diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chatter.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chatter.js
index c8496d62ef4ca..8c5c5d8ba836c 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chatter.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chatter.js
@@ -34,7 +34,15 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
     },
     supportedFieldTypes: ['one2many'],
 
-    // inherited
+    /**
+     * @override
+     * @param {widget} parent
+     * @param {Object} record
+     * @param {Object} mailFields
+     * @param {boolean} [mailFields.mail_activity=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [mailFields.mail_followers=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [mailFields.mail_thread=false]
+     */
     init: function (parent, record, mailFields, options) {
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         this._setState(record);
@@ -61,6 +69,9 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             this.postRefresh = nodeOptions.post_refresh || 'never';
         }
     },
+    /**
+     * @override
+     */
     start: function () {
         this.$topbar = this.$('.o_chatter_topbar');
 
@@ -80,7 +91,15 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
         return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
     },
 
-    // public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @param {Object} record
+     * @param {integer} [record.res_id=undefined]
+     * @param {Object[]} [fieldNames=undefined]
+     */
     update: function (record, fieldNames) {
         var self = this;
 
@@ -120,7 +139,14 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
         });
     },
 
-    // private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {boolean} force
+     */
     _closeComposer: function (force) {
         if (this.composer && (this.composer.is_empty() || force)) {
             this.$el.removeClass('o_chatter_composer_active');
@@ -129,6 +155,24 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             this.composer.clear_composer();
         }
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
+    _disableChatter: function () {
+        this.$('.btn').prop('disabled', true); // disable buttons
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
+    _enableChatter: function () {
+        this.$('.btn').prop('disabled', false); // enable buttons
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} options
+     * @param {Object[]} [options.suggested_partners=[]]
+     * @param {boolean} [options.is_log=false]
+     */
     _openComposer: function (options) {
         var self = this;
         var old_composer = this.composer;
@@ -172,6 +216,11 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             self.$('.o_chatter_button_log_note').toggleClass('o_active', self.composer.options.is_log);
         });
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {Deferred} def
+     * @returns {Deferred}
+     */
     _render: function (def) {
         // the rendering of the chatter is aynchronous: relational data of its fields needs to be
         // fetched (in some case, it might be synchronous as they hold an internal cache).
@@ -196,9 +245,24 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             if (self.fields.thread) {
                 self.fields.thread.$el.appendTo(self.$el);
             }
-        }).always($spinner.remove.bind($spinner));
+        }).always(function () {
+            // disable widgets in creation mode, otherwise enable
+            self._switchEnableChatter(!self.creationMode);
+            $spinner.remove;
+        });
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} record
+     * @param {integer} [record.res_id=false]
+     * @param {string} [record.model=false]
+     * @param {string} record.data.display_name
+     */
     _setState: function (record) {
+
+        this.wasCreationMode = !!this.creationMode;
+        this.creationMode = !record.res_id;
+
         if (!this.record || this.record.res_id !== record.res_id) {
             this.context = {
                 default_res_id: record.res_id || false,
@@ -211,6 +275,20 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
         this.record = record;
         this.record_name = record.data.display_name;
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {boolean} [enable] use true to enable the buttons or false to disable them
+     */
+    _switchEnableChatter: function (enable) {
+        if (_.isBoolean(enable)) {
+            enable ? this._enableChatter() : this._disableChatter();
+        } else {
+            this.$('.btn').prop('disabled', !this.$('.btn').first().prop('disabled')); // toggle based on 1st btn
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
     _updateMentionSuggestions: function () {
         if (!this.fields.followers) {
             return;
@@ -243,7 +321,13 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
         });
     },
 
