What is DeviantArt Chat?

Send a message to a fellow deviant and engage in easy, instant conversation!

Getting Started


You'll notice a chat icon on the page header! Hovering over the icon will show chats that are already in progress. You can view the main chat page by clicking "See All Chats" at the bottom of the menu.
Starting a chat from the header:
  • Hover over the chat icon.
  • Click the draft icon that says “Start a new chat."
    • A popup window at the bottom will appear if you’re not on the chat page.
    • Minimize the chat by clicking the chat header. Minimized chats will still follow as you browse!
Starting a chat from the Chat page:
  • Visit the Chat page. (You can click the chat icon to get to the full page.)
  • Click the draft icon.
    • Chat windows will follow you if you leave this page (or you can minimize or close out!)
Adding users to a chat:
  • Type the first few letters of the username of who you’re looking for, and it will auto populate!
  • Click the username to add them to your chat.
  • To create a group chat, continue adding people by looking up their usernames and clicking to add them to the chat.
  • You can add up to 20 users.

Note: Adding new users to existing chats will show the entire chat history to the new addition.

Notifications:
  • Notifications appear beside the chat Icon. 
    • Your notification count includes unread conversations in general, requests, and notes.
  • You'll also see unread notifications for a conversation when a chat is minimized.
  • You can turn off notifications by clicking the settings wheel icon and clicking the toggle to "Mute all chats" or if you just want to turn sounds off, you can "Mute sound alerts."
Adding content:
  • You can add emotes/gifs/deviations! Just click plus button! If you're typing the emote code, be sure to hit the space bar to generate the image.
  • If you're browsing the site, you can drag and drop deviations into your chat to share them! It will post automatically and link to the deviation. 
  • In the future, mentioning people [@username] will link to their profile! (Don't worry—they won't get a notification about this!)
Browse and chat:
Browsing and chatting is easy with the chat list!
  • Click on each chat to pull up an individual chat window that will stay with you as you peruse wonderful creations!
  • Minimize a chat by clicking the header of the chat window. Minimized windows will also follow as you browse, and you'll see unread notifications while it's minimized.
  • You can also start a new chat when you're browsing and chatting if you already have another chat following you!

Managing Chats

Filtering your chats:
DeviantArt Chat filters messages into two sections "General" and "Requests."

The General section is where you'll receive and view messages from people you're watching.

The Requests section filters out messages from people you don't follow, so you can review them before interacting with them. Responding to a chat in the Requests section will move the chat into your General section.

If someone you don't follow adds you to a group chat, it will go into your Requests section.
Renaming your chat:
  • If you are the creator of the chat, you can rename it!
  • Click the "..." button located either on the chat page or the chat pop-up at the bottom of the page.
  • Click “Rename Chat.”
  • Fill in what you want to call it and click “OK."
Removing users from a chat:
  • At the top of your chat, click the User icon.
  • Click the "..." beside person you want to remove.
  • Click "Remove."

Leaving a chat:
  • At the top of your chat, click the User icon.
  • Click the "Leave" beside your name.
    • When you leave a chat, the chat will disappear. It will not be saved or archived for you.

Blocking a user:
  • In chats with one user, you can block the person you're talking to.
  • At the top of the chat window of the person you're talking to click "..."
    • You can also find this menu in the chat drop-down, by hovering over the the chat with the specific person and clicking "..."
  • Click "Block this deviant."

Common Questions

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