diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/css/custom.css b/pkg/interface/chat/src/css/custom.css
index fb6441724..972413079 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/css/custom.css
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/css/custom.css
@@ -169,6 +169,15 @@ h2 {
   border-radius: 100%;
 }
 
+.shadow-6 {
+  box-shadow: 2px 4px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+}
+
+.brt2 {
+  border-radius: 0.25rem 0.25rem 0 0;
+}
+
+
 .green3 {
   color: #7ea899;
 }
@@ -363,6 +372,9 @@ pre.CodeMirror-placeholder.CodeMirror-line-like { color: var(--gray); }
   .b--white-d {
     border-color: #fff;
   }
+  .b--green2-d {
+    border-color: #2aa779;
+  }
   .bb-d {
     border-bottom-width: 1px;
     border-bottom-style: solid;
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/chat.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/chat.js
index e82db6a08..c2e8b8fae 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/chat.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/chat.js
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ export class ChatScreen extends Component {
           paddingTop={paddingTop}
           paddingBot={paddingBot}
           pending={!!msg.pending}
+          group={props.association}
         />
       );
       if(unread > 0 && i === unread) {
@@ -327,7 +328,7 @@ export class ChatScreen extends Component {
 
     if (navigator.userAgent.includes("Firefox")) {
       return (
-        <div className="overflow-y-scroll h-100" onScroll={this.onScroll} ref={e => { this.scrollContainer = e; }}>
+        <div className="relative overflow-y-scroll h-100" onScroll={this.onScroll} ref={e => { this.scrollContainer = e; }}>
           <div
             className="bg-white bg-gray0-d pt3 pb2 flex flex-column-reverse"
             style={{ resize: "vertical" }}
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ export class ChatScreen extends Component {
     else {
       return (
         <div
-          className="overflow-y-scroll bg-white bg-gray0-d pt3 pb2 flex flex-column-reverse"
+          className="overflow-y-scroll bg-white bg-gray0-d pt3 pb2 flex flex-column-reverse relative"
           style={{ height: "100%", resize: "vertical" }}
           onScroll={this.onScroll}
         >
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
index ce04de716..503e93b62 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
 import _ from 'lodash';
 import moment from 'moment';
-import cn from 'classnames';
 import { UnControlled as CodeEditor } from 'react-codemirror2';
-import CodeMirror from 'codemirror';
 
 import 'codemirror/mode/markdown/markdown';
 import 'codemirror/addon/display/placeholder';
 
 import { Sigil } from '/components/lib/icons/sigil';
+import { ShipSearch } from '/components/lib/ship-search';
 
-import { uxToHex, hexToRgba } from '/lib/util';
+import { uxToHex } from '/lib/util';
 
 const MARKDOWN_CONFIG = {
   name: 'markdown',
@@ -32,78 +31,6 @@ const MARKDOWN_CONFIG = {
   }
 };
 
-function ChatInputSuggestion({ ship, contacts, selected, onSelect }) {
-  const contact = contacts[ship];
-  let color = '#000000';
-  let sigilClass = 'v-mid mix-blend-diff';
-  let nickname;
-  const nameStyle = {};
-  const isSelected = ship === selected;
-  if (contact) {
-    const hex = uxToHex(contact.color);
-    color = `#${hex}`;
-    nameStyle.color = hexToRgba(hex, .7);
-    nameStyle.textShadow = '0px 0px 0px #000';
-    nameStyle.filter = 'contrast(1.3) saturate(1.5)';
-    sigilClass = 'v-mid';
-    nickname = contact.nickname;
-  }
-
-  return (
-    <div
-      onClick={() => onSelect(ship)}
-      className={cn(
-        'f8 pv1 ph3 pointer hover-bg-gray1-d hover-bg-gray4 relative flex items-center',
-        {
-          'white-d bg-gray0-d bg-white': !isSelected,
-          'black-d bg-gray1-d bg-gray4': isSelected
-        }
-      )}
-      key={ship}
-    >
-      <Sigil
-        ship={'~' + ship}
-        size={24}
-        color={color}
-        classes={sigilClass}
-      />
-      { nickname && (
-        <p style={nameStyle} className="dib ml4 b" >{nickname}</p>)
-      }
-      <div className="mono gray2 ml4">
-        {'~' + ship}
-      </div>
-      <p className="nowrap ml4">
-        {status}
-      </p>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
-
-function ChatInputSuggestions({ suggestions, onSelect, selected, contacts }) {
-  return (
-    <div
-      style={{
-        bottom: '90%',
-        left: '48px'
-      }}
-      className={
-        'absolute black white-d bg-white bg-gray0-d ' +
-        'w7 pv3 z-1 mt1 ba b--gray1-d b--gray4'
-      }
-    >
-      {suggestions.map(ship =>
-        (<ChatInputSuggestion
-           onSelect={onSelect}
-           key={ship}
-           selected={selected}
-           contacts={contacts}
-           ship={ship}
-         />)
-      )}
-    </div>
-  );
-}
 
