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Left sidebar

The left sidebar in the Zulip web and desktop apps helps you navigate your conversations. It has three main sections:

  • Views provide various ways to get an overview of your messages.
  • The direct messages section shows your direct message conversations.
  • The channels section shows the channels you are subscribed to.

You can customize how channels are organized within the channels section by:

You can also configure where clicking on channel links in the left sidebar takes you.

Adjust what information is shown

There are many ways you can adjust the left sidebar to help you focus on the information you need in the moment.

Expand or collapse the views section

  • Instructions for all platforms

  1. Click the triangle to the left of VIEWS in the left sidebar.

Expand or collapse the direct messages section

  • Instructions for all platforms

  1. Click the triangle to the left of DIRECT MESSAGES in the left sidebar.

Show more direct message conversations

  • Instructions for all platforms

  1. If the DIRECT MESSAGES section in the left sidebar is collapsed, click the triangle to the left of DIRECT MESSAGES to expand it.

  2. Click more conversations at the bottom of the list of recent DM conversations.

To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click back to channels.

Show all topics in a channel

  • Instructions for all platforms

  1. Click on a channel in the left sidebar.

  2. Click show all topics at the bottom of the list of recent topics in the selected channel.

To return to the channel list in the left sidebar, click BACK TO CHANNELS.

Hide or show the left sidebar

  • Instructions for all platforms

  1. Above the left sidebar, click the icon.

You can configure whether channel links in the left sidebar go to the channel feed, or to the top topic in the channel.

  • Desktop/Web

  1. Click on the gear () icon in the upper right corner of the web or desktop app.

  2. Select Personal settings.

  3. On the left, click Preferences.

  4. Under Navigation, select your preferred option from the Channel links in the left sidebar go to dropdown.

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