# Send direct messages

**URL:** https://heroiclabs.com/docs/satori/concepts/player-messaging/direct-messages/
**Summary:** Send a message to one or more specific players outside of a schedule, via the Console API or the dashboard.
**Keywords:** direct message, one-off notification, player outreach, targeted message
**Categories:** satori, player-messaging

---


# Send direct messages

A direct message is a system-to-player message sent to one or more specific players outside of a schedule. Use direct messages for individual outreach when audience-based scheduling isn't the right tool: a support resolution, a targeted reward, or an urgent notification to a specific player.

There are two ways to send a direct message: via Console API or via the dashboard.

## Send a direct message via the Console API

Use the `/v1/console/message-direct` endpoint to send a direct message programmatically.

```json
{
  "templateId": "b98c0b60-61b8-4a35-b7e9-f87e5733fe79",
  "identityIds": [
    "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001",
    "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002"
  ],
  "integrations": [
    "FCM",
    "APNS"
  ],
  "persist": true
}
```

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `templateId` | The ID of the template to use. Found at the top of the template details screen. |
| `identityIds` | List of recipient player identity IDs |
| `integrations` | Integrations to send through. Leave empty to deliver to in-game inbox only. |
| `persist` | If `true`, the message is stored in the player's inbox. If `false`, it's sent only and not stored. |

## Send a direct message from the dashboard

You can also send direct messages from the Satori Dashboard. You can send a test message, as explained in the [Test a template](../create-message-templates/#test-a-template) section, or use the Identity details page.

1. Open the Identity details page for the player.
2. Go to the **Messages** section. All messages in the player's inbox are listed here.
3. Clikc the **Send message** button.
4. Choose a template or write an ad-hoc message without one.
5. Use the **Save to inbox** option to control whether the message is stored.

{{< screenshot src="images/pages/satori/concepts/messages/messages_direct-message_wizard.png" alt="Send message wizard on the Identity details page" >}}

Selecting a message in the inbox shows its **message ID**, **consume time**, and **read time**. The message ID is useful when debugging delivery issues or locating a specific message in a support workflow.

## Delete a message from a player's inbox

You can delete both direct and scheduled messages from a player's inbox on the Satori console. This is also possible programmatically via the [Client API](../../../client-libraries/unity/#delete-message).

To remove a message from a player's inbox via the dashboard:

1. Open the **Identity details** page for the player.
2. Go to the **Messages** section.
3. From the three-dot menu on the message you want to delete, select **Delete**.

The message is removed from the player's inbox immediately.