> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.chamilo.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.chamilo.org/student-guide/student-guide/courses/using-the-chat-tool.md). # Using the Chat Tool Some courses include a **Chat** tool — real-time text messaging tied to that specific course, useful for quick exchanges or live Q\&A while a teacher is around. ## Sending Messages Open the **Chat** Chat tool from the course homepage. You'll see a **Users** list of everyone currently online in the course, each with their own **Chat** button, plus an **All** tab for the whole group: ![The course Chat tool, showing the list of online users and a message composer](https://1017882194-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi7ZWkudXbaCVfVPkxtuc%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5743ff45574029cffad44481c437c5c4d5b42d29%2Fstudent-course-chat.png?alt=media) Pick a person (or **All**) and type your message in the box at the bottom. Press **Enter** to send it, or **Shift+Enter** to start a new line without sending. A **Preview** option lets you check formatting before sending, and **Reset** clears what you've typed. ## If Chat Is Restricted to Tutors Your administrator can restrict course chat so that only your teacher (or other course tutors) can post — in that case, everyone else can read but not participate directly. If you find you can't send a message in a course's chat, this setting is the most likely reason, not a bug. ## Not to Be Confused With Chamilo has three different features that all involve messaging, and it's easy to mix them up: * **This course Chat tool** — real-time, tied to one specific course, only reachable from that course's homepage. * [**Inbox**](/student-guide/student-guide/inbox.md) — private, asynchronous messages with anyone on the platform, unrelated to any specific course. * **The floating chat panel** (bottom of the screen, available almost everywhere) — used for direct messaging, [one-to-one video calls](/student-guide/student-guide/video-calls.md) when enabled, and the [AI Tutor](/student-guide/student-guide/courses/ai-tutor.md), independent of this course tool. If you're looking for one of the other two, see their respective pages. ## Tips * **Use it for live, in-the-moment exchanges** — for anything you'll want to find again later, use the [Forum](/student-guide/student-guide/courses/using-the-forum.md) instead. * **Check if a live chat session is scheduled** — teachers sometimes announce specific times they'll be available in course chat, often through the Agenda. * **If your course has video conferencing set up**, your teacher may prefer that for live sessions instead of text chat.