# Restrict direct messages {!admin-only.md!} In Zulip, users can exchange direct messages with other users, [bots](/help/bots-overview) and themselves. Organization administrators can configure who is allowed to use direct messages. ## Configure who can use direct messages !!! warn "" This feature is beta; see the notes below for details. {start_tabs} {settings_tab|organization-permissions} 1. Under **Other permissions**, configure **Who can use direct messages**. {!save-changes.md!} {end_tabs} ### Notes on restricting direct messages * Disabling direct messages will cause sending a direct message to throw an error; the Zulip UI will appear to still allow direct messages. We expect to make some UI adjustments when direct messages are disabled during the beta period. * Even if direct messages are disabled, users can still exchange direct messages with bot users (this detail is important for Zulip's new user onboarding experience). Consider also [restricting bot creation](/help/restrict-bot-creation) when using this feature. * Restricting direct messages does not automatically [restrict creating private channels](/help/configure-who-can-create-channels).