diff --git a/mod/message.php b/mod/message.php
index f04bdaecd7..6326bb9ea5 100644
--- a/mod/message.php
+++ b/mod/message.php
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ function message_post(App $a)
 	$replyto   = !empty($_REQUEST['replyto'])   ? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_REQUEST['replyto'])) : '';
 	$subject   = !empty($_REQUEST['subject'])   ? Strings::escapeTags(trim($_REQUEST['subject'])) : '';
 	$body      = !empty($_REQUEST['body'])      ? Strings::escapeHtml(trim($_REQUEST['body']))    : '';
-	$recipient = !empty($_REQUEST['messageto']) ? intval($_REQUEST['messageto'])                  : 0;
+	$recipient = !empty($_REQUEST['recipient']) ? intval($_REQUEST['recipient'])                  : 0;
 
 	$ret = Mail::send($recipient, $body, $subject, $replyto);
 	$norecip = false;
@@ -215,50 +215,14 @@ function message_content(App $a)
 			'$linkurl' => DI::l10n()->t('Please enter a link URL:')
 		]);
 
-		$preselect = isset($a->argv[2]) ? [$a->argv[2]] : [];
+		$recipientId = $a->argv[2] ?? null;
 
-		$prename = $preurl = $preid = '';
-
-		if ($preselect) {
-			$r = q("SELECT `name`, `url`, `id` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d AND `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-				intval(local_user()),
-				intval($a->argv[2])
-			);
-			if (!DBA::isResult($r)) {
-				$r = q("SELECT `name`, `url`, `id` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d AND `nurl` = '%s' LIMIT 1",
-					intval(local_user()),
-					DBA::escape(Strings::normaliseLink(base64_decode($a->argv[2])))
-				);
-			}
-
-			if (!DBA::isResult($r)) {
-				$r = q("SELECT `name`, `url`, `id` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d AND `addr` = '%s' LIMIT 1",
-					intval(local_user()),
-					DBA::escape(base64_decode($a->argv[2]))
-				);
-			}
-
-			if (DBA::isResult($r)) {
-				$prename = $r[0]['name'];
-				$preid = $r[0]['id'];
-				$preselect = [$preid];
-			} else {
-				$preselect = [];
-			}
-		}
-
-		$prefill = $preselect ? $prename : '';
-
-		// the ugly select box
-		$select = ACL::getMessageContactSelectHTML('messageto', 'message-to-select', $preselect, 4, 10);
+		$select = ACL::getMessageContactSelectHTML($recipientId);
 
 		$tpl = Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('prv_message.tpl');
 		$o .= Renderer::replaceMacros($tpl, [
 			'$header'     => DI::l10n()->t('Send Private Message'),
 			'$to'         => DI::l10n()->t('To:'),
-			'$showinputs' => 'true',
-			'$prefill'    => $prefill,
-			'$preid'      => $preid,
 			'$subject'    => DI::l10n()->t('Subject:'),
 			'$subjtxt'    => $_REQUEST['subject'] ?? '',
 			'$text'       => $_REQUEST['body'] ?? '',
@@ -413,7 +377,7 @@ function message_content(App $a)
 			$seen = $message['seen'];
 		}
 
-		$select = $message['name'] . '<input type="hidden" name="messageto" value="' . $contact_id . '" />';
+		$select = $message['name'] . '<input type="hidden" name="recipient" value="' . $contact_id . '" />';
 		$parent = '<input type="hidden" name="replyto" value="' . $message['parent-uri'] . '" />';
 
 		$tpl = Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('mail_display.tpl');
@@ -429,7 +393,6 @@ function message_content(App $a)
 			// reply
 			'$header' => DI::l10n()->t('Send Reply'),
 			'$to' => DI::l10n()->t('To:'),
-			'$showinputs' => '',
 			'$subject' => DI::l10n()->t('Subject:'),
 			'$subjtxt' => $message['title'],
 			'$readonly' => ' readonly="readonly" style="background: #BBBBBB;" ',
diff --git a/src/Core/ACL.php b/src/Core/ACL.php
index 504e5d847d..4df15dc536 100644
--- a/src/Core/ACL.php
+++ b/src/Core/ACL.php
@@ -33,75 +33,52 @@ use Friendica\Model\Group;
 class ACL
 {
 	/**
-	 * Returns a select input tag with all the contact of the local user
+	 * Returns a select input tag for private message recipient
 	 *
-	 * @param string $selname     Name attribute of the select input tag
-	 * @param string $selclass    Class attribute of the select input tag
-	 * @param array  $preselected Contact IDs that should be already selected
-	 * @param int    $size        Length of the select box
-	 * @param int    $tabindex    Select input tag tabindex attribute
+	 * @param int  $selected Existing recipien contact ID
 	 * @return string
 	 * @throws \Exception
 	 */
-	public static function getMessageContactSelectHTML($selname, $selclass, array $preselected = [], $size = 4, $tabindex = null)
+	public static function getMessageContactSelectHTML(int $selected = null)
 	{
-		$a = DI::app();
-
 		$o = '';
 
