# Collaboration

Conversations enable real-time collaboration with your team. Use @mentions to share conversations, discuss in the chat box, and stay updated on activity through watching.

## Mentions and sharing

When you @mention someone in a comment, they gain access to the conversation and it appears in their Inbox. Four types of mentions are available:

1. **@user** — Mention a specific person
2. **@team** — Mention all members of a team
3. **@all** — Mention everyone in the organization with access
4. **@group** — Mention a custom group of people (e.g., @design-leads, @Stockholm)

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-647976966464dde973ba411b4f569f7603718f69%2Fguides-shared-overview.gif?alt=media" alt="When a teammate becomes active in the current conversation"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
If a conversation is private (not yet shared), adding a comment with a @mention automatically shares it with the mentioned teammate or team.
{% endhint %}

### Custom mention groups

Mention groups let you @mention multiple people at once with a custom group name. This is useful for projects, roles, or any group that doesn't map to a formal team structure. They can also be used as a way to differentiate people with the same name when they belong to different mention groups.

For example, you might create groups like:

* **@design-leads** — Senior designers across teams
* **@project-apollo** — Everyone working on a specific project
* **@Stockholm** — People in the Stockholm office

#### Setting up mention groups

To add someone to a mention group:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Users**
2. Click on a team member's name to open their profile
3. In the **@mention group** field, type the group name

You can add the same person to multiple groups by editing their profile multiple times.

#### Using mention groups

When typing a comment, type **@** followed by your group name. Missive will suggest matching groups. When you select a group, all members are mentioned at once.

### Alternative ways to share

Beyond mentions, you can also add people to a conversation through:

1. **Add people menu** — Click the avatars at the top of the conversation. You can choose whether to show the conversation in their Inbox or just give them archived access for reference.
2. **Assignment** — Assigning someone always shows the conversation in their Inbox and Tasks view.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-41f85ffabd68fdb07ef621dd2a78fa252d1c40c5%2Ffaq-add-remove-user.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot showing how to add or remove users from a conversation" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Individual read/watch statuses

At the top of each conversation, avatars show who has access. Different styling indicates their current state:

<figure><img src="https://camo.missiveusercontent.com/16411247ce1ac0f34d3051667a8b42c3623094f6/68747470733a2f2f69382e636d61696c32302e636f6d2f65692f692f39322f3636322f3738352f3034313834302f6461792d30322f696d672d6430322d3031622d7374617475732e6a7067" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

| Indicator          | Meaning                                                  |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Orange clock**   | User has snoozed the conversation                        |
| **Blue dot**       | User has not read all emails in the conversation         |
| **Grey avatar**    | User has archived the conversation                       |
| **Colored avatar** | User has the conversation in their Inbox or Team Inboxes |
| **Blue ring**      | User is currently viewing the conversation               |

{% hint style="info" %}
If you don't see any avatars, the conversation is private. No one can see it but you.
{% endhint %}

## Internal read receipts

Read receipts show who in your team has read messages or comments within a shared conversation. Access the list by opening the **More menu** (three dots) on any message or comment.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8f083c52757d675d440a2ef31187bbd41cfaf7b9%2Ffaq-read-receipts.png?alt=media" alt="" width="424"><figcaption><p>Internal read receipts</p></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
On mobile, open the More menu for comments by double-tapping any comment.
{% endhint %}

Read receipts are enabled by default. To disable them:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Preferences** > **Appearance**
2. Toggle off **Show internal read receipts** for messages or comments

## Watching and unwatching

Watching a conversation ensures you receive notifications for any new activity, even after archiving it.

| Status        | Behavior                                                                                |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Watched**   | The conversation returns to your Inbox for any new message, comment, or task change     |
| **Unwatched** | Returns to your Inbox only when you are @mentioned, assigned, or receive a direct reply |

### How to watch or unwatch

1. Open the conversation
2. Click the **eye icon** in the top-right corner
3. Select **Watch** or **Unwatch**

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2FII5NlwWVIbPnTI82Hwh8%2FCleanShot-20251112-Pick%20up%20et%20livraison%20-%20Inbox-10.24%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0e29ac43-be05-4842-b453-8f8e54ae2718" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

From this menu you can also configure desktop and mobile notifications for the conversation.

{% hint style="info" %}
You can also press <kbd>⌘/Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>K</kbd> to open the command bar and type "watch" or "unwatch".
{% endhint %}

### Automatic watching

By default, certain actions automatically make you watch a conversation:

* Being assigned to the conversation
* Posting a comment
* Creating a draft (configurable)
* Creating a task (configurable)
* Starting a new conversation (configurable)

{% hint style="info" %}
Assignees always watch the conversation. To unwatch, you must first unassign yourself.
{% endhint %}

To adjust automatic watching preferences:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Preferences**
2. Search for "watch"
3. Enable or disable the options you prefer

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/n30Ss0XtElk>" %}

### Watching with rules

Use [Rules](https://missiveapp.com/docs/advanced-features/rules) to automatically watch or unwatch conversations when specific conditions are met, such as when a label is added or a conversation is assigned.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2FEhrXouXgmJPWtLaR6Dci%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ae7f866d-6586-474d-abac-904d07feb0ed" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>