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Communicate · Team chat · ~12 min read

Mattermost

Live

Learn channels, threads, mentions and search - everything your team needs to move daily conversation out of email.

See Mattermost in the tool catalogue →

What is Mattermost?

Mattermost is your team's messaging hub. Instead of long email chains, conversation happens in channels - one per team, project or topic - plus private direct messages. Everything is searchable, files can be dropped straight into the conversation, and apps exist for desktop, web and mobile, all kept in sync.

It works like Slack or Microsoft Teams, so if you've used either, you already know 90% of it. The difference: it runs on your company's own isolated instance, managed by Brundo, so your message history stays yours.

How it works under the hood: your instance holds all messages and files centrally. Whichever app you open - laptop, browser or phone - you see the same channels and history, live. Nothing is stored only on one device.

Getting started

  1. Accept your invitation. You'll receive an email invite to your company's Mattermost. Click the link and sign in - with your Brundo single sign-on account if your company has it switched on, otherwise set a password.
  2. Install the apps. Use it in the browser right away, and install the desktop app (Windows/Mac/Linux) and the mobile app (iOS/Android) from the official stores. Enter your company's server address when asked - Brundo sends this in your welcome email.
  3. Complete your profile. Click your avatar → Profile. Add your full name and a photo - it makes channels far easier to follow for everyone.
  4. Join your channels. Click the + next to Channels → Browse channels. Join the ones relevant to you; your team lead will tell you which are essential.
  5. Set your notifications. Settings → Notifications. A good default: notify on mentions and direct messages only, not on every message.

Core concepts

Channels

A channel is a running conversation on one topic. Public channels (marked #) are open to anyone in the team. Private channels (lock icon) are invite-only - for sensitive topics like hiring or finances.

Threads

Reply to a specific message with the reply arrow and you start a thread - a side conversation attached to that message. Use threads generously: they keep the main channel readable.

Direct messages (DMs)

One-to-one or small-group private conversations. Good for quick questions; if the answer would help others, prefer a channel.

Mentions

Type @name to notify one person, @channel to notify everyone in the channel (use sparingly!), @here for only those currently online.

The search box (top right) covers your entire history. Use modifiers: from:anna (messages by Anna), in:marketing (one channel), or quotes for an exact phrase.

Everyday tasks, step by step

Create a channel for a new project

  1. Click + next to Channels → Create new channel.
  2. Name it clearly (e.g. project-website-relaunch), choose public or private.
  3. Add a short purpose line so newcomers know what belongs there.
  4. Invite members: channel name at the top → Add members.

Share a file

  1. Drag the file into the message box (or click the paperclip).
  2. Add a line of context - "Final logo v3, feedback by Friday" - and send.
  3. Files are searchable later under the channel's Files tab.

Start a voice call with screen share

  1. Open the channel or DM with the people you need.
  2. Click the phone/call icon in the header to start a call.
  3. In the call window, use Share screen to present.

Save a message for later

  1. Hover over the message → … → Save.
  2. Find saved messages any time via the bookmark icon, top right.

Tips & good habits

  • Ctrl/Cmd + K is the fastest way to move around - type a channel or person's name and jump straight there.
  • Format messages with Markdown: bold, italic, backtick for code, > for quotes, and - for lists.
  • Mute noisy-but-useful channels (channel name → Mute channel) instead of leaving them.
  • Set Do Not Disturb (click your avatar) when you need focus time - notifications hold until you're back.
  • Use emoji reactions (👍 ✅) to acknowledge without adding a "got it" message.
  • Pin key messages (…→ Pin to channel) - pinned items live under the channel header for everyone.

Team habit: agree where things go. A simple rule like "decisions in channels, never in DMs" keeps knowledge findable when someone is on holiday.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

I'm not getting notifications on my phone. Check the mobile app is logged in, and that Settings → Notifications → Mobile is set to "For all activity" or "Mentions". Also check your phone's OS-level notification permissions for the app.

Can I edit or delete a message I sent? Yes - hover over your message → … → Edit or Delete. Edits are marked as edited.

Can we bring our Slack history across? Yes. Mattermost has a Slack import. Ask Brundo - we run the migration for you, including channels, users and history.

A channel has disappeared from my sidebar. You probably left it or it was archived. Browse channels (+ → Browse) to rejoin; archived channels remain searchable.

How private are direct messages? DMs are not visible to other colleagues. As with any workplace system, instance administrators have technical access under your company's policy.

Useful resources

Curated for the version Brundo hosts (community / self-hosted editions) — cloud-only or enterprise-only material is skipped.

  • Official documentation — The full manual - the end-user sections cover channels, messaging and notifications.
  • Mattermost Academy — Free short video courses - the fastest way to onboard a new teammate.
  • Community forum — Ask questions and search thousands of answered threads.
  • GitHub project — Source code, release notes and changelogs for the edition we host.