+		$page = DI::page();
+
+		$page->registerFooterScript(Theme::getPathForFile('asset/typeahead.js/dist/typeahead.bundle.js'));
+		$page->registerFooterScript(Theme::getPathForFile('js/friendica-tagsinput/friendica-tagsinput.js'));
+		$page->registerStylesheet(Theme::getPathForFile('js/friendica-tagsinput/friendica-tagsinput.css'));
+		$page->registerStylesheet(Theme::getPathForFile('js/friendica-tagsinput/friendica-tagsinput-typeahead.css'));
+
 		// When used for private messages, we limit correspondence to mutual DFRN/Friendica friends and the selector
 		// to one recipient. By default our selector allows multiple selects amongst all contacts.
-		$sql_extra = sprintf(" AND `rel` = %d ", intval(Contact::FRIEND));
-		$sql_extra .= sprintf(" AND `network` IN ('%s' , '%s') ", Protocol::DFRN, Protocol::DIASPORA);
+		$condition = [
+			'uid' => local_user(),
+			'self' => false,
+			'blocked' => false,
+			'pending' => false,
+			'archive' => false,
+			'deleted' => false,
+			'rel' => [Contact::FOLLOWER, Contact::SHARING, Contact::FRIEND],
+			'network' => Protocol::FEDERATED,
+		];
 
-		$tabindex_attr = !empty($tabindex) ? ' tabindex="' . intval($tabindex) . '"' : '';
-
-		$hidepreselected = '';
-		if ($preselected) {
-			$sql_extra .= " AND `id` IN (" . implode(",", $preselected) . ")";
-			$hidepreselected = ' style="display: none;"';
-		}
-
-		$o .= "<select name=\"$selname\" id=\"$selclass\" class=\"$selclass\" size=\"$size\"$tabindex_attr$hidepreselected>\r\n";
-
-		$stmt = DBA::p("SELECT `id`, `name`, `url`, `network` FROM `contact`
-			WHERE `uid` = ? AND NOT `self` AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `pending` AND NOT `archive` AND NOT `deleted` AND `notify` != ''
-			$sql_extra
-			ORDER BY `name` ASC ", intval(local_user())
+		$contacts = Contact::selectToArray(
+			['id', 'name', 'addr', 'micro'],
+			DBA::mergeConditions($condition, ["`notify` != ''"])
 		);
 
-		$contacts = DBA::toArray($stmt);
-
 		$arr = ['contact' => $contacts, 'entry' => $o];
 
-		// e.g. 'network_pre_contact_deny', 'profile_pre_contact_allow'
-		Hook::callAll(DI::module()->getName() . '_pre_' . $selname, $arr);
+		Hook::callAll(DI::module()->getName() . '_pre_recipient', $arr);
 
-		$receiverlist = [];
+		$tpl = Renderer::getMarkupTemplate('acl/message_recipient.tpl');
+		$o = Renderer::replaceMacros($tpl, [
+			'$contacts' => $contacts,
+			'$selected' => $selected,
+		]);
 
-		if (DBA::isResult($contacts)) {
-			foreach ($contacts as $contact) {
-				if (in_array($contact['id'], $preselected)) {
-					$selected = ' selected="selected"';
-				} else {
-					$selected = '';
-				}
-
-				$trimmed = Protocol::formatMention($contact['url'], $contact['name']);
-
-				$receiverlist[] = $trimmed;
-
-				$o .= "<option value=\"{$contact['id']}\"$selected title=\"{$contact['name']}|{$contact['url']}\" >$trimmed</option>\r\n";
-			}
-		}
-
-		$o .= '</select>' . PHP_EOL;
-
-		if ($preselected) {
-			$o .= implode(', ', $receiverlist);
-		}
-
-		Hook::callAll(DI::module()->getName() . '_post_' . $selname, $o);
+		Hook::callAll(DI::module()->getName() . '_post_recipient', $o);
 
