> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.elateuk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Secure chat

> Message colleagues in your organisation one to one or in groups, with end-to-end encryption, on the web and in the Elate Care app.

Chat lets you message colleagues in your organisation, one to one or in a group. Messages are end-to-end encrypted, so only the people in a conversation can read them.

**Who can do this:** anyone whose role includes **Chat**. By default that is every role except Read Only Auditor. Your organisation can change this in **Settings > Permissions**.

You can chat with anyone in your organisation whose role also includes **Chat**.

> Your organisation may use different words for some things, such as "Service users" instead of "Support recipients". Elate shows your organisation's words everywhere, so follow what you see.

## What end-to-end encrypted means for you

* Your messages are locked on your device before they are sent, and only unlocked on the devices of the people in the conversation. Elate cannot read them.
* Each device you use for chat has to be let in before it can read your conversations. See [Linking a new device to chat](/chat/linking-a-new-device).
* A **recovery code** is a phrase you choose that lets a new phone or computer restore your chats when none of your other devices is to hand to approve it, as long as one of them is still signed in to chat. If every device you used for chat is signed out or lost, your earlier messages cannot be recovered, with or without a code. Colleagues keep their own copies.
* Search runs on your own device, over the messages that device holds. Nothing is sent to the server.

## Open chat

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="On the web">
    Select **Chat** in the sidebar. The number beside it is how many unread messages you have.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="In the Elate Care app">
    Tap the **Chat** tab at the bottom of the screen. A badge shows when you have unread messages.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Use **All**, **Unread** and **Groups** above the list to filter your conversations.

## Start a conversation

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="On the web">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open a new conversation">
        In **Chat**, select the **+** button (**New conversation**) beside **Chats**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Find your colleague">
        Type a name in **Search the team**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Pick them">
        Select their name. The conversation opens and you can start typing.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    You can also select the message button beside a colleague's name in a visit's assigned list, or **Message** followed by their first name on their team member profile.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="In the Elate Care app">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open a new chat">
        In the **Chat** tab, tap **New chat**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Find your colleague">
        Type in **Search name or team**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Pick them">
        Tap their name. The conversation opens.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    On a visit with more than one carer, you can also tap the message icon beside a colleague in **Assigned to**.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

A colleague who has never opened Chat shows **Will get it when they open Chat** on the web, or **Not on chat yet** in the app. You can still write to them. They read your message once they open Chat.

## Groups

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a group">
    In the new conversation screen, choose **Create a group**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name it and add people">
    Enter a **Group name**, then search and tick the people to add.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create it">
    Select **Create group**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The person who creates a group is its **Group admin**. In **Conversation info**, the group admin can rename the group, use **Add people** and remove members. Anyone added can read messages from the time they join, not earlier ones. Anyone can choose **Leave group**.

## Messages, photos and files

* **On the web:** press Enter to send and Shift+Enter for a new line. Use **Attach a file** (the paperclip) to send a file of up to 25 MB. Photos show in the conversation and other files can be downloaded.
* **In the app:** tap **+** (**Share a photo**), then **Take a photo** or **Photo library**.

## Conversation info, search and mute

Open **Conversation info** to see the members, search the conversation, or **Mute** it. On the web, select the **Conversation info** button at the top of the conversation. In the app, tap the name at the top. Mute silences that conversation for 8 hours. Select **Unmute** to turn it back on sooner.

To search all your chats, use **Search people and messages** at the top of the list.

## Report or block someone

Report and block are in the Elate Care app.

* **Report a message:** press and hold someone else's message, tap **Report to the office**, choose a reason (**Offensive or abusive**, **Harassment or bullying**, **Spam or unwanted messages** or **Something else**), add a note if it helps, and tap **Send report**.
* **Block from a message:** press and hold their message and tap **Block** followed by their first name, then confirm with **Block**.
* **Report or block a person:** in a one-to-one conversation, open **Conversation info** and tap **Report** or **Block** followed by their first name.

Your report goes to your organisation's administrators with your name. Because chat is end-to-end encrypted, the message itself is not sent, so describe it in the note if that helps.

When you block someone, you do not see their messages and they cannot start a new chat with you. They are not told. The block applies on the web too. To lift it, tap **Unblock** in the conversation.

## Your recovery code and devices

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="On the web">
    Open the profile menu, choose **Account**, and find the **Secure chat** section. Under **Recovery code**, choose **Set**, or **Check** and **Change** once a code is set. Your code must be at least 8 characters. **Devices** lists every device signed in to chat.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="In the Elate Care app">
    Tap your picture at the top of the screen to open **Your profile**, then find **Secure chat**. Tap **Recovery code** to set or change it. Your devices are listed underneath.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

To sign a lost device out of chat, see [Linking a new device to chat](/chat/linking-a-new-device).

## Message notifications

New messages show in your notifications in the app and, on your phone, as push notifications, both on by default. Quiet hours still hold the push overnight; the bell in the app is never held. You can switch either off for **Messages** in your notification settings. A message notification on your phone's lock screen says only "You have a new message. Open Elate to read it." Messages are never sent by email. See [Your notifications](/notifications/your-notifications).

## Related pages

* [Linking a new device to chat](/chat/linking-a-new-device)
* [Your notifications](/notifications/your-notifications)
* [Roles and permissions](/getting-started/roles-and-permissions)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.