# Draft messages

Zulip automatically saves the content of your message as a draft when you
close the compose box, ensuring that you never lose your work. Drafts are
saved for 30 days.

!!! warn ""

    **Note**: Drafts are local to your client, and are not synced to
    other devices and browsers.

## Save a draft

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{!start-composing.md!}

1. Type at least 3 characters of text into the compose box.

1. Close the compose box. For example, you can click the
   <i class="fa fa-remove"></i> icon in the top right corner of the compose
   box, or click on an empty area of the app to close the compose box and save
   your message as a draft.

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    You can also use <kbd>Esc</kbd> to close the compose box and save your
    message as a draft.

{end_tabs}

## Edit a draft

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|message|drafts}

1. Click the **pencil** (<i class="fa fa-pencil"></i>) icon on the draft you
   want to edit.

1. Edit the message.

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    You can also use <kbd>Enter</kbd> within the drafts view to restore the
    selected draft.

{end_tabs}

## Delete a draft

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|message|drafts}

1. Click the **trash** (<i class="fa fa-trash-o"></i>) icon on the draft you
   want to delete.

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    You can also use <kbd>Backspace</kbd> within the drafts view to delete the
    selected draft.

{end_tabs}

## View your drafts

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|message|drafts}

!!! keyboard_tip ""

    Use <kbd>D</kbd> to bring up your list of saved drafts.

{end_tabs}

## Related articles

* [Schedule a message](/help/schedule-a-message)
* [Preview messages before sending](/help/preview-your-message-before-sending)
* [Verify a message was sent](/help/verify-your-message-was-successfully-sent)
* [Edit a message](/help/edit-a-message)
* [Delete a message](/help/delete-a-message)