 		return $o;
 	}
diff --git a/view/templates/acl/message_recipient.tpl b/view/templates/acl/message_recipient.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..07c22f449e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/view/templates/acl/message_recipient.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+<select name="recipient" class="form-control input-lg" id="recipient">
+	{{foreach $contacts as $contact}}
+		<option value="{{$contact.id}}"{{if $contact.id == $selected}} selected{{/if}}>{{$contact.name}}</option>
+	{{/foreach}}
+</select>
+<script type="text/javascript">
+	$(function() {
+		let $recipient_input = $('[name="recipient"]');
+
+		let acl = new Bloodhound({
+			local: {{$contacts|@json_encode nofilter}},
+			identify: function(obj) { return obj.id.toString(); },
+			datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace(['name', 'addr']),
+			queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,
+			sorter: function (itemA, itemB) {
+				if (itemA.name === itemB.name) {
+					return 0;
+				} else if (itemA.name > itemB.name) {
+					return 1;
+				} else {
+					return -1;
+				}
+			},
+		});
+		acl.initialize();
+
+		let suggestionTemplate = function (item) {
+			return '<div><img src="' + item.micro + '" alt="" style="float: left; width: auto; height: 2.8em; margin-right: 0.5em;"><p style="margin-left: 3.3em;"><strong>' + item.name + '</strong><br /><em>' + item.addr + '</em></p></div>';
+		};
+
+		$recipient_input.tagsinput({
+			confirmKeys: [13, 44],
+			freeInput: false,
+			tagClass: 'label label-info',
+			itemValue: function (item) { return item.id.toString(); },
+			itemText: 'name',
+			itemThumb: 'micro',
+			itemTitle: function(item) {
+				return item.addr;
+			},
+			typeaheadjs: {
+				name: 'contacts',
+				displayKey: 'name',
+				templates: {
+					suggestion: suggestionTemplate
+				},
+				source: acl.ttAdapter()
+			}
+		});
+
+		// Import existing ACL into the tags input fields.
+		$recipient_input.tagsinput('add', acl.get({{$selected}})[0]);
+	});
+</script>
diff --git a/view/templates/message-head.tpl b/view/templates/message-head.tpl
index fe71bc425b..e69de29bb2 100644
--- a/view/templates/message-head.tpl
+++ b/view/templates/message-head.tpl
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-
-<script>
-$(document).ready(function() {
-	$("#recip").name_autocomplete(baseurl + '/search/acl', 'm', false, function(data) {
-		$("#recip-complete").val(data.id);
-	});
-});
-</script>
diff --git a/view/theme/duepuntozero/style.css b/view/theme/duepuntozero/style.css
index 3c8a18c88e..85669be9ff 100644
--- a/view/theme/duepuntozero/style.css
+++ b/view/theme/duepuntozero/style.css
@@ -3228,9 +3228,6 @@ div.jGrowl div.info {
 	width:100px;
 }
 
