diff --git a/backend/src/chat/chat.gateway.ts b/backend/src/chat/chat.gateway.ts
index 11ddb812..2ec61a57 100644
--- a/backend/src/chat/chat.gateway.ts
+++ b/backend/src/chat/chat.gateway.ts
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ export class ChatGateway
   @SubscribeMessage('listChats')
   async listChats(@ConnectedSocket() client: Socket) {
     const chats = await this.chatService.listChats();
-    // TODO: do not display PRIVATE CHATS
     client.emit('listChats', chats);
   }
 
@@ -180,6 +179,18 @@ export class ChatGateway
       client.emit('error', { error: 'Protected chat must have password' });
       return;
     }
+    if (chatType === 'PRIVATE') {
+      // check if a chat with that name already exists
+      const createdChat = await this.chatService.getChatByName(chatName);
+      if (createdChat) {
+        client.join(`chat:${createdChat.id}`);
+        client.emit('joinChat', {
+          message: `You joined chat ${createdChat.id}`,
+        });
+        client.emit('createChat', createdChat);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
     const createdChat = await this.chatService.createChat(
       login,
       chatName,
diff --git a/backend/src/chat/chat.service.ts b/backend/src/chat/chat.service.ts
index b07d2c50..061df210 100644
--- a/backend/src/chat/chat.service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/chat/chat.service.ts
@@ -665,4 +665,17 @@ export class ChatService {
 
     return isPasswordValid;
   }
+
+  async getChatByName(name: string): Promise<Chat> {
+    try {
+      const chat = await this.prisma.chat.findFirst({
+        where: {
+          name,
+        },
+      });
+      return chat;
+    } catch (error) {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChannelCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChannelCard.tsx
index eed8e213..affe1e00 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChannelCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChannelCard.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ArrowRight, Crown, Lock, TrashSimple } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import { ArrowRight, Crown, EnvelopeSimple,  Lock, TrashSimple } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { useContext } from "react";
 import { Chat, ChatContext } from "@/contexts/ChatContext";
 import chatService from "@/services/chatClient";
@@ -22,15 +22,15 @@ export default function ChannelCard({ chat }: ChannelCardProps) {
   };
 
   return (
-    // TODO: add user context for chat owner
     <div className="bg-black42-200 flex justify-between rounded-lg items-center p-3 my-1">
       <div className="flex space-x-2 items-center">
         <span className="cursor-pointer" onClick={() => handleOpenChannel()}>
           {chat.name}
         </span>
         <div className="flex ml-1 space-x-1">
-          {chat.chatType === 'PROTECTED' && <Lock color="white" size={12} />}
-          {chat.owner === user.login && <Crown className="text-orange42-500" size={12} />}
+          {chat.owner === user.login && <Crown className="text-orange42-500" alt="Channel owner" size={12} />}
+          {chat.chatType === 'PROTECTED' && <Lock color="white" alt="Password protected" size={12} />}
+          {chat.chatType === 'PRIVATE' && <EnvelopeSimple color="white" alt="Direct message" size={12} />}
         </div>
       </div>
       <div className="flex space-x-5 items-center">
@@ -38,12 +38,14 @@ export default function ChannelCard({ chat }: ChannelCardProps) {
           <TrashSimple
             className="text-red-400 cursor-pointer"
             size={18}
+            alt="Delete channel"
             onClick={() => handleDeleteChannel()}
           />
         )}
         <ArrowRight
           className="text-purple42-200 cursor-pointer"
           size={18}
+          alt="Open channel"
           onClick={() => handleOpenChannel()}
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChatUsersChannelPopOver.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChatUsersChannelPopOver.tsx
index 28d38613..2c20c079 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChatUsersChannelPopOver.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ChatUsersChannelPopOver.tsx
@@ -164,7 +164,6 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
         {...attributes.popper}
       >
         <div className="p-3">
-          {/*TODO: Find a way to remove this validation without breaking the database seed*/}
           {myUser && (
             <div
               className="flex items-center space-x-4 mb-4 justify-between"
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                           handleDemoteToMember(user);
                         }}
                       />
-                    ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                    )
                 }
                 {
                   user.role !== "MEMBER" && (
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                       aria-label="Channel Admin"
                       alt="Channel Admin"
                     />
-                  ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                  )
                 }
                 {
                   myUser &&
@@ -262,7 +261,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                         alt="Mute user"
                         onClick={() => handleMuteUser(user)}
                       />
-                    ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                    )
                 }
                 {
                   myUser &&
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                         alt="Unmute user"
                         onClick={() => handleUnmuteUser(user)}
                       />
-                    ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                    )
                 }
                 {
                   myUser &&
@@ -289,7 +288,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                         alt="Ban user"
                         onClick={() => handleBanUser(user)}
                       />
-                    ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                    )
                 }
                 {
                   myUser &&
@@ -302,7 +301,7 @@ export default function ChatUsersChannelPopOver({
                         alt="Kick user"
                         onClick={() => handleKickUser(user)}
                       />
-                    ) /*TODO: Make this command responsive */
+                    )
                 }
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/FriendCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/FriendCard.tsx
index 4997d6b6..d6d7e1f4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/FriendCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/FriendCard.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 import { api } from "@/services/apiClient";
 import { queryClient } from "@/services/queryClient";
 import { UserStatus } from "@/types/user";
-import { EnvelopeSimple, Sword, UserMinus } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import { EnvelopeSimple, UserMinus } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import chatService from "@/services/chatClient";
 import { useMutation } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import toast from "react-hot-toast";
 import InviteToGame from "../InviteToGame";
+import { ChatContext } from "@/contexts/ChatContext";
+import { useContext } from "react";
 
