diff --git a/src/components/dms/NewChat.tsx b/src/components/dms/NewChat.tsx
index bbe118f04..86d421eba 100644
--- a/src/components/dms/NewChat.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dms/NewChat.tsx
@@ -23,8 +23,13 @@ import {Envelope_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Envelope} from '../icons/Envelope'
 import {ListMaybePlaceholder} from '../Lists'
 import {Text} from '../Typography'
 
-export function NewChat({onNewChat}: {onNewChat: (chatId: string) => void}) {
-  const control = Dialog.useDialogControl()
+export function NewChat({
+  control,
+  onNewChat,
+}: {
+  control: Dialog.DialogControlProps
+  onNewChat: (chatId: string) => void
+}) {
   const t = useTheme()
   const {_} = useLingui()
 
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/Conversation/MessageInput.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/Conversation/MessageInput.tsx
index bd73594ce..3a3ce38f6 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/Conversation/MessageInput.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/Conversation/MessageInput.tsx
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export function MessageInput({
         value={message}
         onChangeText={setMessage}
         placeholder="Write a message"
-        style={[a.flex_1, a.text_sm, a.px_sm]}
+        style={[a.flex_1, a.text_sm, a.px_sm, t.atoms.text]}
         onSubmitEditing={onSubmit}
         onFocus={onFocus}
         onBlur={onBlur}
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/List/index.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/List/index.tsx
index ff4e8e83e..2dd406fe6 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/List/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/List/index.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
+/* eslint-disable react/prop-types */
+
 import React, {useCallback, useMemo, useState} from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
-import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
+import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {NativeStackScreenProps} from '@react-navigation/native-stack'
-import {useInfiniteQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {useInitialNumToRender} from '#/lib/hooks/useInitialNumToRender'
 import {MessagesTabNavigatorParams} from '#/lib/routes/types'
@@ -14,19 +15,26 @@ import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
 import {List} from '#/view/com/util/List'
 import {PreviewableUserAvatar} from '#/view/com/util/UserAvatar'
 import {ViewHeader} from '#/view/com/util/ViewHeader'
-import {useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {useBreakpoints, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
+import {Button, ButtonIcon, ButtonText} from '#/components/Button'
+import {DialogControlProps, useDialogControl} from '#/components/Dialog'
+import {Envelope_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Envelope} from '#/components/icons/Envelope'
 import {SettingsSliderVertical_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as SettingsSlider} from '#/components/icons/SettingsSlider'
 import {Link} from '#/components/Link'
 import {ListFooter, ListMaybePlaceholder} from '#/components/Lists'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
+import * as TempDmChatDefs from '#/temp/dm/defs'
 import {NewChat} from '../../../components/dms/NewChat'
 import {ClipClopGate} from '../gate'
+import {useListChats} from '../Temp/query/query'
 
 type Props = NativeStackScreenProps<MessagesTabNavigatorParams, 'MessagesList'>
 export function MessagesListScreen({navigation}: Props) {
   const {_} = useLingui()
   const t = useTheme()
+  const newChatControl = useDialogControl()
+  const {gtMobile} = useBreakpoints()
 
   const renderButton = useCallback(() => {
     return (
@@ -50,13 +58,13 @@ export function MessagesListScreen({navigation}: Props) {
     fetchNextPage,
     error,
     refetch,
-  } = usePlaceholderConversations()
+  } = useListChats()
 
   const isError = !!error
 
   const conversations = useMemo(() => {
     if (data?.pages) {
-      return data.pages.flat()
+      return data.pages.flatMap(page => page.chats)
     }
     return []
   }, [data])
@@ -86,6 +94,14 @@ export function MessagesListScreen({navigation}: Props) {
     [navigation],
   )
 
+  const onNavigateToSettings = useCallback(() => {
+    navigation.navigate('MessagesSettings')
+  }, [navigation])
+
+  const renderItem = useCallback(({item}: {item: TempDmChatDefs.ChatView}) => {
+    return <ChatListItem key={item.id} chat={item} />
+  }, [])
+
   const gate = useGate()
   if (!gate('dms')) return <ClipClopGate />
 
@@ -102,73 +118,35 @@ export function MessagesListScreen({navigation}: Props) {
           errorMessage={cleanError(error)}
           onRetry={isError ? refetch : undefined}
         />
-        <NewChat onNewChat={onNewChat} />
+        <NewChat onNewChat={onNewChat} control={newChatControl} />
       </>
     )
   }
 
