# Configure messaging settings in your community https://help.circle.so/p/chat/dm/manage-availability-of-direct-messaging-in-your-community Category: [Chat](https://help.circle.so/p/chat) › [Direct messaging](https://help.circle.so/p/chat/dm) --- _Last updated: January 19, 2026_ Admins have greater control over how direct messaging functions within their community. This guide explains each setting in detail, covering both **community-level** and **account-level** controls. ## Community-level DM settings Community-level settings apply to all members and admins, determining how direct messaging works across the platform. However, some settings function differently for members and admins. To access your community-level messaging settings: 1. On the top navigation bar, click your community name or logo (or the dropdown icon next to it) and select  **Settings**. 2. In the sidebar menu, go to  **Connect** and scroll down to the **Messaging** section. 3. Make changes to the configuration according to your preference. If you have turned off the  **Enable messaging**  toggle, all other toggles will become hidden. 4. Click  **Save changes.** Now, let’s take a look at the settings available in your community’s **Messaging** settings: ### Enable messaging This is the primary control that determines whether the community has access to direct messaging features. **When the toggle is enabled:** - Admins can configure messaging features in more detail, deciding whether to allow one-on-one messaging, group messaging, or both. - The messaging icon appears in the navigation bar for all users, granting access based on other community and account-level settings. **When the toggle is disabled:** - All messaging features, including one-on-one and group messaging, are turned off for the entire community. - The messaging icon disappears from all accounts, including admins. - DM-related triggers and actions stop working in workflows. > ℹ️  **Note:** Chat spaces and live chat features operate independently and will continue to work as intended, regardless of any changes to this toggle. ### **Enable member-to-member messaging** This setting allows admins to control whether members can send direct messages to one another. **When the toggle is enabled:** - Members can send messages to each other and create new direct message conversations. **When the toggle is disabled:** - Members cannot send messages to other members. - Existing one-on-one DM conversations between members will be hidden from their inboxes (except for DMs with admins). - **Exceptions:** ### **Enable group messaging** This setting controls whether group message rooms are available in the community. **When the toggle is enabled:** - Members and admins can create and participate in group message rooms. **When the toggle is disabled:** - Members and admins cannot create new group DM rooms. - Existing group messaging rooms are hidden from member and admin accounts. - If the **member to member messaging** is enabled, members can still create and continue ongoing one-to-one direct messaging with other members. ### Enable voice messaging This setting allows users to send voice messages in **direct and group message conversations and chat spaces**. **When the toggle is disabled:** - Members, including admins, will not be able to send and receive voice messaging in one-to-one and group message rooms, and chat spaces. ## Account level DM settings At the account level, there are two messaging settings: 1. **Prevent members from messaging me** – Available to all community accounts, allowing users to control whether other members can message them. 2. **Disable direct messaging** – Available to admins for restricting messaging on any community account. Below is a breakdown of how these settings work. ### **Prevent members from messaging me** Both members and admins can enable this toggle in their account settings. Users with community accounts can access this toggle on the desktop by clicking their profile photo on the navigation bar and selecting **Edit profile**. ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/wybwk5wxkfwkvz856vf3y82vvoni) The behavior of this setting varies based on the account type: **Admin accounts** When an admin enables **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle in their account settings: - Admin can still: - Admin cannot: - Members cannot: **Member accounts** When a **member** enables **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle in their account settings: - The member **cannot** send or receive messages from other members or participate in group message rooms. - Any existing direct messages with other members and group message rooms will be hidden from their inbox. Only direct messages with admins will remain visible in their accounts. - **Exceptions:** > ℹ️  **Note:** Admins cannot override this setting for a member account. If a member disables this setting, it remains off for them unless they choose to enable it again. ### Disable direct messaging Admins have the option to turn off the direct messaging feature for a particular account in the community. This toggle behaves similarly to the **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle for the specific member account. Admins can do this by editing a member’s account and toggling the [**Disable direct messaging**](https://help.circle.so/p/audience/member-management/update-a-member-account) option. ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/6m4cnl5htczbd0gi38q8bwg74vdh) **When the toggle is enabled:** - The member **cannot** send or receive messages from other members or participate in group message rooms. - Any existing direct messages with other members and group message rooms will be hidden from their inbox. Only direct messages with admins will remain visible in their accounts. - **Exceptions:** > ℹ️  **Note:** If an admin disabled direct messaging for another admin’s account, members, including other admins, won’t be able to message the admin whose DM is disabled. However, admin with DM disabled can still send messages in send-only mode. ## **Relevant articles** - [Get to know direct messaging](/p/chat/dm/get-to-know-direct-messaging) - [Disable direct messages for your account](/p/chat/dm/disable-direct-messages-for-your-account) - [Send and manage one-to-one direct messages](/p/chat/dm/send-and-manage-one-to-one-direct-messages) - [Create and manage group messages](/p/chat/dm/create-and-manage-group-messages)