![Screenshot of a chat. In the participant list, there is John Livingston, and an anonymous account using "Anonymous 212873" nickname.](/peertube-plugin-livechat/images/chat_with_anonymous.png?classes=shadow,border&height=200px "Chat with an anonymous user")
![Screenshot of the chat. The current user is not logged in, and must choose a nickname before being able to write in the chat.](/peertube-plugin-livechat/images/chat_anonymous.png?classes=shadow,border&height=200px "Joining chat when not connected")
The Peertube instance can configure external authentication providers (Mastodon accounts, Google accounts, ...).In such case, you will see a "{{% livechat_label login_using_external_account %}}" button, that will open a dialog modal.In this dialog modal, there will be some buttons to connect using a remote account.
Once you signed in the remote account, and have granted access, your nickname and avatar (if available) will be automatically fetched.No other data will be stored.These data will be automatically deleted several hours after your quit the chat.
If you are watching a live on an instance on which you have no account, but you have an account on another instance: if the livechat plugin is installed on both instances, it is possible to join the chat using your account.To do so, just open the video on your instance (you can for example copy/paste the video url in the search field of your instance).
If you have a Peertube account, but not on the current instance, there is a "{{% livechat_label login_using_external_account %}}" button.This button will open a dialog where you can enter your Peertube instance URL.Once you entered it, it will check if the livechat plugin is available on the remote instance, and if the video is available.If it is the case, you will be redirected to the video on the remote instance.
![Screenshot of the "{{% livechat_label login_using_external_account %}}" dialog. There is a field where you can enter a Peertube url.](/peertube-plugin-livechat/images/external_login_dialog.png?classes=shadow,border&height=200px "External login dialog")
To send messages, just type them in the "message" field on the bottom of the screen.You can send them by pressing the enter key on your keyboard, or by clicking on the "send" button.
You can mention other participants.To do so, you can type the first nickname letters, then press the tab key.You can also type `@`: this will directly open the menu.You can also click on a nickname in the participants list to insert it in the message field.
![Moderation delay timerScreenshot of a chat session, with on the right the list of participants.](/peertube-plugin-livechat/images/moderation_delay_timeropen_participants_list.png?classes=shadow,border&height=200px "Participants list")
![Screenshot of a chat session, with on the right the list of participants.](/peertube-plugin-livechat/images/open_participants_list.png?classes=shadow,border&height=200px "Participants list")