 export class ChatInput extends Component {
   constructor(props) {
@@ -111,8 +38,7 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
 
     this.state = {
       message: '',
-      patpSuggestions: [],
-      selectedSuggestion: null
+      patpSearch: null
     };
 
     this.textareaRef = React.createRef();
@@ -121,10 +47,8 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
     this.messageChange = this.messageChange.bind(this);
 
     this.patpAutocomplete = this.patpAutocomplete.bind(this);
-    this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion = this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion.bind(this);
     this.completePatp = this.completePatp.bind(this);
-
-    this.clearSuggestions = this.clearSuggestions.bind(this);
+    this.clearSearch = this.clearSearch.bind(this);
 
     this.toggleCode = this.toggleCode.bind(this);
 
@@ -185,52 +109,20 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
     this.setState({ selectedSuggestion: patpSuggestions[idx] });
   }
 
-  patpAutocomplete(message, fresh = false) {
+  patpAutocomplete(message) {
     const match = /~([a-zA-Z\-]*)$/.exec(message);
 
     if (!match ) {
-      this.setState({ patpSuggestions: [] });
+      this.setState({ patpSearch: null });
       return;
     }
+    this.setState({ patpSearch: match[1].toLowerCase() });
 
-    const needle = match[1].toLowerCase();
-
-    const matchString = (hay) => {
-      hay = hay.toLowerCase();
-
-      return hay.startsWith(needle)
-        || _.some(_.words(hay), s => s.startsWith(needle));
-    };
-
-    const contacts = _.chain(this.props.contacts)
-      .defaultTo({})
-      .map((details, ship) => ({ ...details, ship }))
-      .filter(({ nickname, ship }) => matchString(nickname) || matchString(ship))
-      .map('ship')
-      .value();
-
-    const suggestions = _.chain(this.props.envelopes)
-      .defaultTo([])
-      .map('author')
-      .uniq()
-      .reverse()
-      .filter(matchString)
-      .union(contacts)
-      .filter(s => s.length < 28) // exclude comets
-      .take(5)
-      .value();
-
-    const newState = {
-      patpSuggestions: suggestions,
-      selectedSuggestion: suggestions[0]
-    };
-
-    this.setState(newState);
   }
 
-  clearSuggestions() {
+  clearSearch() {
     this.setState({
-      patpSuggestions: []
+      patpSearch: null
     });
   }
 
@@ -247,13 +139,13 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
     const lastCol = this.editor.getLineHandle(lastRow).text.length;
     this.editor.setCursor(lastRow, lastCol);
     this.setState({
-      patpSuggestions: []
+      patpSearch: null
     });
   }
 
   messageChange(editor, data, value) {
-    const { patpSuggestions } = this.state;
-    if(patpSuggestions.length !== 0) {
+    const { patpSearch } = this.state;
+    if(patpSearch !== null) {
       this.patpAutocomplete(value, false);
     }
   }
@@ -384,7 +276,12 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
     const sigilClass = props.ownerContact
       ? '' : 'mix-blend-diff';
 
-    const completeActive = this.state.patpSuggestions.length !== 0;
+    const candidates = _.chain(this.props.envelopes)
+      .defaultTo([])
+      .map('author')
+      .uniq()
+      .reverse()
+      .value();
 
     const codeTheme = state.code ? ' code' : '';
 
@@ -398,33 +295,11 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
       placeholder: state.code ? 'Code...' : props.placeholder,
       extraKeys: {
         Tab: cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ? this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion()
-            : this.patpAutocomplete(cm.getValue(), true),
-        'Shift-Tab': cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ? this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(true)
-            : CodeMirror.Pass,
-        'Up': cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ? this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(true)
-            : CodeMirror.Pass,
-        'Escape': cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ? this.clearSuggestions(true)
-            : CodeMirror.Pass,
-        'Down': cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ?  this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion()
-            :  CodeMirror.Pass,
+          this.patpAutocomplete(cm.getValue(), true),
         'Enter': cm =>
-          completeActive
-            ? this.completePatp(state.selectedSuggestion)
-            : this.messageSubmit(),
+            this.messageSubmit(),
         'Shift-3': cm =>
-          cm.getValue().length === 0
-            ? this.toggleCode()
-            : CodeMirror.Pass
+          this.toggleCode()
       }
     };
 
