"Reply in Direct Message" button visible in mobile app but missing in web application

[devanshkansagra]

Description:

While using Rocket.Chat, I noticed a difference between the mobile app and the web interface.

In the mobile application, when tapping on another user's message, there is a "Reply in Direct Message" option available. However, when viewing the same message in the web application, this option does not appear..

Because of this, the behavior is inconsistent across platforms and it may confuse users who expect the same functionality on both mobile and web.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open Rocket.Chat mobile application
2. Navigate to any channel or conversation
3. Tap on a message
4. Observe the "Reply in Direct Message" option
5. Open the same workspace in the web application
6. Navigate to the same message
7. Open the message options

Expected behavior:

The "Reply in Direct Message" option should also be available in the web application, similar to the mobile app.

Actual behavior:

The option is available in the mobile application, but not visible in the web application.

In Mobile Application

ScreenRecording_03-07-2026.07-19-38_1.MP4

In Web Applicatipon

Screencast.from.2026-03-07.07-20-07.mp4

Server Setup Information:

• Version of Rocket.Chat Server: v8.1.0, but also encountered in open which is on latest version
• Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• Deployment Method: docker
• Number of Running Instances: 1
• NodeJS Version: 22.22.0
• MongoDB Version: 7.0.30

Client Setup Information

• Browser Version: Chrome - 145.0
• Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04
• Mobile App Version - 4.70.0
• Mobile Operating System: iOS 26

[Pallavi-778]

Hi @devanshkansagra
I would like to work on this issue. Could you please assign it to me?

[vmridul]

Hi @devanshkansagra, I think it is available on desktop but not on DMs (as it makes no sense to reply in DM inside DM)

[schourasia750]

well that option is available when you click on profile picture

[devanshkansagra]

Hi @devanshkansagra, I think it is available on desktop but not on DMs (as it makes no sense to reply in DM inside DM)

open any channel in web/desktop and in another user's (even if he is admin ) message, you won't see the "reply in direct message" option in the message options menu. but it is visible in the mobile app.

[devanshkansagra]

well that option is available when you click on profile picture

this is for chatting with that person in dm. but this issue is related to if any message is sent by someone in the channel and some one want's to reply to that message in the dm then in web/desktop "reply in direct message button" is not visible but it is visible in the mobile app

[kushkumarkashyap7280]

The canReplyInDM logic was incorrectly coupled to the presence of an existing DM room in the local Rooms and Subscriptions stores. This created a "Cold Start" problem: the button would only appear if a DM with the message author was already loaded in the client's memory.

[ricardogarim]

Fixed in #40078 - the root cause was an inverted condition in the permission check. Appreciate the contribution!