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RocketChat Basics

A quick reference guide to everyday RocketChat features for Synderys team members.

Channels

Channels are the primary way to communicate with your team. There are three types:

Type Icon Description
Public # Visible to all users. Anyone can join.
Private Lock icon Invitation only. Only members can see the channel.
Direct Message Person icon Private one-on-one or small group conversation.

Joining a Channel

  1. Click the Search icon (magnifying glass) in the left sidebar.
  2. Type the channel name or browse the list.
  3. Click the channel name, then click Join.

Creating a Channel

  1. Click the + icon next to the search bar in the left sidebar.
  2. Choose Channel.
  3. Enter a channel name (lowercase, no spaces -- use hyphens).
  4. Toggle Private on or off depending on who should have access.
  5. Optionally add members, then click Create.

Channel Naming Conventions

Prefix Purpose Example
proj- Project-specific discussion #proj-cmmc-docs
team- Team channels #team-infrastructure
alerts Automated alert channels #alerts
general Company-wide announcements #general

Sending Messages

  • Type your message in the input box at the bottom of the channel and press Enter to send.
  • Press Shift+Enter to add a new line without sending.
  • Use @username to mention a specific person. They will receive a notification.
  • Use @all or @here to notify everyone in the channel. Use sparingly.

Formatting

Format Syntax Result
Bold *bold* bold
Italic _italic_ italic
Strikethrough ~strike~ ~~strike~~
Code (inline) `code` code
Code block ```language Syntax-highlighted block
Quote > quoted text Blockquote

Emoji

Type : followed by the emoji name (e.g., :thumbsup:) to insert an emoji. RocketChat will show suggestions as you type.

File Sharing

Uploading Files

  1. Click the + icon to the left of the message input box.
  2. Select Upload a file or simply drag and drop a file into the message area.
  3. Add an optional description and click Send.

Files are stored securely on S3 storage. There is no file size limit enforced by RocketChat, but please keep uploads reasonable.

Sharing Code Snippets

For short code, use inline code or code blocks in your message. For longer snippets:

  1. Click the + icon next to the message input.
  2. Select Create new Discussion for extended technical conversations that would clutter the main channel.

Notifications

Notification Preferences

  1. Click your avatar in the top-left corner.
  2. Select My Account > Notifications.
  3. Configure your preferences:
Setting Recommendation
Desktop notifications Enable for mentions and direct messages
Mobile notifications Enable for mentions and direct messages
Email notifications Set to "Mentions" to avoid inbox overload
Audio notifications Personal preference

Per-Channel Notifications

To change notifications for a specific channel:

  1. Open the channel.
  2. Click the kebab menu (three dots) at the top-right.
  3. Select Notification Preferences.
  4. Override the global settings for this channel.

Do Not Disturb

Click your avatar and set your status to Busy to suppress notifications temporarily.

Threads

Threads keep conversations organized within a channel:

  1. Hover over a message and click the Reply in Thread icon (speech bubble).
  2. Type your reply in the thread panel that opens on the right.
  3. Optionally check Also send to channel to post the reply in the main channel too.

Use threads for extended discussions so the main channel stays readable.

Searching Messages

  1. Click the Search icon at the top of a channel.
  2. Type your search query.
  3. Use filters to narrow results by date, user, or channel.

Quick Navigation

  • Press Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K (Mac) to open the quick navigation bar.
  • Type a channel name, username, or message keyword to jump directly there.

Stars and Pins

  • Star a message to save it to your personal bookmarks. Click the star icon on any message.
  • Pin a message to make it visible to all channel members in the channel's pinned messages list. Use for important announcements or reference material.

Discussions

Discussions are linked conversations that branch off from a channel:

  1. Click the + icon next to the message input.
  2. Select Discussion.
  3. Give it a name, select the parent channel, and invite members.

Discussions are ideal for topic-specific conversations that would otherwise create noise in the main channel.

Status

Set your status to communicate your availability:

  1. Click your avatar in the top-left corner.
  2. Choose a status:
Status Meaning
Online (green) Available and active
Away (yellow) Temporarily away (set automatically after inactivity)
Busy (red) Do not disturb -- notifications suppressed
Offline (gray) Not signed in

You can also set a custom status message (e.g., "In a meeting until 3pm").

Getting Help