@@ -432,15 +307,15 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
       <div className="pa3 cf flex black white-d bt b--gray4 b--gray1-d bg-white bg-gray0-d relative"
       style={{ flexGrow: 1 }}
       >
-        {state.patpSuggestions.length !== 0 && (
-          <ChatInputSuggestions
-            onSelect={this.completePatp}
-            suggestions={state.patpSuggestions}
-            selected={state.selectedSuggestion}
-            contacts={props.contacts}
-          />
-        )}
-
+        <ShipSearch
+          popover
+          onSelect={this.completePatp}
+          onClear={this.clearSearch}
+          contacts={props.contacts}
+          candidates={candidates}
+          searchTerm={this.state.patpSearch}
+          cm={this.editor}
+        />
         <div
           className="fl"
           style={{
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/icons/sigil.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/icons/sigil.js
index 43f2237b8..d5bcfd188 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/icons/sigil.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/icons/sigil.js
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ export class Sigil extends Component {
             patp: props.ship,
             renderer: reactRenderer,
             size: props.size,
-            colors: [props.color, "white"]
+            colors: [props.color, "white"],
+            class: props.svgClass
           })}
         </div>
       );
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
index 71a43e63e..d20dfefb8 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/invite-search.js
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ export class InviteSearch extends Component {
 
   render() {
     const { props, state } = this;
-    let searchDisabled = false;
+    let searchDisabled = props.disabled;
     if (props.invites.groups) {
       if (props.invites.groups.length > 0) {
         searchDisabled = true;
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
index 683a1260f..927109e8b 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
 import { Sigil } from '/components/lib/icons/sigil';
+import { ProfileOverlay } from '/components/lib/profile-overlay';
+import { OverlaySigil } from '/components/lib/overlay-sigil';
 import classnames from 'classnames';
 import { Route, Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { uxToHex, cite, writeText } from '/lib/util';
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ export class Message extends Component {
     iframe.setAttribute('src', iframe.getAttribute('data-src'));
   }
 
+
   renderContent() {
     const { props } = this;
     let letter = props.msg.letter;
@@ -190,20 +193,20 @@ export class Message extends Component {
 
