zulip/templates/zerver/help/send-a-private-message.md

# Send a private message

{!follow-steps.md!} send a new private message.

1. Click the **New private message** button located in the compose box
at the bottom of your screen.  The compose box will open, showing the
**one or more people...** and **Compose your message here...** inputs.

    ![Private message](/static/images/help/private-box.png)

2. In the **one or more people...** field, input the username or email
address of the user you want to privately message. When you begin
typing an email address or username, autocomplete suggestions will
appear.

3. Enter your message in the **Compose your message here...** field.

4. Once you have finished completing your message and adding the recipients,
you can now send your message to the specified user(s) by pressing the Enter
key or clicking the **Send** button, depending on your settings.

    !!! tip ""
        Whether or not the **Press Enter to send** option is enabled, pressing
        `Ctrl` + `Enter` or `Tab` then `Enter` sends a message, while pressing
        `Shift` + `Enter` inserts a new line in your message.

!!! tip ""
    You can always cancel your message by clicking the x (<i
    class="icon-vector-remove"></i>) icon located at the top-right corner of
    your compose box or pressing the `Esc` key.