# "Start a new DM" in sidebar for users who cannot use DMs

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/start-a-new-dm-in-sidebar-for-users-who-cannot-use-dms/385630
**Category:** UX
**Tags:** chat, sidebar
**Created:** [14 oktober 2025 om 22:10 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/start-a-new-dm-in-sidebar-for-users-who-cannot-use-dms/385630 "2025-10-14T22:10:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![Moin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/moin/32/554653_2.png) [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [14 oktober 2025 om 22:10 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/start-a-new-dm-in-sidebar-for-users-who-cannot-use-dms/385630/1 "2025-10-14T22:10:44Z")

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I just checked my forum from the perspective of a new user and found this new “start a new DM” entry in the sidebar\[1\]

 ![Screenshot_20251014_234835_Firefox](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/4/3/c/43cbca73649fdd68a45acec29c435faf954f01e1.jpeg)

However, the experience of using it was rather disappointing. The test user is in `Chat allowed groups` but not in `Direct message enabled groups`, so no user can be found in the search, which then opens.

 ![Screenshot_20251014_235932_Firefox](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/7/8/8/7880cbf8c4f9266b0654ca9a6db69b0ee13c3832.jpeg)

> **After adding TL0 to 'Direct message enabled groups':**
>
> ![Screenshot_20251014_235859_Firefox](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/0/5/c/05cf0722baee3bb5160d52ac37eda1b277513f7d.jpeg)

Is this intentional? Why is this visible for users who cannot use DM chats?

* * *

1. I think it was added in [UX: adds a start new dm link when no dms present by jjaffeux · Pull Request #34820 · discourse/discourse · GitHub](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/pull/34820)

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