Stay connected wherever you are with Messenger, available on both mobile and desktop. Chat with GIFs, share files and images, and create group chats to keep conversations flowing.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Messenger, from getting set up to making the most of its features.
This guide covers:
Admins: Before you start
Enabling Messenger
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As a System Admin, Go to Actions and then Configure
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Click into Site Settings followed by Applications
- Find Instant Messenger within the applications list and toggle it on. Don't forget to click Ok at the bottom of the list to save the change
Setting Permissions
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Navigate to the main homepage by clicking on the intranet logo in the top-left corner
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Go to the page options (the three vertical dots) in the top-right corner
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Select Manage Security / Permissions
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If you are using Simplified Permissions, you'll land on the Manage Areas page. Assign user groups with the Viewer permission (or higher) to allow them access to Messenger. Alternatively, leave permissions unassigned here and skip to Advanced security to configure more granular permissions for user groups
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If you're using Advanced permissions, find Instant Messenger in the left-hand side menu. Select the pencil icon to assign users as the Instant Messenger Users and the Instant Messenger Thread Creators (the ability to create a group chat)
Where can I find Messenger?
Messenger can be found in the bottom bar of the mobile app or on desktop in the Oak header. Clicking into it will provide a view of recent chats, including group chats.
Admins: Can't see Messenger on the mobile app? Check out this FAQ.
How do I use Messenger?
Starting a new chat
On mobile, click the + icon in the bottom right corner. Search for users or select from the suggested. To create a group chat, tap on + Create group and search and add members. Continue the conversation by clicking into an existing chat.
On desktop, select the + icon in the top right to start a new chat (also known as a Thread). Select a member to begin a conversation with. If you have the permission, you will be able to select more than one member to create a group thread.
Sending messages and media
On mobile, start by typing out your message and tap the send icon. Click the + icon on the left of the chat box to upload from your phone’s photo library, take a photo with the camera, or upload a file. There’s also the option to send GIFs and emojis from the + icon, or choose from your phone’s emoji keyboard.
To react with a message, hold down on the chat bubble and choose from the 6 reactions. When holding down the chat, there is also the option to delete in the top-right corner. When a message is deleted, it is removed for everyone. However, recipients will still see that a message has been deleted.
On desktop, type your message and use the icons at the bottom to attach files, send emojis, and GIFs. Hit your enter key to send the message or click on the send icon.
To react with a message, click the three vertical dots next to the chat bubble and choose from the reactions. Here you also have the option to reply to the message in the thread, or delete.
In the top right corner of the desktop chat, click on the three vertical dots to archive the chat, or start a new group thread (group chat).
Managing chats
Chats can be managed on both mobile and desktop from the main messenger menu. Chats will be listed in the order of last received, with the most recent chat at the top.
On mobile, search for chats and toggle between All chats, Unread and Groups along the top bar. To mute or archive the conversation, hold down on the chat and select from the two options in the top right corner.
When muting a chat, select the amount of time you would like to mute it for, preventing you from receiving any notifications. When a chat is archived, an Archive folder will appear above the chats, where chats can be unarchived to appear back on the main messenger menu.
On desktop, search for chats and filter by Active chats, Archived, Unread and Muted. To manage the chats, click the three vertical dots to the right of the chat to mute notifications for a selected amount of time, archive the chat, or start a new group thread.
To remove members from a group chat, click the three vertical dots next to a chat with more than one member in and select Members. Here you can untick members to remove, however the owner of the chat will be locked.
Sharing links
Any homepage or content item on the desktop version of the intranet can be shared to a Messenger chat. This will appear as a clickable link with, if added, a message attached. For more information on sharing content to Messenger, check out this guide.
Note: Permissions still apply. If someone receives a link to an area of the intranet they don’t have access to, they will receive an error message when opening.