 type FriendCardProps = {
   displayName: string;
@@ -18,6 +21,8 @@ export default function FriendCard({
   id,
   status,
 }: FriendCardProps) {
+  const { user } = useContext(ChatContext);
+
   const deleteFriendMutation = useMutation({
     mutationFn: (friendData: any) => {
       return api.delete("/friends", {
@@ -37,6 +42,15 @@ export default function FriendCard({
     deleteFriendMutation.mutate({ friend_id: id });
   };
 
+  const handleOpenDirectMessage = () => {
+    const chatName = `${displayName} - ${user.displayName}`;
+    chatService.socket?.emit("createChat", {
+      chatName,
+      chatType: "PRIVATE",
+      password: "",
+    });
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="bg-black42-200 flex justify-between rounded-lg items-center p-3 my-1">
       <div className="flex justify-between items-center cursor-pointer gap-2">
@@ -53,7 +67,11 @@ export default function FriendCard({
         ></div>
       </div>
       <div className="flex space-x-5 items-center">
-        <EnvelopeSimple className="text-purple42-200" size={18} />
+        <EnvelopeSimple
+          className="text-purple42-200 cursor-pointer"
+          size={18}
+          onClick={handleOpenDirectMessage}
+        />
         <InviteToGame inviteUserId={id} />
         <UserMinus
           className="text-purple42-200 cursor-pointer"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ListChannels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ListChannels.tsx
index dc71be99..a6c212d9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/ListChannels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/ListChannels.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ type ListChannelsProps = {
 export function ListChannels({ handleShowCreateChannel }: ListChannelsProps) {
   const { isLoading, chatList } = useContext(ChatContext);
 
+  // filter private chats
+  const publicChats = chatList?.filter(
+    (chat: Chat) => chat.chatType !== "PRIVATE"
+  );
+
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 justify-between">
       <div className="flex flex-row justify-between items-center h-9">
@@ -32,8 +37,7 @@ export function ListChannels({ handleShowCreateChannel }: ListChannelsProps) {
           className="flex flex-col flex-1 max-h-[80vh] bg-black42-300 overflow-y-scroll overscroll-contain my-4
                         scrollbar scrollbar-w-1 scrollbar-rounded-lg scrollbar-thumb-rounded-lg scrollbar-thumb-black42-100 scrollbar-track-black42-300"
         >
-          {chatList?.map((channel: Chat) => (
-            // TODO: add user context for chat owner
+          {publicChats?.map((channel: Chat) => (
             <ChannelCard key={channel.id} chat={channel} />
           ))}
         </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/OpenChannel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/OpenChannel.tsx
index a908db99..0ad183aa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/OpenChannel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/OpenChannel.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ interface Message {
   userId: string;
 }
 
+type FormInputs = {
+  password: string;
+};
+
 export function OpenChannel() {
   const {
     selectedChat,
@@ -68,6 +72,7 @@ export function OpenChannel() {
 
   const handleSendMessage = () => {
     if (myUser && myUser.status === "MUTED") return;
+
     chatService.socket?.emit("message", {
       chatId: selectedChat.id,
       content: message,
@@ -83,10 +88,6 @@ export function OpenChannel() {
     }, 100);
   };
 
