---
title: Create a standalone Sidebar discussion
description: Create a standalone Sidebar discussion that is not tied to a specific record.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/conversational-interfaces/sidebar/sidebar-discussions-standalone.html
release: australia
product: Sidebar
classification: sidebar
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Using Sidebar, Sidebar, Conversational Interfaces]
---

# Create a standalone Sidebar discussion

Create a standalone Sidebar discussion that is not tied to a specific record.

## Before you begin

Role required: none.

## Starting a Sidebar discussion

Follow this procedure to start a Sidebar discussion:

## Procedure

1.  From the top menu, select the Sidebar discussion icon \(\[Omitted image "sidebar-chat-icon.png"\] Alt text: Sidebar icon.\) to display the Sidebar discussions window.

    \[Omitted image "sidebar-discussions-menu-example.png"\] Alt text: Sidebar discussions menu.

2.  To access an existing Sidebar discussion, select it from the Sidebar discussion menu.

3.  Start a new Sidebar discussion by selecting **New discussion** to display the Start a Sidebar discussion window.

    \[Omitted image "sidebar-blank-discussion-window.png"\] Alt text: Blank Sidebar discussion window.

4.  Fill out the fields:

    |Field|Description|
    |-----|-----------|
    |Link a record|Select **Link a record** if you want to connect this Sidebar discussion to a record. \(If you link to a record, the discussion will no longer be a standalone discussion.\) A new discussion dialog appears and you can enter the record number of the record you want to link to. Any participants who do not have access to the record are automatically removed from the discussion.|
    |Subject|Enter a brief description for the conversation.|
    |Add participants|Select the user\(s\) or user group\(s\) to include in the discussion.|
    |Include a brief message for participants|Enter a short message for the participants of the Sidebar discussion.|
    |Private discussion|Standalone discussions are always private and access is limited to only the user and other discussion participants. These discussions are marked "private" and can't be converted to not private. Private discussions are not visible to non-participants in search results.|

5.  Once you start a discussion, you can edit and delete messages.

<table id="table_b2r_3jb_p2c"><thead><tr><th>

Option

</th><th>

Description

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Edit a message

</td><td>

Select the More options icon \[Omitted image "ci\_more\_options\_icon.png"\] Alt text: More options icon. next to the message and **Edit message**. The message appears in an Editing window where you can change the text.-   You can only edit messages that you sent.
-   You can only edit one message at a time.
-   If you change the attachment of a message that you sent, both the old and new attachments display.
-   If a message you sent contains a URL, you can delete the message but you can't edit it.


</td></tr><tr><td>

Delete a message

</td><td>

Select the More options icon \[Omitted image "ci\_more\_options\_icon.png"\] Alt text: More options icon. next to the message and **Delete Message**. A dialog displays asking if you’re sure you want to delete your message. Select **Delete** to delete the message or select **Cancel** to leave the message.-   You can only delete messages that you sent.
-   After you delete a message, a notice with the date and time the message was deleted displays.
-   If you delete a message that mentions someone using @mention, then that @mention is also deleted.
-   You can't undo a deletion, after you delete a message it's gone.


</td></tr></tbody>
</table>6.  To mention a user, enter `@user` \(where `user` is the name of the user\) or `@` to display a list of users and select someone from that list.

    -   The list is divided into users who are currently participating in the discussion \(participants\) and users who aren’t \(non-participants\).
    -   The user is notified that they were mentioned in a Sidebar discussion message. The Sidebar discussions chat icon displays a number indicating unread messages or mentions.

        \[Omitted image "sidebar-at-mention-indicator.png"\] Alt text: Indication of @mention in sidebar discussions.

    -   If the user selects the **Mentions** tab, the messages that mention the user with @user display.

        \[Omitted image "sidebar-at-mention-preview.png"\] Alt text: Preview of @mention message in sidebar discussions.

    -   If the user selects the message preview card, the corresponding message displays with the exact message containing the @mention highlighted.
7.  To close the discussion dialog \(but not exit the discussion\), select the Close icon \[Omitted image "sidebar-x-icon.png"\] Alt text: Close icon..