       return (
         <div
+          ref={this.containerRef}
           className={
             "w-100 f7 pl3 pt4 pr3 cf flex lh-copy " + " " + pending
           }
           style={{
             minHeight: "min-content"
           }}>
-          <div className="fl mr3 v-top bg-white bg-gray0-d">
-            <Sigil
-              ship={props.msg.author}
-              size={24}
-              color={color}
-              classes={sigilClass}
-              />
-          </div>
+         <OverlaySigil
+           ship={props.msg.author}
+           contact={contact}
+           color={color}
+           sigilClass={sigilClass}
+           group={props.group}
+           className="fl pr3 v-top bg-white bg-gray0-d" />
           <div
             className="fr clamp-message white-d"
             style={{ flexGrow: 1, marginTop: -8 }}>
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/overlay-sigil.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/overlay-sigil.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3fb1dbe6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/overlay-sigil.js
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import React, { Component } from "react";
+import { Sigil } from "/components/lib/icons/sigil";
+import {
+  ProfileOverlay,
+  OVERLAY_HEIGHT
+} from "/components/lib/profile-overlay";
+
+export class OverlaySigil extends Component {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this.state = {
+      clicked: false,
+      captured: false,
+      topSpace: 0,
+      bottomSpace: 0
+    };
+
+    this.containerRef = React.createRef();
+
+    this.profileShow = this.profileShow.bind(this);
+    this.profileHide = this.profileHide.bind(this);
+    this.updateContainerInterval = setInterval(
+      this.updateContainerOffset.bind(this),
+      1000
+    );
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    this.updateContainerOffset();
+  }
+
+  componentWillUnmount() {
+    if (this.updateContainerInterval) {
+      clearInterval(this.updateContainerInterval);
+      this.updateContainerInterval = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  profileShow() {
+    this.setState({ profileClicked: true });
+  }
+
+  profileHide() {
+    this.setState({ profileClicked: false });
+  }
+
+  updateContainerOffset() {
+    if (this.containerRef && this.containerRef.current) {
+      const parent = this.containerRef.current.offsetParent;
+      const { offsetTop } = this.containerRef.current;
+
+
+      let bottomSpace, topSpace;
+
+      if(navigator.userAgent.includes('Firefox')) {
+        topSpace = offsetTop - parent.scrollTop - OVERLAY_HEIGHT / 2;
+        bottomSpace = parent.clientHeight - topSpace - OVERLAY_HEIGHT;
+      } else {
+        topSpace = offsetTop + parent.scrollHeight - parent.clientHeight - parent.scrollTop;
+        bottomSpace = parent.clientHeight - topSpace - OVERLAY_HEIGHT;
+
+      }
+      this.setState({
+        topSpace,
+        bottomSpace
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { props, state } = this;
+    return (
+      <div
+        onClick={this.profileShow}
+        className={props.className + " pointer relative"}
+        ref={this.containerRef}
+        style={{ height: "24px" }}
+      >
+        {state.profileClicked && (
+          <ProfileOverlay
+            ship={props.ship}
+            contact={props.contact}
+            color={props.color}
+            topSpace={state.topSpace}
+            bottomSpace={state.bottomSpace}
+            group={props.group}
+            onDismiss={this.profileHide}
+          />
+        )}
+        <Sigil
+          ship={props.ship}
+          size={24}
+          color={props.color}
+          classes={props.sigilClass}
+        />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/profile-overlay.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/profile-overlay.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a95e8604d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/profile-overlay.js
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import React, { Component } from "react";
+import { Link } from "react-router-dom";
+import { cite } from "/lib/util";
+import { Sigil } from "/components/lib/icons/sigil";
+
+export const OVERLAY_HEIGHT = 250;
+
+export class ProfileOverlay extends Component {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+
+    this.popoverRef = React.createRef();
+    this.onDocumentClick = this.onDocumentClick.bind(this);
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", this.onDocumentClick);
+    document.addEventListener("touchstart", this.onDocumentClick);
+  }
+
+  componentWillUnmount() {
+    document.removeEventListener("mousedown", this.onDocumentClick);
+    document.removeEventListener("touchstart", this.onDocumentClick);
+  }
+
+  onDocumentClick(event) {
+    const { popoverRef } = this;
+    // Do nothing if clicking ref's element or descendent elements
+    if (!popoverRef.current || popoverRef.current.contains(event.target)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.props.onDismiss();
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { contact, ship, color, topSpace, bottomSpace, group } = this.props;
+
+    let top, bottom;
+    if (topSpace < OVERLAY_HEIGHT / 2) {
+      top = `0px`;
+    }
+    if (bottomSpace < OVERLAY_HEIGHT / 2) {
+      bottom = `0px`;
+    }
+    if (!(top || bottom)) {
+      bottom = `-${Math.round(OVERLAY_HEIGHT / 2)}px`;
+    }
+    const containerStyle = { top, bottom, left: "100%" };
+
+    const isOwn = window.ship === ship;
+
+    const identityHref = group["group-path"].startsWith("/~/")
+      ? "/~groups/me"
+      : `/~groups/view${group["group-path"]}/${window.ship}`;
+
+    return (
+      <div
+        ref={this.popoverRef}
+        style={containerStyle}
+        className="flex-col shadow-6 br2 bg-white bg-gray0-d inter absolute z-1 f9 lh-solid"
+      >
+        <div style={{ height: "160px" }}>
+          <Sigil
+            ship={ship}
+            size={160}
+            color={color}
+            classes="brt2"
+            svgClass="brt2"
+          />
+        </div>
+        <div className="pv3 pl3 pr2">
+          {contact && contact.nickname && (
+            <div className="b white-d">{contact.nickname}</div>
+          )}
+          <div className="mono gray2">{cite(`~${ship}`)}</div>
+          {!isOwn && (
+            <Link
+              to={`/~chat/new/dm/~${ship}`}
+              className="b--green0 b--green2-d b--solid ba green2 mt3 tc pa2 pointer db"
+            >
+              Send Message
+            </Link>
+          )}
+          {isOwn && (
+            <a
+              href={identityHref}
+              className="b--black b--white-d ba black white-d mt3 tc pa2 pointer db"
+            >
+              Edit Group Identity
