diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/components/conversation/ConversationsFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/components/conversation/ConversationsFragment.kt
index 48d1e87b8..97a4d7583 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/components/conversation/ConversationsFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/components/conversation/ConversationsFragment.kt
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ class ConversationsFragment :
                         if (loadState.append is LoadState.NotLoading && loadState.source.refresh is LoadState.NotLoading) {
                             binding.statusView.show()
                             binding.statusView.setup(R.drawable.elephant_friend_empty, R.string.message_empty, null)
+                            binding.statusView.showHelp(R.string.help_empty_conversations)
                         }
                     }
                     is LoadState.Error -> {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index c00363661..8c4527de2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -814,6 +814,12 @@
         you follow.\n\nTo explore accounts you can either discover them in one of the other timelines.
         For example the local timeline of your instance [iconics gmd_group]. Or you can search them
         by name [iconics gmd_search]; for example search for Tusky to find our Mastodon account.</string>
+    <string name="help_empty_conversations">Here are your <b>private messages</b>; sometimes called conversations or direct messages (DM).
+        \n\nPrivate messages are created by setting the visibility [iconics gmd_public] of a post to [iconics gmd_mail] \"Direct\" and
+        mentioning one or more users in the text.
+        \n\nFor example you can start on the profile view of an account and tap the create button [iconics gmd_edit] and change the visibility.
+    </string>
+
     <string name="load_newest_notifications">Load newest notifications</string>
     <string name="about_copy">Copy version and device information</string>
     <string name="about_copied">Copied version and device information</string>