# Send a video or voice message

> Record a short video or voice message, with a line of text if you like, and send it to a teammate as a direct message in Chat to watch when they are back.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-video-voice-messages
Section: Communicate > Meetings
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

A video or voice message is the quick way to explain something to a teammate without a meeting. You record yourself talking, and perhaps showing something to the camera, and PlexiDesk sends it to them as a direct message in Chat. They watch or listen to it when they are back.

Use it when a written message would take too long, when the person is busy or away, or when you want them to hear your tone rather than read it.

## Before you start

- **Sign in.** Messages are sent through Chat, so you need to be signed in. See [Create an account and sign in](https://plexiidesk.com/help/account-sign-in).
- **Your teammate is online.** You choose who to send to from the teammates who are online right now, including those who are away, busy or in focus. See [Presence and your status](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-presence).
- **Allow your camera and microphone.** The first time, your computer may ask you to let PlexiDesk use them. On a Mac, see [Allow microphone, camera and screen recording on a Mac](https://plexiidesk.com/help/mac-permissions).
- **Plans.** Video and voice messages are part of every plan.

## Record and send a message

1. In the side menu, under **Apps**, click **Meet** in the **PlexiiApps** group.
2. Click **Message** at the top of the page. The **Message** window opens.
3. At the top, choose **Video message** to use your camera and microphone, or **Voice message** for your microphone only.
4. Optional: type a line of text, where it says **A quick message**. It is sent with the recording. Leave it blank to send only the recording.
5. Under **TO**, choose who to send it to:
   - Click a name under **Online now**, or
   - Start typing a name, then pick it from the list with the arrow keys and `Enter`, or click it.
6. Click **Record for** and their name, or press `Enter`. The window closes and recording starts at once.
7. Say what you need to say. When you have finished, click the red **Stop & send to** button, with their name, at the top of the Meet page.

The message is sent as soon as you stop. A note at the top of the page says **Sending to** and their name, then **Sent to** and their name when it has arrived.

To close the window without recording, press `Esc` or click outside it.

> **Tip:**
> Press `⌘` `M` on a Mac or `Ctrl` `M` on Windows to switch between **Video message** and **Voice message** without reaching for the mouse.

### Choosing who to send to

- Each teammate is shown with a green dot for online. Someone who is **away**, **busy** or in **focus** has that word beside their name. You can still send to them: they see the message when they are back.
- To change who it is for, click the cross on their name, or press `Backspace` in the empty **TO** box.
- If nobody else is online, the **TO** box says **No teammates online right now.**

## What your teammate sees

The message arrives in your direct conversation with them in Chat, from you, with your text. A video message plays in the conversation, and a voice message has a player to listen to it. When you sent it without text, their list of conversations shows it as **Video message** or **Voice note**. See [PlexiiChat: channels and messages](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-overview).

## Record a voice note straight from Chat

You can also record a voice note in any conversation without leaving Chat:

1. In the message box, click the microphone. Its tooltip reads **Record a voice note**.
2. Talk, then click it again (**Stop recording**).
3. The voice note is attached to your message. Add text if you like, then send it.

See [Write, react and manage messages](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-writing-messages).

## When something goes wrong

| You see | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Pick a teammate to send it to.** | Choose someone under **TO** before you start. |
| **Could not access your camera or microphone. Check your system permissions.** | PlexiDesk could not use the camera or microphone. Allow them and try again. If only the camera is unavailable, a voice message is recorded instead. |
| **Sign in to send a message.** | You are signed out. Sign in and record it again. |
| **Could not open a conversation with** a teammate | The direct conversation could not be started. Try again in a moment. |
| **Could not upload the message.** or **Could not send the message.** | The recording did not reach Chat. Check your connection and record it again. |

## Tips

- **Keep it short.** Say the one thing they need, and add a line of text so they know what it is about before they press play.
- **Show, do not tell.** Choose **Video message** when something is easier to point at than describe.
- **Respect focus.** When someone shows **focus**, a message they can play later is kinder than a call. See [Video calls and knocking](https://plexiidesk.com/help/calls-and-knock).

## Common questions

**Can I send a message to someone who is offline?** Not from **Message**: it lists teammates who are online now. To reach someone offline, record a voice note in your conversation with them in Chat, or write to them there.

**Can I send it to more than one person?** No. A message goes to one teammate. For a group, record a voice note in a channel in Chat.

**Can I watch it before it is sent?** No. It is sent when you click **Stop & send to**. If you are not happy with it, send a short follow-up.

**What if I have no camera?** Choose **Voice message**. If you choose **Video message** and the camera cannot be used, PlexiDesk records a voice message instead.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiMeet: meetings](https://plexiidesk.com/help/meet-overview)
- [Write, react and manage messages](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-writing-messages)
- [Direct messages and channels](https://plexiidesk.com/help/chat-conversations-and-channels)
- [Video calls and knocking](https://plexiidesk.com/help/calls-and-knock)
- [Presence and your status](https://plexiidesk.com/help/people-presence)