+            </a>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/ship-search.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/ship-search.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e820e462e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/ship-search.js
@@ -0,0 +1,370 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react';
+import _ from 'lodash';
+import urbitOb from 'urbit-ob';
+import Mousetrap from 'mousetrap';
+
+import cn from 'classnames';
+import { Sigil } from '/components/lib/icons/sigil';
+import { hexToRgba, uxToHex, deSig } from '/lib/util';
+
+function ShipSearchItem({ ship, contacts, selected, onSelect }) {
+  const contact = contacts[ship];
+  let color = '#000000';
+  let sigilClass = 'v-mid mix-blend-diff';
+  let nickname;
+  const nameStyle = {};
+  const isSelected = ship === selected;
+  if (contact) {
+    const hex = uxToHex(contact.color);
+    color = `#${hex}`;
+    nameStyle.color = hexToRgba(hex, 0.7);
+    nameStyle.textShadow = '0px 0px 0px #000';
+    nameStyle.filter = 'contrast(1.3) saturate(1.5)';
+    sigilClass = 'v-mid';
+    nickname = contact.nickname;
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      onClick={() => onSelect(ship)}
+      className={cn(
+        'f8 pv1 ph3 pointer hover-bg-gray1-d hover-bg-gray4 relative flex items-center',
+        {
+          'white-d bg-gray0-d bg-white': !isSelected,
+          'black-d bg-gray1-d bg-gray4': isSelected
+        }
+      )}
+      key={ship}
+    >
+      <Sigil ship={'~' + ship} size={24} color={color} classes={sigilClass} />
+      {nickname && (
+        <p style={nameStyle} className="dib ml4 b">
+          {nickname}
+        </p>
+      )}
+      <div className="mono gray2 gray4-d ml4">{'~' + ship}</div>
+      <p className="nowrap ml4">{status}</p>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export class ShipSearch extends Component {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+
+    this.state = {
+      selected: null,
+      suggestions: [],
+      bound: false
+    };
+
+    this.keymap = {
+        Tab: cm =>
+          this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(),
+        'Shift-Tab': cm =>
+          this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(true),
+        'Up': cm =>
+          this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(true),
+        'Escape': cm =>
+          this.props.onClear(),
+        'Down': cm =>
+          this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(),
+        'Enter': (cm) => {
+          if(this.props.searchTerm !== null) {
+            this.props.onSelect(this.state.selected);
+          }
+        },
+        'Shift-3': cm =>
+          this.toggleCode()
+    };
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    if(this.props.searchTerm !== null) {
+      this.updateSuggestions(true);
+    }
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
+    const { props, state } = this;
+
+    if(!state.bound && props.inputRef) {
+      this.bindShortcuts();
+    }
+
+    if(props.searchTerm === null) {
+      if(state.suggestions.length > 0) {
+        this.setState({ suggestions: [] });
+      }
+      this.unbindShortcuts();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (
+      props.searchTerm === null &&
+      props.searchTerm !== prevProps.searchTerm &&
+      props.searchTerm.startsWith(prevProps.searchTerm)
+    ) {
+      this.updateSuggestions();
+    } else if (prevProps.searchTerm !== props.searchTerm) {
+      this.updateSuggestions(true);
+    }
+  }
+
+  updateSuggestions(isStale = false) {
+    const needle = this.props.searchTerm;
+    const matchString = (hay) => {
+      hay = hay.toLowerCase();
+
+      return (
+        hay.startsWith(needle) ||
+        _.some(_.words(hay), s => s.startsWith(needle))
+      );
+    };
+
+    let candidates = this.state.suggestions;
+
+    if (isStale || this.state.suggestions.length === 0) {
+      const contacts = _.chain(this.props.contacts)
+        .defaultTo({})
+        .map((details, ship) => ({ ...details, ship }))
+        .filter(
+          ({ nickname, ship }) => matchString(nickname) || matchString(ship)
+        )
+        .map('ship')
+        .value();
+
+      const exactMatch = urbitOb.isValidPatp(`~${needle}`) ? [needle] : [];
+
+      candidates = _.chain(this.props.candidates)
+        .defaultTo([])
+        .union(contacts)
+        .union(exactMatch)
+        .value();
+    }
+
+    const suggestions = _.chain(candidates)
+      .filter(matchString)
+      .filter(s => s.length < 28) // exclude comets
+      .value();
+
+    this.bindShortcuts();
+    this.setState({ suggestions, selected: suggestions[0] });
+  }
+
+  bindCmShortcuts()  {
+    if(!this.props.cm) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.props.cm.addKeyMap(this.keymap);
+  }
+
+  unbindCmShortcuts() {
+    if(!this.props.cm) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.props.cm.removeKeyMap(this.keymap);
+  }
+
+  bindShortcuts() {
+    if (this.state.bound) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.props.inputRef) {
+      return this.bindCmShortcuts();
+    }
+    this.setState({ bound: true });
+    if (!this.mousetrap) {
+      this.mousetrap = new Mousetrap(this.props.inputRef);
+    }
+
+    this.mousetrap.bind('enter', (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+
+      if (this.state.selected) {
+        this.unbindShortcuts();
+        this.props.onSelect(this.state.selected);
+      }
+    });
+
+    this.mousetrap.bind('tab', (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(false);
+    });
+    this.mousetrap.bind(['up', 'shift+tab'], (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(true);
+    });
+    this.mousetrap.bind('down', (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.nextAutocompleteSuggestion(false);
+    });
+    this.mousetrap.bind('esc', (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      e.stopPropagation();
+      this.props.onClear();
+    });
+  }
+
+  unbindShortcuts() {
+    if(!this.props.inputRef) {
+      this.unbindCmShortcuts();
+    }
+
+    if (!this.state.bound) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.setState({ bound: false });
+    this.mousetrap.unbind('enter');
+    this.mousetrap.unbind('tab');
+    this.mousetrap.unbind(['up', 'shift+tab']);
+    this.mousetrap.unbind('down');
+    this.mousetrap.unbind('esc');
+  }
+
+  nextAutocompleteSuggestion(backward = false) {
+    const { suggestions } = this.state;
+    let idx = suggestions.findIndex(s => s === this.state.selected);
+
+    idx = backward ? idx - 1 : idx + 1;
+    idx = idx % suggestions.length;
+    if (idx < 0) {
+      idx = suggestions.length - 1;
+    }
+
+    this.setState({ selected: suggestions[idx] });
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { onSelect, contacts, popover, className } = this.props;
+    const { selected, suggestions } = this.state;
+
