more people](/coaching/teach-and-share/how-to-share-videos-to-one-or-multiple-people.md).

### Voice messages

On Android and the web app, when the box is empty, tap the microphone, speak, then tap **Stop & send**. A voice message can be up to 5 minutes long. If you see "Microphone access needed", allow Onform to use the microphone in your device or browser settings.

On iPhone and iPad, record a video in the chat, or record a [Voice-over](/coaching/analyze/how-to-record-a-voiceover.md) on a video to talk your athlete through it.

### Mention someone

Type **@** and start typing a name, then pick the person from the list. They get a notification, and the message appears under **@ Mentions** in their [Recent Activity](/coaching/teach-and-share/recent-activity.md).

## Do more with a message

Touch and hold a message (on the web, click and hold) to see what you can do with it.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="iPhone and iPad" %}

* **React**: add an emoji.
* **Reply in Thread**: start a side conversation about this message.
* **Pin Message** or **Unpin Message**.
* **Mark as unread** or **Mark as read**.
* **Copy message**.
* **Edit message**: your own text messages. On a video you sent, **Edit message text** and **Edit title**.
* **Delete**: your own messages.
* **Read by**: on your own messages, see who has read it. You see **Not read yet** if nobody has.
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Android and web" %}

* Tap an emoji at the top to react.
* **Reply In Thread**: start a side conversation about this message.
* **Pin** or **Unpin**.
* **Mark as unread** or **Mark as read**.
* **Copy Message**.
* **Edit Message**: your own messages. On a video you sent without a message, **Add Message**.
* **Read Receipts**: on your own messages, see who has read it.
* **Delete**: your own messages.
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

On a video, you'll also see **Share**, and if it's your video, the option to restrict or allow sharing. See [Stop others re-sharing your videos](/coaching/teach-and-share/the-restrict-sharing-option-explained.md).

When you delete a message, others in the chat see **This message was deleted**.

## Threads

Reply in a thread to keep a conversation about one clip or drill together, without filling up the main chat.

1. Touch and hold the message and tap **Reply in Thread**.
2. Type your reply. Tick **Also send to main chat** if everyone in the chat should see it there too.

The message shows how many replies it has: tap it to open the thread. To see every thread you're in, tap the threads button (a curved double arrow) at the top of the chat. It shows **My Threads**.

## Pinned messages

Pin the things people keep asking for, like a practice schedule or a drill video. Everyone in the chat sees pinned messages. Tap the pin at the top of the chat to see **Pinned Messages**, then tap one to jump to it.

## Schedule a message

Coaches can write a message now and have Onform send it later, for example a reminder the night before a meet. Scheduled messages need a plan that includes them. See [onform.com/pricing](https://onform.com/pricing/).

1. Open the chat and type your message.
2. Tap the clock under the box. It lights up once you've typed something.
3. Pick the date and time and tap **Schedule**.

You can schedule text messages, not videos or files. On iPhone and iPad you need an internet connection to schedule.

To change one before it goes, open the scheduled messages list at the top of the chat (a speech bubble with a clock on iPhone and iPad). You can edit it, delete it, or on iPhone and iPad send it right away with **Send Now**.

## Saved replies

Coaches can save messages they send often, like a welcome note or warm-up instructions, and reuse them in any chat. Saved replies need a plan that includes them.

1. In a chat, tap the tray under the box.
2. Tap **+** to make a new saved reply, give it a title and a message, and save it.
3. Next time, tap the tray and pick the reply to drop it into the box.

On iPhone and iPad, you can also set one saved reply as **Auto Send To New Athlete**. Onform then sends it automatically whenever you add a new athlete.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see                                                                                    | What to do                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "Recipient left this workspace. Sending of messages has been disabled."                         | That person has left. To coach them again, [invite them](/coaching/organize-your-athletes/invite-your-athletes.md) back.                                                                                                                                                        |
| The clock is greyed out                                                                         | Type your message first. On iPhone and iPad, check you're online.                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| "You are not eligible to schedule messages" or "You are not eligible to save message templates" | Your plan doesn't include it. See [Subscribe or change your plan](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/account/plans-and-payments/subscribe-or-change-your-plan.md). If you coach for an organization, ask your admin.                                           |
| Someone isn't in the members list                                                               | They need to join the workspace first. See [Invite your athletes](/coaching/organize-your-athletes/invite-your-athletes.md).                                                                                                                                                    |
| Messages aren't arriving as notifications                                                       | See [Not getting notifications?](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/help/troubleshooting/notifications-not-arriving.md).                                                                                                                                       |
| An athlete can't see a message you sent                                                         | Check you sent it in the workspace they're in, and that they're signed in to the right account. See [Sign-in methods and more than one account](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/account/sign-in-and-accounts/sign-in-methods-and-more-than-one-account.md). |

## Related

* [Send one message to many athletes](/coaching/teach-and-share/broadcast-messages.md)
* [Recent Activity](/coaching/teach-and-share/recent-activity.md)
* [Share videos with one or more people](/coaching/teach-and-share/how-to-share-videos-to-one-or-multiple-people.md)
* [Safeguarding and SafeSport with Onform](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/get-started/how-onform-works/safe-sport-compliance-with-onform.md)
* [Keep parents informed](https://github.com/Onform-Inc/onform-docs/tree/main/programs/athletes-and-parents-in-your-program/keep-parents-informed.md)
* [Notes about your athletes](/coaching/teach-and-share/coach-notes.md)


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