   return (
     <View style={a.flex_1}>
-      <ViewHeader
-        title={_(msg`Messages`)}
-        showOnDesktop
-        renderButton={renderButton}
-        showBorder
-        canGoBack={false}
-      />
-      <NewChat onNewChat={onNewChat} />
+      {!gtMobile && (
+        <ViewHeader
+          title={_(msg`Messages`)}
+          renderButton={renderButton}
+          showBorder
+          canGoBack={false}
+        />
+      )}
+      <NewChat onNewChat={onNewChat} control={newChatControl} />
       <List
         data={conversations}
-        renderItem={({item}) => {
-          return (
-            <Link
-              to={`/messages/3kqzb4mytxk2v`}
-              style={[a.flex_1, a.pl_md, a.py_sm, a.gap_md, a.pr_2xl]}>
-              <PreviewableUserAvatar profile={item.profile} size={44} />
-              <View style={[a.flex_1]}>
-                <View
-                  style={[
-                    a.flex_row,
-                    a.align_center,
-                    a.justify_between,
-                    a.gap_lg,
-                    a.flex_1,
-                  ]}>
-                  <Text numberOfLines={1}>
-                    <Text style={item.unread && a.font_bold}>
-                      {item.profile.displayName || item.profile.handle}
-                    </Text>{' '}
-                    <Text style={t.atoms.text_contrast_medium}>
-                      @{item.profile.handle}
-                    </Text>
-                  </Text>
-                  {item.unread && (
-                    <View
-                      style={[
-                        a.ml_2xl,
-                        {backgroundColor: t.palette.primary_500},
-                        a.rounded_full,
-                        {height: 7, width: 7},
-                      ]}
-                    />
-                  )}
-                </View>
-                <Text
-                  numberOfLines={2}
-                  style={[
-                    a.text_sm,
-                    item.unread ? a.font_bold : t.atoms.text_contrast_medium,
-                  ]}>
-                  {item.lastMessage}
-                </Text>
-              </View>
-            </Link>
-          )
-        }}
-        keyExtractor={item => item.profile.did}
+        renderItem={renderItem}
+        keyExtractor={item => item.id}
         refreshing={isPTRing}
         onRefresh={onRefresh}
         onEndReached={onEndReached}
+        ListHeaderComponent={
+          <DesktopHeader
+            newChatControl={newChatControl}
+            onNavigateToSettings={onNavigateToSettings}
+          />
+        }
         ListFooterComponent={
           <ListFooter
             isFetchingNextPage={isFetchingNextPage}
@@ -180,61 +158,139 @@ export function MessagesListScreen({navigation}: Props) {
         onEndReachedThreshold={3}
         initialNumToRender={initialNumToRender}
         windowSize={11}
+        // @ts-ignore our .web version only -sfn
+        desktopFixedHeight
       />
     </View>
   )
 }
 
-function usePlaceholderConversations() {
+function ChatListItem({chat}: {chat: TempDmChatDefs.ChatView}) {
+  const t = useTheme()
+  const {_} = useLingui()
   const {getAgent} = useAgent()
 
-  return useInfiniteQuery({
-    queryKey: ['messages'],
-    queryFn: async () => {
-      const people = await getAgent().getProfiles({actors: PLACEHOLDER_PEOPLE})
-      return people.data.profiles.map(profile => ({
-        profile,
-        unread: Math.random() > 0.5,
-        lastMessage: getRandomPost(),
-      }))
-    },
-    initialPageParam: undefined,
-    getNextPageParam: () => undefined,
-  })
+  let lastMessage = _(msg`No messages yet`)
+  if (TempDmChatDefs.isMessageView(chat.lastMessage)) {
+    lastMessage = chat.lastMessage.text
+  }
+
+  const otherUser = chat.members.find(
+    member => member.did !== getAgent().session?.did,
+  )
+
+  if (!otherUser) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <Link to={`/messages/${chat.id}`} style={a.flex_1}>
+      {({hovered, pressed}) => (
+        <View
+          style={[
+            a.flex_row,
+            a.flex_1,
+            a.pl_md,
+            a.py_sm,
+            a.gap_md,
+            a.pr_2xl,
+            (hovered || pressed) && t.atoms.bg_contrast_25,
+          ]}>
+          <View pointerEvents="none">
+            <PreviewableUserAvatar profile={otherUser} size={42} />
+          </View>
+          <View style={[a.flex_1]}>
+            <Text numberOfLines={1} style={a.leading_snug}>
+              <Text style={[t.atoms.text, chat.unreadCount > 0 && a.font_bold]}>
+                {otherUser.displayName || otherUser.handle}
+              </Text>{' '}
+              <Text style={t.atoms.text_contrast_medium}>
+                @{otherUser.handle}
+              </Text>
+            </Text>
+            <Text
+              numberOfLines={2}
+              style={[
+                a.text_sm,
+                chat.unread ? a.font_bold : t.atoms.text_contrast_medium,
+              ]}>
+              {lastMessage}
+            </Text>
+          </View>
+          {chat.unreadCount > 0 && (
+            <View
+              style={[
+                a.flex_0,
+                a.ml_2xl,
+                a.mt_xs,
+                {backgroundColor: t.palette.primary_500},
+                a.rounded_full,
+                {height: 7, width: 7},
+              ]}
+            />
+          )}
+        </View>
+      )}
+    </Link>
+  )
 }
 