+    if (suggestions.length === 0) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const popoverClasses = (popover && ' absolute ') || ' ';
+    return (
+      <div
+        style={
+          popover
+            ? {
+                bottom: '90%',
+                left: '48px'
+              }
+            : {}
+        }
+        className={
+          'black white-d bg-white bg-gray0-d ' +
+            'w7 pv3 z-1 mt1 ba b--gray1-d b--gray4' +
+            popoverClasses +
+            className || ''
+        }
+      >
+        {suggestions.slice(0, 5).map(ship => (
+          <ShipSearchItem
+            onSelect={onSelect}
+            key={ship}
+            selected={selected}
+            contacts={contacts}
+            ship={ship}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+export class ShipSearchInput extends Component {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this.state = {
+      searchTerm: ''
+    };
+
+    this.inputRef = null;
+    this.popoverRef = null;
+
+    this.search = this.search.bind(this);
+
+    this.onClick = this.onClick.bind(this);
+    this.setInputRef = this.setInputRef.bind(this);
+  }
+
+  onClick(event) {
+    const { popoverRef } = this;
+    // Do nothing if clicking ref's element or descendent elements
+    if (!popoverRef || popoverRef.contains(event.target)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.props.onClear();
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', this.onClick);
+    document.addEventListener('touchstart', this.onClick);
+  }
+
+  componentWillUnmount() {
+    document.removeEventListener('mousedown', this.onClick);
+    document.removeEventListener('touchstart', this.onClick);
+  }
+
+  setInputRef(ref) {
+    this.inputRef = ref;
+    if(ref) {
+      ref.focus();
+    }
+    // update this.inputRef prop
+    this.forceUpdate();
+  }
+
+  search(e) {
+    const searchTerm = e.target.value;
+    this.setState({ searchTerm });
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { state, props } = this;
+
+    return (
+      <div
+        ref={ref => (this.popoverRef = ref)}
+        style={{ top: '150%', left: '-80px' }}
+        className="b--gray2 b--solid ba absolute bg-white bg-gray0-d"
+      >
+        <textarea
+          style={{ resize: 'none', maxWidth: '200px' }}
+          className="ma2 pa2 b--gray4 ba b--solid w7 db bg-gray0-d white-d"
+          rows={1}
+          autocapitalise="none"
+          autoFocus={
+            /Android|webOS|iPhone|iPad|iPod|BlackBerry/i.test(
+              navigator.userAgent
+            )
+              ? false
+              : true
+          }
+          placeholder="Search for a ship"
+          value={state.searchTerm}
+          onChange={this.search}
+          ref={this.setInputRef}
+        />
+        <ShipSearch
+          contacts={props.contacts}
+          candidates={props.candidates}
+          searchTerm={deSig(state.searchTerm)}
+          inputRef={this.inputRef}
+          onSelect={props.onSelect}
+          onClear={props.onClear}
+        />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new-dm.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new-dm.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..684a81274
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new-dm.js
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+import React, { Component } from "react";
+import classnames from "classnames";
+import { InviteSearch } from "./lib/invite-search";
+import { Spinner } from "./lib/icons/icon-spinner";
+import { Route, Link } from "react-router-dom";
+import { uuid, isPatTa, deSig } from "/lib/util";
+import urbitOb from "urbit-ob";
+
+export class NewDmScreen extends Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+    this.state = {
+      ship: null,
+      idError: false,
+      inviteError: false,
+      allowHistory: true,
+      awaiting: false
+    };
+
+    this.setInvite = this.setInvite.bind(this);
+    this.onClickCreate = this.onClickCreate.bind(this);
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    const { props } = this;
+    if (props.autoCreate && urbitOb.isValidPatp(props.autoCreate)) {
+      this.setState(
+        {
+          error: false,
+          success: true,
+          ship: props.autoCreate.slice(1),
+          awaiting: true
+        },
+        this.onClickCreate
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate(prevProps, prevState) {
+    const { props, state } = this;
+
+    if (prevProps !== props) {
+      let station = `/~${window.ship}/${state.idName}`;
+      if (station in props.inbox) {
+        props.history.push("/~chat/room" + station);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  setInvite(value) {
+    this.setState({
+      groups: [],
+      ship: value.ships[0]
+    });
+  }
+
+  onClickCreate() {
+    const { props, state } = this;
+
+    let station = `/~/~${window.ship}/dm--${state.ship}`;
+
+    let theirStation = `/~/~${state.ship}/dm--${window.ship}`;
+
+    if (station in props.inbox) {
+      props.history.push(`/~chat/room${station}`);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (theirStation in props.inbox) {
+      props.history.push(`/~chat/room${theirStation}`);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.setState(
+      {
+        error: false,
+        success: true,
+        group: [],
+        ship: [],
+        awaiting: true
+      },
+      () => {
+        let groupPath = station;
+        let submit = props.api.chatView.create(
+          `~${window.ship} <-> ~${state.ship}`,
+          "",
+          station,
+          groupPath,
+          "village",
+          state.ship !== window.ship ? [`~${state.ship}`] : [],
+          true
+        );
+        submit.then(() => {
+          this.setState({ awaiting: false });
+          props.history.push(`/~chat/room${station}`);
+        });
+      }
+    );
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { props, state } = this;
+
+    return (
+      <div
+        className={
+          "h-100 w-100 mw6 pa3 pt4 overflow-x-hidden " +
+          "bg-gray0-d white-d flex flex-column"
+        }
+      >
+        <div className="w-100 dn-m dn-l dn-xl inter pt1 pb6 f8">
+          <Link to="/~chat/">{"⟵ All Chats"}</Link>
+        </div>
+        <h2 className="mb3 f8">New DM</h2>
+        <div className="w-100">
+          <Spinner
+            awaiting={this.state.awaiting}
+            classes="mt4"
+            text="Creating chat..."
+          />
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new.js
index 8a76ef52e..acbabc5c3 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/new.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
       idName: '',
       groups: [],
       ships: [],
-      security: 'village',
+      security: 'channel',
       idError: false,
       inviteError: false,
       allowHistory: true,
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
 
