diff --git a/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.cpp b/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.cpp
index 7b05e24..15ad532 100644
--- a/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ int composeInputCallback(ImGuiInputTextCallbackData* data) {
 bool s_show_new_convo = false;
 char s_new_zaddr[128] = "";
 char s_new_msg[256] = "";
+char s_pending_new_zaddr[128] = "";   // cross-tab request from Contacts' "Message" action
+bool s_pending_new_set = false;
 char s_search[80] = "";       // conversation-list filter (Q8)
 bool s_show_hidden = false;   // when on, the list also shows hidden conversations (with an Unhide action)
 bool s_show_delete_confirm = false;  // "Delete conversation?" confirm overlay (revive vs block)
@@ -766,6 +768,17 @@ void RenderChatTab(App* app)
         return;
     }
 
+    // Consume a cross-tab "Message this contact" request (from Contacts): open the New-conversation
+    // dialog prefilled with the z-address. Runs every frame the tab renders, so it fires right after the
+    // Contacts tab switches us here.
+    if (s_pending_new_set) {
+        s_pending_new_set = false;
+        s_show_new_convo = true;
+        std::memcpy(s_new_zaddr, s_pending_new_zaddr, sizeof(s_new_zaddr));
+        s_new_msg[0] = '\0';
+        sodium_memzero(s_pending_new_zaddr, sizeof(s_pending_new_zaddr));
+    }
+
     // Resolve the Chat-tab clock once per frame: the chat override wins, else the global format.
     if (auto* cst = app->settings()) {
         const int ctf = cst->getChatTimeFormat();   // 0=follow global, 1=24h, 2=12h
@@ -2020,17 +2033,27 @@ void RenderChatTab(App* app)
                 const std::string activeHash = app->activeWalletScopeId();  // per-wallet contact scope
                 int shown = 0;
                 for (const auto& e : book.entries()) {
-                    if (e.address.empty() || e.address[0] != 'z') continue;   // chat requires a z-address
+                    if (e.address.empty()) continue;
                     // Respect the same per-wallet scope the Contacts tab enforces — don't leak another
                     // wallet's scoped contact into this wallet's picker (global + legacy fail open).
                     const bool visible = e.isGlobal() ||
                         (e.scope.rfind("w:", 0) == 0 ? (!activeHash.empty() && e.scope == activeHash) : true);
                     if (!visible) continue;
-                    ++shown;
                     const std::string item = e.label + "   " + shorten(e.address, 16, 8);
-                    if (ImGui::Selectable(item.c_str())) {
-                        std::strncpy(s_new_zaddr, e.address.c_str(), sizeof(s_new_zaddr) - 1);
-                        s_new_zaddr[sizeof(s_new_zaddr) - 1] = '\0';
+                    // Show transparent contacts too, but DISABLED with a reason — chat needs a shielded
+                    // address, so silently hiding them left the user wondering where a contact went.
+                    if (dragonx::util::isShieldedAddress(e.address)) {
+                        ++shown;
+                        if (ImGui::Selectable(item.c_str())) {
+                            std::strncpy(s_new_zaddr, e.address.c_str(), sizeof(s_new_zaddr) - 1);
+                            s_new_zaddr[sizeof(s_new_zaddr) - 1] = '\0';
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        ImGui::BeginDisabled();
+                        ImGui::Selectable(item.c_str(), false);
+                        ImGui::EndDisabled();
+                        if (ImGui::IsItemHovered(ImGuiHoveredFlags_AllowWhenDisabled))
+                            material::Tooltip("%s", TR("chat_contact_needs_z"));
                     }
                 }
                 if (shown == 0) {
@@ -2242,6 +2265,8 @@ void ResetChatTab()
     sodium_memzero(s_compose, sizeof(s_compose));
     sodium_memzero(s_new_zaddr, sizeof(s_new_zaddr));
     sodium_memzero(s_new_msg, sizeof(s_new_msg));
+    sodium_memzero(s_pending_new_zaddr, sizeof(s_pending_new_zaddr));
+    s_pending_new_set = false;
     sodium_memzero(s_rename_buf, sizeof(s_rename_buf));
     s_selected_cid.clear();
     s_scroll_to_cid.clear();
@@ -2268,6 +2293,13 @@ void ResetChatTab()
     s_msgmenu_index = -1;
 }
 
