# Introduction to Chat Mode

Enter **Chat Mode** to open the messages buffers.

When the _chat mode_ is disabled, the current conversation is hidden, and moving
in the roster won't open every buffers and won't set the "unread" messages as
read. (As a consequence, it will be much faster...)

The _chat mode_ allows jumping between the few buddies with whom you are
conversing with the `/roster alternate` command described in the manual page
(and online help), without having to manually scroll back and forth.

Use `Enter` to enable _chat mode_ and `Escape` to disable it. _Please note that
there is a delay after pressing `Esc`, so you have to wait a little before
pressing another key_.