How to Use Chat in the Mobile App - for Admins
The HydroApps mobile app allows administrators to communicate with staff, create assigned group chats, manage participants, and control chat notifications directly from their mobile devices.
This guide covers the Chat features available to administrators, including how to create groups that staff cannot leave.
Watch the video below for a complete walkthrough, or follow the written instructions.
Accessing Chat
To access Chat in the HydroApps mobile app:
Open the mobile app.
Locate the Chat icon in the bottom navigation menu, next to the + button.
Tap the icon to open your conversations.
You'll see a list of individual and group chats.
Individual chats contain two members: you and the person you're messaging. Group chats contain more than two members and display a group name.
Understanding the lock icon: A lock icon indicates an assigned group created by a manager or administrator. Members cannot leave these groups on their own, and their participation must be managed by an administrator.
Starting an Individual Chat
To send a direct message to a staff member:
Tap the + icon in the upper-right corner of the Chat screen.
Search for the user by name or use the available filters to narrow your results.
Select the user.
Tap Start Chat.
You can filter users by criteria such as facility and staff position to find the right person more quickly.
Once the conversation opens, type your message and tap Send.
You can also send emojis, take or attach photos, and upload documents or other files.
Messages include timestamps to help you follow the conversation.
Creating a Group Chat
Administrators can create group chats to communicate with multiple staff members at once.
To create a group:
Tap the + icon in the upper-right corner.
Select the staff members you'd like to include. Use the filters to narrow your selection by facility or position.
Decide whether to enable the Assigned Group option.
Tap Start Chat.
Enter a name for your group.
Set a two-character abbreviation and select a color.
Tap Save.
Your new group will appear in the Chat list.
What Is an Assigned Group?
Assigned Groups
The Assigned Group toggle is an administrator-only option when creating a group chat in the mobile app.
When enabled, the group displays a lock icon, and members cannot leave it on their own.
This can be useful for maintaining communication groups for lifeguards, pool supervisors, managers, or other designated teams.
If you create a group without enabling Assigned Group, members can leave the conversation.
Managing Group Chats
To view or manage an existing group, open the conversation and tap the group name at the top of the screen.
From here, you can view the group members and access available management options, including:
Renaming the group
Adding participants
Muting notifications
Deleting the group
*Important: To remove individual participants from a group, you'll need to use the Chat Admin menu in the web version of HydroApps. Participant removal is not available through the mobile app.
Managing Conversation Notifications
You can mute notifications for individual conversations without losing access to their messages.
To mute a conversation:
Open the chat.
Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
Select Mute Notifications.
Muting a conversation stops its push notifications, but new messages will still be indicated in the Chat icon.
You can also use the three-dot menu to manually refresh a conversation if messages aren't appearing as expected. Chats normally refresh automatically.
Managing All Chat Push Notifications
To control push notifications for chat activity across the mobile app:
Open Chat.
Tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner.
Select Notifications.
Scroll down to Chat Activity.
Toggle notifications on or off.
When enabled, chat push notifications are sent when the app is not open.
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