title: Contacts and Private Calls description: "Add contacts and start private collaboration sessions in Zed."

Contacts and Private Calls {#contacts}

Private calls provide ad-hoc collaboration sessions outside of channels. Add contacts to your list and start calls with one or more people.

Adding a Contact

1. In the Collaboration Panel, click the + button next to the Contacts section
2. Search for the contact using their GitHub handle.
   Note: Your contact must be an existing Zed user who has completed the GitHub authentication sign-in flow.
3. Your contact will receive a notification. Once they accept, you'll both appear in each other's contact list.

Private Calls

To start a private call:

1. Click the ... menu next to an online contact's name in the Collaboration Panel.
2. Click Call <username>

Once you've begun a private call, you can add other online contacts by clicking their name in the Collaboration Panel.

Private calls work like channels, without channel-specific features such as channel notes.