+void OpenChatNewConversation(const std::string& zaddr)
+{
+    std::strncpy(s_pending_new_zaddr, zaddr.c_str(), sizeof(s_pending_new_zaddr) - 1);
+    s_pending_new_zaddr[sizeof(s_pending_new_zaddr) - 1] = '\0';
+    s_pending_new_set = true;
+}
+
 void RenderChatSettingsControls(App* app, float contentWidth, bool drawCards)
 {
     auto* st = app ? app->settings() : nullptr;
diff --git a/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.h b/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.h
index 71fe390..8f7b93f 100644
--- a/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.h
+++ b/src/ui/windows/chat_tab.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <string>
+
 namespace dragonx {
 
 class App;
@@ -44,5 +46,11 @@ void RenderChatSettingsControls(App* app, float contentWidth = 0.0f, bool drawCa
  */
 void ResetChatTab();
 
+/**
+ * @brief Ask the Chat tab to open its New-conversation dialog prefilled with this z-address (consumed
+ *        on the next RenderChatTab frame). Used by the Contacts tab's "Message" action.
+ */
+void OpenChatNewConversation(const std::string& zaddr);
+
 } // namespace ui
 } // namespace dragonx
diff --git a/src/ui/windows/contacts_tab.cpp b/src/ui/windows/contacts_tab.cpp
index c018aef..8db2883 100644
--- a/src/ui/windows/contacts_tab.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/windows/contacts_tab.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "../../util/platform.h"
 #include "image_picker.h"
 #include "transactions_tab.h"
+#include "chat_tab.h"           // OpenChatNewConversation — Contacts "Message" action
 #include "../sidebar.h"
 #include "../layout.h"
 #include "imgui.h"
@@ -537,6 +538,15 @@ void RenderContactsTab(App* app)
         SetTransactionsAddressFilter(book.entries()[s_selected_index].address);
         app->setCurrentPage(ui::NavPage::History);
     };
+    // Message a contact in Chat — only z-contacts (chat needs a shielded address to carry encrypted
+    // memos). Mirrors doViewTransactions: hand the address to the Chat tab and switch there.
+    auto doMessage = [&]() {
+        if (!selValid()) return;
+        const auto& e = book.entries()[s_selected_index];
+        if (!isShieldedAddr(e.address)) return;
+        OpenChatNewConversation(e.address);
+        app->setCurrentPage(ui::NavPage::Chat);
+    };
 
     // Add/edit form — a modal popup layered over the tab, with a live contact preview and an avatar
     // picker (default Z/T badge, a Material icon, or a custom image via the in-app image picker).
@@ -1465,6 +1475,14 @@ void RenderContactsTab(App* app)
     if (ImGui::BeginPopup("##contactCtx")) {
         if (ImGui::MenuItem(TR("copy_address")))     doCopy();
         if (ImGui::MenuItem(TR("view_transactions"))) doViewTransactions();
+#if DRAGONX_ENABLE_CHAT
+        {
+            const bool canMsg = selValid() && isShieldedAddr(book.entries()[s_selected_index].address);
+            if (ImGui::MenuItem(TR("contacts_message"), nullptr, false, canMsg)) doMessage();
+            if (!canMsg && ImGui::IsItemHovered(ImGuiHoveredFlags_AllowWhenDisabled))
+                material::Tooltip("%s", TR("contacts_message_needs_z"));
+        }
+#endif
         if (ImGui::MenuItem(TR("edit")))             openEdit();
         ImGui::Separator();
         if (ImGui::MenuItem(TR("delete")))           doDelete();
diff --git a/src/util/i18n.cpp b/src/util/i18n.cpp
index 2c9b4ac..fad6a28 100644
--- a/src/util/i18n.cpp
+++ b/src/util/i18n.cpp
@@ -300,6 +300,9 @@ void I18n::loadBuiltinEnglish()
         strings_["chat_unblocked_toast"] = "Conversation unblocked";
         strings_["chat_pick_contact"] = "Choose from contacts\xE2\x80\xA6";
         strings_["chat_no_z_contacts"] = "No shielded-address contacts yet";
+        strings_["chat_contact_needs_z"] = "Needs a shielded (z) address to chat";
+        strings_["contacts_message"] = "Message";
+        strings_["contacts_message_needs_z"] = "Chat needs a shielded (z) address — this contact only has a transparent one";
         strings_["chat_copy_address_tip"] = "Click to copy address";
         strings_["chat_verify_key"] = "Identity key \xE2\x80\x94 compare to verify";
         strings_["chat_awaiting_key"] = "Waiting for reply";