-  type FormInputs = {
-    password: string;
-  };
-
   const {
     register,
     setError,
@@ -159,14 +160,22 @@ export function OpenChannel() {
     <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 justify-between">
       <div className="flex flex-row justify-between items-center h-8">
         <div className="flex items-center">
-          <ChatUsersChannelPopOver users={users}>
-            <div className="flex space-x-1 items-center">
-              <span className="text-xs">({numberOfUsersInChat})</span>
-              <UsersThree className="text-white" size={20} />
-            </div>
-          </ChatUsersChannelPopOver>
+          {selectedChat.chatType !== "PRIVATE" && (
+            <ChatUsersChannelPopOver users={users}>
+              <div className="flex space-x-1 items-center">
+                <span className="text-xs">({numberOfUsersInChat})</span>
+                <UsersThree className="text-white" size={20} />
+              </div>
+            </ChatUsersChannelPopOver>
+          )}
         </div>
-        <h3 className="text-white text-lg">{selectedChat.name}</h3>
+        <h3 className="text-white text-lg">
+          {selectedChat.chatType === "PRIVATE"
+            ? `DM: ${selectedChat.name
+                .split(" - ")
+                .filter((name) => name !== user.displayName)}`
+            : selectedChat.name}
+        </h3>
         <XCircle
           className="cursor-pointer"
           color="white"
@@ -183,7 +192,6 @@ export function OpenChannel() {
         {messages.map((message: any) => (
           <div
             key={message.id}
-            // TODO: Implement user context to compare user login with message user
             className={`${
               message.userLogin === user.login
                 ? "text-white bg-purple42-200 self-end"
@@ -216,9 +224,7 @@ export function OpenChannel() {
         />
         <button
           className="bg-purple42-200 text-white rounded-lg p-3 placeholder-gray-700 absolute z-10 right-4"
-          onClick={() =>
-            handleSendMessage()
-          } /*TODO: Check if other users are receiving the message */
+          onClick={() => handleSendMessage()}
         >
           {myUser && myUser.status !== "MUTED" ? (
             <PaperPlaneTilt size={20} color="white" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Chat/index.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Chat/index.tsx
index 481447e9..53eec64f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Chat/index.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Chat/index.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export default function Chat() {
   const { showElement, setShowElement } = useContext(ChatContext);
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 min-w-[309px] my-4 bg-black42-300 rounded-lg p-4">
+    <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 w-[309px] my-4 bg-black42-300 rounded-lg p-4">
       <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 justify-end">
         <div className={"flex flex-col flex-1 text-white"}>
           <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 justify-between">
diff --git a/frontend/src/contexts/ChatContext.tsx b/frontend/src/contexts/ChatContext.tsx
index 2b6d0215..fb7b700b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/contexts/ChatContext.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/contexts/ChatContext.tsx
@@ -58,11 +58,13 @@ export const ChatProvider = ({ children }: ChatProviderProps) => {
   const handleOpenChannel = (chat: Chat) => {
     setSelectedChat(chat);
     // check if chat has an id
-    if (chat.id) {
-      chatService.socket?.emit("listMessages", { chatId: chat.id });
-      chatService.socket?.emit("listMembers", { chatId: chat.id });
-    }
-    setShowElement("showChannelOpen");
+    try {
+      if (chat.id) {
+        chatService.socket?.emit("listMessages", { chatId: chat.id });
+        chatService.socket?.emit("listMembers", { chatId: chat.id });
+        setShowElement("showChannelOpen");
+      }
+    } catch (error) {}; // required to avoid raising an error when chat.id is undefined
   };
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -78,7 +80,11 @@ export const ChatProvider = ({ children }: ChatProviderProps) => {
 
     // Listen for incoming messages recursively every 10 seconds
     chatService.socket?.on("listChats", (newChatList: ChatList) => {
-      setChatList(() => newChatList);
+      // remove chats which chatType is PRIVATE
+      const filteredChats = newChatList.filter(chat => {
+        return chat.chatType !== 'PRIVATE';
+      });
+      setChatList(() => filteredChats);
       setIsLoading(false);
     });
 
@@ -93,7 +99,12 @@ export const ChatProvider = ({ children }: ChatProviderProps) => {
     chatService.socket?.on("createChat", (chat: Chat) => {
       setValidationRequired(false);
       handleOpenChannel(chat);
-      setChatList((chatList) => [...chatList, chat]);
+      const isDuplicateChat = chatList.some(existingChat =>
+        existingChat.name === chat.name && existingChat.chatType === 'PRIVATE'
+      );
+      if (!isDuplicateChat) {
+        setChatList((chatList) => [...chatList, chat]);
+      }
     });
 
     chatService.socket?.on("joinChat", (response: any) => {