How to Use Chat on the Substack Mobile App (or Browser)
A brief User guide from Substack Support (updated by Substack last week)
Welcome to all of our new subscribers - we’re glad you’re here!
I’ve had a few requests lately for instructions on how to use ‘Chat’ - the main venue for community connection on the FSA Education Substack. The only guide currently offered by Substack is what I am sharing below (their guide was updated seven days ago). I’ve added a few pointers of my own addressing our FSA Education Chat space. I hope you find it helpful.
Substack Chat is available on the web and the Substack app.
To find my Chats on the Mobile App
Click on the ‘Comment’ icon at the bottom of the App screen to find new Chats or Direct Messages (look for my Substack’s tree with hearts logo, as shown below). Click on the ‘Inbox’ icon to the left of the Chat icon to see my latest posts. My posts will also appear on the home page of the app.
Substack Mobile App Tutorial
Watch this short video on how to use the Substack Mobile App by Dot Pink
Find My Chat on a Browser
Visit my Substack’s home page at https://familyscapegoathealing.substack.com and click on ‘Chat’ in the Navigation Menu at the top of my site. Or, you can go to our Chat space directly by visiting https://substack.com/chat/2666152
Participating in Chat
Once a writer (publisher) starts a thread, you can participate by tapping on the Chat icon on the Substack app (the comment bubble to the right of ‘Home’ or the ‘Inbox’) or on the web. Substacks you subscribe to will appear showing the most recent threads.
To add a line break to start a new paragraph on an iPhone, hold down the 'Shift' key and then press the 'Return' key at the same time. On other devices, hold down the ‘Shift’ key and then press the ‘Enter’ key at the same time.
Tap on a thread to start interacting with the writer and other readers. You can reply to any thread with text, image, or video as well as react to other readers' replies.
REPLYING TO MY ORIGINAL CHAT MESSAGE: To reply to my new Chat threads from a browser, hover over the message and then click on the curved black arrow to the right (click on the 3 horizontal dots next this arrow to see more options). On the Substack mobile app, touch the message with your pointer or long press with your finger and several options will display, including ‘Reply’.
REPLYING TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE THREAD: To reply to other people’s replies to my Chat thread, click on 'reply in a new subthread’.
You can also tap on another reader's message to react or to leave a reply.
How am I notified about Chat?
You can select which Chat push notifications to receive on the Substack app.
New threads: When a writer you're subscribed to starts a new Chat thread.
Replies: When other readers leave a reply in a Chat thread.
Reactions: When readers emoji-react to your reply.
To turn on or turn off Chat notifications, follow these steps:
1. Tap your profile picture and select Settings. In the Settings menu, tap Notifications.
2. On your Notifications, make sure that the boxes are checked next to each item listed in the Chat section. If the boxes are unchecked under the Push column, you will not receive any push notifications about Chat.
Who can see my replies?
Any subscriber of the publication will be able to see your reply in a Thread. If they react to your message, you'll see a notification in your Activity section (click on the bell in the top right corner of the Substack app).
Tip: Don't see a thread? Check to see if you're on the latest version of the Substack app and check your profile picture to see if the publication is listed in your subscription library.
About Our Community Chat space
Substack provides only ONE Chat space and that’s where I post all new threads. There are no categories; there is simply a string of consecutive threads ordered by the date I posted them. All Chat threads are labelled by topic. Right now Substack doesn’t allow you to edit comments but many publishers are requesting this so it may change over time. Substack has yet to create a comprehensive guide on how to use the Substack Mobile App if you’re a user/subscriber/reader but are reportedly in the process of doing so.
Exploring Community Offerings
Visit https://familyscapegoathealing.substack.com/p/fsa-education-community-site-directory to view our Community Site Directory. If you’re on an iPhone, Substack may force you to remain on the app so you may have to use a different device to access my Substack on a browser.
Searching on Chat Topics
You can search for a specific topic in our Chat space by entering your search term in the magnifying glass icon once you’re in Chat.