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Direct Messages Page

The Direct Messages page (the Messages tab) manages Nostr direct message conversations.

The Direct Messages page

Purpose

Send and receive encrypted direct messages via the Nostr protocol.

Key Features

  • Conversation List: View all DM conversations sorted by most recent
  • Message Threading: View full conversation threads
  • Send DMs: Send encrypted direct messages to Nostr contacts
  • Real-time Updates: Receive new DMs in real-time via relay subscriptions
  • Search: Search conversations by contact name
  • Email Matching: See which DMs match sent emails

Usage Instructions

1. View Conversations

  • Navigate to Direct Messages tab
  • View list of all conversations sorted by most recent message
  • Click on a conversation to view messages

2. Send Direct Message

  • Select a conversation or start a new one
  • Type your message in the input field
  • Press Enter or click Send
  • Messages are sent as NIP-17 gift-wrapped DMs (kind 1059), which hide message metadata from relays. If the recipient hasn't published a NIP-17 inbox, nostr-mail transparently falls back to NIP-04. See Encryption & Signing.

3. Search Conversations

  • Click "Search" button
  • Type to filter conversations by contact name

4. Refresh

  • Click "Refresh" to reload conversations from relays

Configuration Options

  • Encryption Algorithm: Choose NIP-44 (recommended) or NIP-04 in Settings → Advanced → Encryption Algorithm
  • Relays: Configure relays in Settings → Relay Settings

Tips and Best Practices

  • DMs are encrypted end-to-end and gift-wrapped (NIP-17), with NIP-04 fallback for recipients who don't support it
  • Conversations are automatically synced from configured relays
  • DMs matching email subjects are marked for easy identification
  • Use DMs for quick Nostr-native communication
  • Multiple relays ensure message delivery reliability
  • Real-time updates keep conversations current