-const PLACEHOLDER_PEOPLE = [
-  'pfrazee.com',
-  'haileyok.com',
-  'danabra.mov',
-  'esb.lol',
-  'samuel.bsky.team',
-]
-
-function getRandomPost() {
-  const num = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10)
-  switch (num) {
-    case 0:
-      return 'hello'
-    case 1:
-      return 'lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua'
-    case 2:
-      return 'banger post'
-    case 3:
-      return 'lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua'
-    case 4:
-      return 'lol look at this bug'
-    case 5:
-      return 'wow'
-    case 6:
-      return "that's pretty cool, wow!"
-    case 7:
-      return 'I think this is a bug'
-    case 8:
-      return 'Hello World!'
-    case 9:
-      return 'DMs when???'
-    default:
-      return 'this is unlikely'
+function DesktopHeader({
+  newChatControl,
+  onNavigateToSettings,
+}: {
+  newChatControl: DialogControlProps
+  onNavigateToSettings: () => void
+}) {
+  const t = useTheme()
+  const {_} = useLingui()
+  const {gtMobile, gtTablet} = useBreakpoints()
+
+  if (!gtMobile) {
+    return null
   }
+
+  return (
+    <View
+      style={[
+        t.atoms.bg,
+        t.atoms.border_contrast_low,
+        a.border_b,
+        a.flex_row,
+        a.align_center,
+        a.justify_between,
+        a.gap_lg,
+        a.px_lg,
+        a.py_sm,
+      ]}>
+      <Text style={[a.text_2xl, a.font_bold]}>
+        <Trans>Messages</Trans>
+      </Text>
+      <View style={[a.flex_row, a.align_center, a.gap_md]}>
+        <Button
+          label={_(msg`Message settings`)}
+          color="secondary"
+          size="large"
+          variant="ghost"
+          style={[{height: 'auto', width: 'auto'}, a.px_sm, a.py_sm]}
+          onPress={onNavigateToSettings}>
+          <ButtonIcon icon={SettingsSlider} />
+        </Button>
+        {gtTablet && (
+          <Button
+            label={_(msg`New chat`)}
+            color="primary"
+            size="large"
+            variant="solid"
+            style={[{height: 'auto', width: 'auto'}, a.px_md, a.py_sm]}
+            onPress={newChatControl.open}>
+            <ButtonIcon icon={Envelope} position="right" />
+            <ButtonText>
+              <Trans>New chat</Trans>
+            </ButtonText>
+          </Button>
+        )}
+      </View>
+    </View>
+  )
 }
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/Temp/query/query.ts b/src/screens/Messages/Temp/query/query.ts
index 26f9e625f..d207f04af 100644
--- a/src/screens/Messages/Temp/query/query.ts
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/Temp/query/query.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-import {useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import {
+  useInfiniteQuery,
+  useMutation,
+  useQuery,
+  useQueryClient,
+} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
 import * as TempDmChatDefs from '#/temp/dm/defs'
@@ -6,6 +11,7 @@ import * as TempDmChatGetChat from '#/temp/dm/getChat'
 import * as TempDmChatGetChatForMembers from '#/temp/dm/getChatForMembers'
 import * as TempDmChatGetChatLog from '#/temp/dm/getChatLog'
 import * as TempDmChatGetChatMessages from '#/temp/dm/getChatMessages'
+import * as TempDmChatListChats from '#/temp/dm/listChats'
 import {useDmServiceUrlStorage} from '../useDmServiceUrlStorage'
 
 /**
@@ -250,3 +256,26 @@ export function useGetChatFromMembers({
     onError,
   })
 }
+
+export function useListChats() {
+  const headers = useHeaders()
+  const {serviceUrl} = useDmServiceUrlStorage()
+
+  return useInfiniteQuery({
+    queryKey: ['chats'],
+    queryFn: async ({pageParam}) => {
+      const response = await fetch(
+        `${serviceUrl}/xrpc/temp.dm.listChats${
+          pageParam ? `?cursor=${pageParam}` : ''
+        }`,
+        {headers},
+      )
+
+      if (!response.ok) throw new Error('Failed to fetch chats')
+
+      return (await response.json()) as TempDmChatListChats.OutputSchema
+    },
+    initialPageParam: undefined as string | undefined,
+    getNextPageParam: lastPage => lastPage.cursor,
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/view/shell/bottom-bar/BottomBarWeb.tsx b/src/view/shell/bottom-bar/BottomBarWeb.tsx
index d8deaf696..8b316faa5 100644
--- a/src/view/shell/bottom-bar/BottomBarWeb.tsx
+++ b/src/view/shell/bottom-bar/BottomBarWeb.tsx
@@ -122,16 +122,6 @@ export function BottomBarWeb() {
                   )
                 }}
               </NavItem>
-              <NavItem routeName="Messages" href="/messages">
-                {() => {
-                  return (
-                    <Envelope
-                      size="lg"
-                      style={[styles.ctrlIcon, pal.text, styles.messagesIcon]}
-                    />
-                  )
-                }}
-              </NavItem>
               {gate('dms') && (
                 <NavItem routeName="Messages" href="/messages">
                   {({isActive}) => {