---
title: Get started in Spaces
type: how-to
section: spaces
summary: Find your Account and Space, open a channel or direct message, send a message, and check replies and mentions.
applies_to:
  clients: [web]
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/app/[lng]/components/spaces-navbar.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/page-nav/team-chat-space-rail.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/page-nav/nav-destination-header.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/composer/message-composer.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/i18n/locales/en/team-chat.json
verified:
  at: 2026-09-24
  env: code
  by: spaces-staff-launch
ttl_days: 45
related: [spaces/send-and-correct-a-message, spaces/what-a-space-is, spaces/direct-messages, spaces/unread-and-mentions]
---

Open Spaces, choose the Space for your work, then choose a channel to read or send messages. Direct messages have their own place on the left side.

## Find your place

1. Choose your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner and check the Account. If you work in more than one Account, [switch to the one you need](/help/system/switch-accounts).
2. Open Spaces from the app launcher.
3. Choose a Space icon in the narrow column on the far left. Its channels appear beside that column.
4. Choose a channel under **Channels** or a named channel group. Its **Messages** tab opens first.

On a narrow screen, choose **Open menu** in the top bar first to show the navigation. The far-left column labels direct messages **DMs**; the next column is headed **Direct messages** when you choose it.

If the Space is missing, choose **Explore Spaces** to look for one you can join. Invite-only Spaces need a Space administrator to add you. See [You cannot see a Space](/help/spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space) if you expected a Space to be there.

## Send your first message

1. Choose the channel where the people doing that work can see your message. Check the conversation name before sending.
2. Type in the message box.
3. Press Enter or choose **Send message**. Use Shift+Enter for a new line.

For a conversation with chosen people, choose **DMs** in the far-left column, then **New direct message**. Pick a person and choose **Start direct message**. See [Send a direct message](/help/spaces/direct-messages) for group messages and **Notes to self**. See [Send, edit, or delete a message](/help/spaces/send-and-correct-a-message) to fix text or retry a failed send.

## Keep up with replies

- Choose **Unread** to see conversations with new messages, or **Mentions** to see conversations where someone named you.
- Use **Reply in thread** on a message when the answer belongs to that discussion. The channel's **Threads** tab collects its threads.
- Choose **Files** in a channel to see files shared there. Use [Search in Spaces](/help/spaces/search-in-spaces) to find a message, person, file, channel, or Space.
- Review [Notifications and mute](/help/spaces/notifications-and-mute) if you need fewer or more alerts.

## If it did not work

- [You cannot see a Space](/help/spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space) explains missing Spaces and access messages.
- [You cannot post in a channel](/help/spaces/you-cannot-post-in-a-channel) explains a locked message box.
- [Notifications are not arriving](/help/spaces/notifications-are-not-arriving) covers missed alerts.