-#recip {
-
-}
 .autocomplete-w1 { background: #ffffff no-repeat bottom right; position:absolute; top:0px; left:0px; margin:6px 0 0 6px; /* IE6 fix: */ _background:none; _margin:1px 0 0 0; }
 .autocomplete { color:#000; border:1px solid #999; background:#FFF; cursor:default; text-align:left; max-height:350px; overflow:auto; margin:-6px 6px 6px -6px; /* IE6 specific: */ _height:350px;  _margin:0; _overflow-x:hidden; }
 .autocomplete .selected { background:#F0F0F0; }
diff --git a/view/theme/duepuntozero/templates/prv_message.tpl b/view/theme/duepuntozero/templates/prv_message.tpl
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f658ef811..0000000000
--- a/view/theme/duepuntozero/templates/prv_message.tpl
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-
-
-<h3>{{$header}}</h3>
-
-<div id="prvmail-wrapper" >
-<form id="prvmail-form" action="message" method="post" >
-
-{{$parent nofilter}}
-
-<div id="prvmail-to-label">{{$to}}</div>
-
-{{if $showinputs}}
-<input type="text" id="recip" name="messagerecip" value="{{$prefill}}" maxlength="255" size="64" tabindex="10" />
-<input type="hidden" id="recip-complete" name="messageto" value="{{$preid}}">
-{{else}}
-{{$select nofilter}}
-{{/if}}
-
-<div id="prvmail-subject-label">{{$subject}}</div>
-<input type="text" size="64" maxlength="255" id="prvmail-subject" name="subject" value="{{$subjtxt}}" {{$readonly}} tabindex="11" />
-
-<div id="prvmail-message-label">{{$yourmessage}}</div>
-<textarea rows="8" cols="72" class="prvmail-text" id="prvmail-text" name="body" tabindex="12">{{$text}}</textarea>
-
-
-<div id="prvmail-submit-wrapper" >
-	<input type="submit" id="prvmail-submit" name="submit" value="{{$submit}}" tabindex="13" />
-	<div id="prvmail-upload-wrapper" >
-		<div id="prvmail-upload" class="icon border camera" title="{{$upload}}" ></div>
-	</div> 
-	<div id="prvmail-link-wrapper" >
-		<div id="prvmail-link" class="icon border link" title="{{$insert}}" onclick="jotGetLink();" ></div>
-	</div> 
-	<div id="prvmail-rotator-wrapper" >
-		<img id="prvmail-rotator" src="images/rotator.gif" alt="{{$wait}}" title="{{$wait}}" style="display: none;" />
-	</div> 
-</div>
-<div id="prvmail-end"></div>
-</form>
-</div>
diff --git a/view/theme/frio/templates/prv_message.tpl b/view/theme/frio/templates/prv_message.tpl
index 68db2568a2..f936741c02 100644
--- a/view/theme/frio/templates/prv_message.tpl
+++ b/view/theme/frio/templates/prv_message.tpl
@@ -2,21 +2,12 @@
 <div id="prvmail-wrapper">
 <form id="prvmail-form" action="message" method="post" >
 
-	{{* Disable the header. We will see if we will need it
-	<h3>{{$header}}</h3>
-	*}}
-
 	{{$parent nofilter}}
 
 	{{* The To: form-group which contains the message recipient *}}
 	<div id="prvmail-to-label" class="form-group">
-		<label for="recip">{{$to}}</label><br>
-		{{if $showinputs}}
-		<input type="text" id="recip" class="form-control" name="messagerecip" value="{{$prefill}}" tabindex="10" {{if $prefill}}disabled{{else}}aria-required="true"{{/if}} />
-		<input type="hidden" id="recip-complete" name="messageto" value="{{$preid}}">
-		{{else}}
+		<label for="recipient">{{$to}}</label><br>
 		{{$select nofilter}}
-		{{/if}}
 	</div>
 
 	{{* The subject input field *}}
diff --git a/view/theme/quattro/templates/prv_message.tpl b/view/theme/quattro/templates/prv_message.tpl
deleted file mode 100644
index c956fbf726..0000000000
--- a/view/theme/quattro/templates/prv_message.tpl
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-<h3>{{$header}}</h3>
-
-<div id="prvmail-wrapper" >
-<form id="prvmail-form" action="message" method="post" >
-
-{{$parent nofilter}}
-
-<div id="prvmail-to-label">{{$to}}</div>
-{{if $showinputs}}
-<input type="text" id="recip" name="messagerecip" value="{{$prefill}}" maxlength="255" size="64" tabindex="10" />
-<input type="hidden" id="recip-complete" name="messageto" value="{{$preid}}">
-{{else}}
-{{$select nofilter}}
-{{/if}}
-
-<div id="prvmail-subject-label">{{$subject}}</div>
-<input type="text" size="64" maxlength="255" id="prvmail-subject" name="subject" value="{{$subjtxt}}" {{$readonly}} tabindex="11" />
-
-<div id="prvmail-message-label">{{$yourmessage}}</div>
-<textarea rows="20" cols="72" class="prvmail-text" id="prvmail-text" name="body" tabindex="12">{{$text}}</textarea>
-
-
-<div id="prvmail-submit-wrapper" >
-	<input type="submit" id="prvmail-submit" name="submit" value="{{$submit}}" tabindex="13" />
-	<div id="prvmail-upload-wrapper" >
-		<div id="prvmail-upload" class="icon border camera" title="{{$upload}}" ></div>
-	</div> 
-	<div id="prvmail-link-wrapper" >
-		<div id="prvmail-link" class="icon border link" title="{{$insert}}" onclick="jotGetLink();" ></div>
-	</div> 
-	<div id="prvmail-rotator-wrapper" >
-		<img id="prvmail-rotator" src="images/rotator.gif" alt="{{$wait}}" title="{{$wait}}" style="display: none;" />
-	</div> 
-</div>
-<div id="prvmail-end"></div>
-</form>
-</div>