# Using @ breaks adding groups to message

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-breaks-adding-groups-to-message/99721>\
**Category:** Bug\
**Created:** [October 17, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-breaks-adding-groups-to-message/99721 "2018-10-17T12:27:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robmc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/robmc/32/125900_2.png) [@robmc](https://meta.discourse.org/u/robmc)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-breaks-adding-groups-to-message/99721/1 "2018-10-17T12:27:27Z")

</div>

When adding users to a new message, using the `@` symbol searches only usernames, not groups.

Is this intentional? Looking back at [previous instructions](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-mentions-and-messages/36228), it seems that we were encouraged to use the `@`

> [@Allow groups to be mentioned and sent messages](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-groups-to-be-mentioned-and-sent-messages/36228/1):
>
> The composer was extended to allow you to use a group name as target for a message (provided the group allow messaging)
> 
> ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/6/d/6d94817b9eb60cdecf584153b9c9e64e66a355cd.png)

When trying to send a message to a group, where Everyone is allowed to mention and message the group, you are unable to add them. It appears that if you start with the `@` symbol the autocomplete only accepts usernames, even if you add the full name of the group.

If you just enter text however, then the group names do appear

 ![message%20group](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/0/7/0778e79851eebbcc79cf3703f86a00d544fa17ad.gif)

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/using-breaks-adding-groups-to-message/99721)._