     this.titleChange = this.titleChange.bind(this);
     this.descriptionChange = this.descriptionChange.bind(this);
-    this.securityChange = this.securityChange.bind(this);
     this.allowHistoryChange = this.allowHistoryChange.bind(this);
     this.setInvite = this.setInvite.bind(this);
     this.createGroupChange = this.createGroupChange.bind(this);
@@ -65,17 +64,6 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
     });
   }
 
-  securityChange(event) {
-    if (this.state.createGroup) {
-      return;
-    }
-    if (event.target.checked) {
-      this.setState({security: "village"});
-    } else if (!event.target.checked) {
-      this.setState({security: "channel"});
-    }
-  }
-
   createGroupChange(event) {
     if (event.target.checked) {
       this.setState({
@@ -85,6 +73,7 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
     } else {
       this.setState({
         createGroup: !!event.target.checked,
+        security: 'channel'
       });
     }
   }
@@ -124,6 +113,10 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
       }
     });
 
+    if(state.ships.length === 1 && state.security === 'village' && !state.createGroup) {
+      props.history.push(`/~chat/new/dm/${aud[0]}`);
+    }
+
     if (!isValid) {
       this.setState({
         inviteError: true,
@@ -279,18 +272,6 @@ export class NewScreen extends Component {
             setInvite={this.setInvite}
           />
           {createGroupToggle}
-          <div className="mv7">
-            <input
-              type="checkbox"
-              style={{ WebkitAppearance: "none", width: 28 }}
-              className={inviteSwitchClasses}
-              onChange={this.securityChange}
-            />
-            <span className="dib f9 white-d inter ml3">Invite Only Chat</span>
-            <p className="f9 gray2 pt1" style={{ paddingLeft: 40 }}>
-              Chat participants must be invited to see chat content
-            </p>
-          </div>
           <button
             onClick={this.onClickCreate.bind(this)}
             className={createClasses}>
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/root.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/root.js
index 0aad627e1..0389255cc 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/root.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/root.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { MemberScreen } from '/components/member';
 import { SettingsScreen } from '/components/settings';
 import { NewScreen } from '/components/new';
 import { JoinScreen } from '/components/join';
+import { NewDmScreen } from '/components/new-dm';
 
