Family messages

Messages is your family's own group chat, plus private one-to-one messages — a calm place to talk that stays inside your household.

Start chatting

1. Open More → Messages (on a computer it is in the left sidebar).
2. The shared family group is always there — tap it to say hello to everyone.
3. For a private chat, tap the pencil icon at the top, then pick a family member.

In a conversation

• Type your message and send. Add a reaction to any message with a long press or tap.
• Read receipts show you when your messages have been seen.

Privacy and oversight

• By default, conversations are private to the people in them.
• A parent can turn on Message oversight in Settings → Household. It is off unless someone switches it on.
• When it is on, owners and parents can read conversations that include a child, for safeguarding. They cannot post in those threads — a little eye marks a chat that can be seen this way.