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Messages & Channels

Meshtastic supports two communication modes: channel broadcasts and direct messages.

Channels​

Channels are shared communication groups. All nodes configured with the same channel key can read and send messages on that channel.

Default Channel​

Every Meshtastic device comes with a default LongFast channel. This is an unencrypted channel used for general mesh communication.

Channel Security​

Channels support multiple encryption levels:

IconSecurity LevelDescription
🔒PSK (256-bit AES)Fully encrypted with a strong pre-shared key. Only nodes with the matching key can read messages.
🔐PSK (128-bit AES)Encrypted with a shorter key. Secure for most uses but 256-bit is preferred for sensitive data.
🔓Default / OpenUses the well-known default key. Any Meshtastic device on the same preset can read these messages.
⚠️Insecure + PositionOpen channel that also broadcasts your GPS position. Use with caution in public meshes.

🔒 Security Tip: Always configure a unique PSK for private communications. The default channel is intentionally open so new users can discover the mesh — but you should create a separate encrypted channel for anything sensitive.

Adding a Channel​

  1. Navigate to Settings → Channels.
  2. Tap Add Channel or scan a QR code.
  3. Configure the channel name and encryption key.
  4. Share the channel URL/QR code with others who need access.

Tapping a channel shows its details and sharing options.

Direct Messages​

Direct messages (DMs) are point-to-point encrypted communications between two specific nodes.

Sending a Direct Message​

  1. Open the Messages tab.
  2. Select a node from your contacts list or tap a node in the node list.
  3. Type your message and tap Send.

Message States​

StateIconMeaning
Queued⏳Message waiting to be sent
En route✓Delivered to the radio, awaiting acknowledgment
Delivered✓✓Acknowledgment received from recipient
Received✓Message received from the mesh (incoming)
S&F Routing🔗Store & Forward: message being routed through an S&F node
S&F Confirmed🔗Store & Forward: delivery confirmed via S&F node
Error✗Delivery failed after retries

Delivery Errors​

When a message fails to deliver, the error indicator shows what went wrong:

ErrorMeaningWhat to Do
No RouteNo path exists to the destination nodeThe recipient may be offline or out of mesh range. Try later or move closer.
Got NAKThe next-hop node refused to relayThe relay node may be congested. Wait and retry.
TimeoutNo acknowledgment within retry windowThe recipient may be just out of range. Try increasing hop limit or moving to a better position.
No InterfaceNo radio interface available to sendCheck that your radio is connected and the channel is configured.
Max RetransmitAll retry attempts exhaustedThe mesh path is unreliable. Try a different channel or wait for conditions to improve.
No ChannelThe destination channel doesn't existVerify both nodes share the same channel configuration.
Too LargeMessage exceeds maximum payload sizeShorten your message (max ~200 characters).
No ResponseNode received message but didn't respondThe recipient's radio may be busy or in low-power sleep mode.
Duty Cycle LimitRegional airtime limit reachedYour radio has used its allowed transmit time. Wait for the duty cycle window to reset (typically 1 hour in EU regions).
Bad RequestMalformed or invalid messageThis usually indicates a software bug. Try restarting the app.

💡 Tip: Most delivery errors resolve themselves. If a node is intermittently reachable, the mesh will retry. For persistent "No Route" errors, check that intermediate Router nodes are online.

Message Features​

Quick Chat​

Pre-configured messages for rapid communication:

  • Access via the Quick Chat button in the message input area
  • Choose from built-in phrases or custom messages
  • Customize quick chat messages in Settings → Quick Chat
  • Useful when typing is impractical (gloves, small screen, urgent)

Quick chat option

Each quick chat entry has a short Name (the button label), the Message it inserts, and an Instantly send toggle — when enabled, tapping the button sends the message immediately instead of placing it in the input field for editing:

New quick chat dialog with name, message, and instantly-send toggle

The channel list shows each channel with its latest message preview.

Searching Messages​

You can search the full history of any conversation directly from the chat screen:

  1. Open a conversation (a channel or a direct message).
  2. Tap the search icon in the top bar.
  3. Type into the Search messages… field. The search runs as you type, across all stored messages in that conversation.
  4. Use the N / M result counter and the previous / next arrows to jump between matches, which are highlighted in the conversation.

Message search bar with result counter and previous/next arrows

💡 Tip: Search is full-text and stays within the conversation you opened it from — it doesn't search across other channels or contacts. Matching is fast even on long histories because messages are indexed locally.

Message Bubbles​

Messages appear as chat bubbles — sent messages on the right, received messages on the left. Each bubble shows the sender, timestamp, and delivery status. Messages with replies include a quoted preview of the original message above the response.

Reactions​

React to messages with emoji:

  • Long-press a message to open the actions menu
  • Tap Add Reaction to choose an emoji
  • Reactions appear below the message bubble
  • Multiple users can react to the same message
  • React to your own messages or others' messages

Emoji reaction badges displayed beneath a message

💡 Tip: Reactions are lightweight — they use minimal mesh bandwidth compared to full text messages.

Message Actions​

Long-press any message to access:

  • Copy — copy message text to clipboard
  • Reply — quote the message in your response
  • React — add an emoji reaction
  • Delete — remove a message you sent (local deletion)

Message Priority​

Messages are queued and transmitted based on priority:

  1. Emergency/alert messages (highest)
  2. Direct messages
  3. Channel broadcasts (lowest)

Message Limits​

  • Maximum length: 200 bytes (approximately 200 characters for ASCII text)
  • Rate limiting: The mesh enforces airtime fairness; heavy message volume may be throttled
  • Delivery: Messages are retried automatically if no acknowledgment is received

Best Practices​

  • Use channels for group coordination
  • Use direct messages for private person-to-person communication
  • Keep messages short — mesh bandwidth is limited
  • Configure encryption for sensitive communications
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