Send a private message to a colleague in HowNow. Every conversation is one-to-one: only you and the other person can see it.
Open Messages from your Profile menu, select New Message, choose the person and type your message. Only the two of you can see the conversation.
Only admins and managers can start a conversation. If your access level is Contributor or Read Only, you can still reply when someone messages you.
Send a message
Select your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then select Messages.
Select the + (New Message) button above your conversation list.
Open Send your message to, search for the person by name and select them. Search matches names, not email addresses.
Who you can find depends on your access level:
Admin: anyone in the workspace, plus groups and Everyone.
Manager: your direct reports only.
Contributor or Read Only: no one, so the list stays empty.
Check who you're messaging. If you've messaged them before, your earlier conversation opens. If not, you'll see "You're starting a conversation with" and their name.
Type your message in the Send Message box and press Enter. Use Shift + Enter for a new line.
Remember❗: The other person gets a HowNow notification saying you've sent them a message, unless they read it within a few seconds. Selecting the notification opens your conversation.
Your message appears in the conversation, which moves to the top of your list on the left. To reply later, open it from that list.
Good to know
Messages can be up to 1,000 characters. The counter next to the send button shows how many you have left.
Choosing several people doesn't create a group chat. Each person gets their own private copy.
It isn't live chat. New messages appear within about a minute, without refreshing the page.
Unread conversations are marked, and the Messages icon in your profile menu changes. Opening Messages opens your most recent conversation and marks it as read.
The search above your conversation list finds people, not words in what was said.