Sending & Formatting Messages
Overview
Covers the everyday basics of messaging in RocketChat: sending a message, formatting text, mentioning teammates, uploading files, and a few less-obvious features (audio/video messages, timestamps, emoji) that come up often enough to be worth knowing.
Prerequisites
- A RocketChat account with access to at least one room. See Overview if you haven't logged in yet.
Steps
Send a message
- Open the room (channel, team, or DM) where you want to post.
- Type your message in the message composer at the bottom of the screen.
- Press Enter to send.
- Press Shift + Enter to add a new line without sending.
Format text
RocketChat supports both a formatting toolbar and Markdown shorthand:
| Format | Markdown | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *text* | text |
| Italic | _text_ | text |
| Strikethrough | ~text~ | |
| Block quote | > text | quoted text |
| Inline code | `text` | text |
| Bulleted list | - item | bullet list |
| Numbered list | 1. item | numbered list |
| Horizontal rule | --- on its own line | dividing line |
To use the toolbar instead: type your message, highlight the text you want to format, then click the formatting option that appears below the composer. On mobile, tap the T icon below the composer to open it.
You can also select text in the composer and press a wrapping character (`, ", ', (, [, {, <, *) to wrap it on both sides automatically — press the same character again to remove it.
Mention a teammate
- Type
@followed by a username (e.g.@jsmith) to notify a specific person. - Type
@allto notify everyone in the room, or@hereto notify only members currently online. Use these sparingly. - If you mention someone who isn't a member of the room, you'll be prompted to add them, notify them by DM instead, or do nothing.
Upload a file
- Click the paperclip icon in the message box, or drag and drop a file directly into it.
- You can also paste an image from your clipboard.
- (Optional) Click an uploaded image to edit its file name or add alt text before sending.
Record an audio or video message
- Click the microphone icon to record and send an audio message; click the check icon to finish, or cancel to discard.
- Click the camera icon to record a video message the same way.
Add a timestamp
Useful for coordinating across time zones — RocketChat converts it to each reader's local time automatically.
- Click the + icon in the message box and select Insert → Timestamp.
- Enter the date and time, choose a display format and timezone, then click Add.
Use emoji
Click the emoji icon in the message box to browse or search, or type a shortcut like :) to auto-convert it.
Screenshots
Screenshot pending — message composer with formatting toolbar visible.
Screenshot pending — mention prompt for a user not in the room.
Troubleshooting
- Formatting toolbar doesn't appear: click inside the message box first — the toolbar only shows while the composer is active.
- Mentioned user isn't notified: confirm you typed their exact username (not display name) after the
@. - File won't upload: your workspace administrator may restrict certain file types or sizes.