1---
 2title: Contacts and Private Calls
 3description: "Add contacts and start private collaboration sessions in Zed."
 4---
 5
 6# Contacts and Private Calls {#contacts}
 7
 8Private calls provide ad-hoc collaboration sessions outside of channels. Add contacts to your list and start calls with one or more people.
 9
10## Adding a Contact
11
121. In the Collaboration Panel, click the `+` button next to the `Contacts` section
131. Search for the contact using their GitHub handle.\
14   _Note: Your contact must be an existing Zed user who has completed the GitHub authentication sign-in flow._
151. Your contact will receive a notification.
16   Once they accept, you'll both appear in each other's contact list.
17
18## Private Calls
19
20To start a private call:
21
221. Click the `...` menu next to an online contact's name in the Collaboration Panel.
231. Click `Call <username>`
24
25Once you've begun a private call, you can add other online contacts by clicking their name in the Collaboration Panel.
26
27---
28
29_Private calls work like [channels](./channels.md), without channel-specific features such as channel notes._