 
 export class Root extends Component {
@@ -92,6 +93,34 @@ export class Root extends Component {
               );
             }}
           />
+          <Route
+            exact
+            path="/~chat/new/dm/:ship"
+            render={props => {
+              const ship = props.match.params.ship;
+
+              return (
+                <Skeleton
+                  associations={associations}
+                  invites={invites}
+                  sidebarHideOnMobile={true}
+                  sidebar={renderChannelSidebar(props)}
+                  sidebarShown={state.sidebarShown}
+                >
+                  <NewDmScreen
+                    api={api}
+                    inbox={state.inbox || {}}
+                    permissions={state.permissions || {}}
+                    contacts={state.contacts || {}}
+                    associations={associations.contacts}
+                    chatSynced={state.chatSynced || {}}
+                    autoCreate={ship}
+                    {...props}
+                  />
+                </Skeleton>
+              );
+            }}
+          />
           <Route
             exact
             path="/~chat/new"
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/sidebar.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/sidebar.js
index 2f0f19a8f..5c254d372 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/sidebar.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/sidebar.js
@@ -5,17 +5,35 @@ import Welcome from '/components/lib/welcome.js';
 import { alphabetiseAssociations } from '../lib/util';
 import { SidebarInvite } from '/components/lib/sidebar-invite';
 import { GroupItem } from '/components/lib/group-item';
+import { ShipSearchInput } from '/components/lib/ship-search';
 
 
 export class Sidebar extends Component {
+
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this.state = {
+      dmOverlay: false
+    };
+  }
   onClickNew() {
     this.props.history.push('/~chat/new');
   }
 
+  onClickDm() {
+    this.setState(({ dmOverlay }) => ({ dmOverlay: !dmOverlay }) )
+  }
+
   onClickJoin() {
     this.props.history.push('/~chat/join')
   }
 
+  goDm(ship) {
+    this.setState({ dmOverlay: false }, () => {
+      this.props.history.push(`/~chat/new/dm/~${ship}`)
+    });
+  }
+
   render() {
     const { props, state } = this;
 
@@ -97,6 +115,14 @@ export class Sidebar extends Component {
           />
         )
       }
+    const candidates = state.dmOverlay
+          ? _.chain(this.props.contacts)
+               .values()
+               .map(_.keys)
+               .flatten()
+               .uniq()
+               .value()
+          : [];
 
     return (
       <div
@@ -108,6 +134,25 @@ export class Sidebar extends Component {
             onClick={this.onClickNew.bind(this)}>
             New Chat
           </a>
+
+          <div className="dib relative mr4">
+            { state.dmOverlay && (
+              <ShipSearchInput
+                className="absolute"
+                contacts={{}}
+                candidates={candidates}
+                onSelect={this.goDm.bind(this)}
+                onClear={this.onClickDm.bind(this)}
+
+              />
+            )}
+          <a
+            className="f9 pointer green2 gray4-d"
+            onClick={this.onClickDm.bind(this)}>
+            DM
+          </a>
+          </div>
+
           <a
             className="dib f9 pointer gray4-d"
             onClick={this.onClickJoin.bind(this)}>