-    // handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
     _onOpenComposerMessage: function () {
         var self = this;
         if (!this.suggested_partners_def) {
@@ -275,9 +359,21 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             self._openComposer({ is_log: false, suggested_partners: suggested_partners });
         });
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
     _onOpenComposerNote: function () {
         this._openComposer({is_log: true});
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} event
+     * @param {string} event.name='reload_mail_fields'
+     * @param {Object} event.data
+     * @param {boolean} [event.data.activity=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [event.data.followers=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [event.data.thread=false]
+     */
     _onReloadMailFields: function (event) {
         var fieldNames = [];
         if (this.fields.activity && event.data.activity) {
@@ -294,6 +390,9 @@ var Chatter = Widget.extend(chat_mixin, {
             keepChanges: true,
         });
     },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     */
     _onScheduleActivity: function () {
         this.fields.activity.scheduleActivity(false);
     },
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/form_renderer.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/form_renderer.js
index 574075db9d64d..47a2b6b795ecc 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/form_renderer.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/form_renderer.js
@@ -44,39 +44,22 @@ FormRenderer.include({
     /**
      * Overrides the function that renders the nodes to return the chatter's $el
      * for the 'oe_chatter' div node.
-     * Returns an empty div instead of the chatter's $el in create mode.
      *
      * @override
      * @private
      */
     _renderNode: function (node) {
         if (node.tag === 'div' && node.attrs.class === 'oe_chatter') {
-            if (this.chatter) {
-                // Detach the chatter before updating the $el.
-                // This is important because if the view is now in create mode
-                // (edit mode with no res_id), the chatter will be removed from
-                // the DOM, and its handlers will be unbound. By detaching it
-                // beforehand, we ensure to keep its handlers alive so that if
-                // it is re-appended later, everything will still work properly
-                this.chatter.$el.detach();
-            }
-            if (this.mode === 'edit' && !this.state.data.id) {
-                // there is no chatter in create mode
-                var $div = $('<div>');
-                this._handleAttributes($div, node);
-                return $div;
+            if (!this.chatter) {
+                this.chatter = new Chatter(this, this.state, this.mailFields, {
+                    isEditable: this.activeActions.edit,
+                });
+                this.chatter.appendTo($('<div>'));
+                this._handleAttributes(this.chatter.$el, node);
             } else {
-                if (!this.chatter) {
-                    this.chatter = new Chatter(this, this.state, this.mailFields, {
-                        isEditable: this.activeActions.edit,
-                    });
-                    this.chatter.appendTo($('<div>'));
-                    this._handleAttributes(this.chatter.$el, node);
-                } else {
-                    this.chatter.update(this.state);
-                }
-                return this.chatter.$el;
+                this.chatter.update(this.state);
             }
+            return this.chatter.$el;
         } else {
             return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         }
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread.js
index 68a01df2345b2..1a655a52e08e2 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread.js
@@ -67,9 +67,14 @@ var Thread = Widget.extend({
         },
     },
 
+    /**
+     * @override
+     * @param {widget} parent
+     * @param {Object} options
+     */
     init: function (parent, options) {
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
-        this.options = _.defaults(options || {}, {
+        this.enabledOptions = _.defaults(options || {}, {
             display_order: ORDER.ASC,
             display_needactions: true,
             display_stars: true,
@@ -79,13 +84,35 @@ var Thread = Widget.extend({
             display_email_icon: true,
             display_reply_icon: false,
         });
+        this.disabledOptions = {
+            display_order: this.enabledOptions.display_order,
+            display_needactions: false,
+            display_stars: false,
+            display_document_link: false,
+            display_avatar: this.enabledOptions,
+            squash_close_messages: false,
+            display_email_icon: false,
+            display_reply_icon: false,
+        };
+        this.options = this.enabledOptions;
         this.expanded_msg_ids = [];
         this.selected_id = null;
     },
 
+    /**
+     * @param {Object[]} messages
+     * @param {Object} [options]
+     * @param {integer} [options.display_order=ORDER.ASC]
+     * @param {boolean} [options.display_load_more=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [options.isCreationMode=false]
+     * @param {boolean} [options.squash_close_messages=false]
+     */
     render: function (messages, options) {
         var self = this;
-        var msgs = _.map(messages, this._preprocess_message.bind(this));
+
+        this.options = options.isCreationMode ? this.disabledOptions : this.enabledOptions;
+
+        var msgs = _.map(messages, this._preprocessMessage.bind(this));
         if (this.options.display_order === ORDER.DESC) {
             msgs.reverse();
         }
@@ -219,42 +246,10 @@ var Thread = Widget.extend({
         }
     },
 
-    _redirect: _.debounce(function (options) {
-        if ('channel_id' in options) {
-            this.trigger('redirect_to_channel', options.channel_id);
-        } else {
-            this.trigger('redirect', options.model, options.id);
-        }
-    }, 200, true),
-
     on_click_show_more: function () {
         this.trigger('load_more_messages');
     },
 
-    _preprocess_message: function (message) {
-        var msg = _.extend({}, message);
-
-        msg.date = moment.min(msg.date, moment());
-        msg.hour = time_from_now(msg.date);
-
-        var date = msg.date.format('YYYY-MM-DD');
-        if (date === moment().format('YYYY-MM-DD')) {
-            msg.day = _t("Today");
-        } else if (date === moment().subtract(1, 'days').format('YYYY-MM-DD')) {
-            msg.day = _t("Yesterday");
-        } else {
-            msg.day = msg.date.format('LL');
-        }
-
-        if (_.contains(this.expanded_msg_ids, message.id)) {
-            msg.expanded = true;
-        }
-
-        msg.display_subject = message.subject && message.message_type !== 'notification' && !(message.model && (message.model !== 'mail.channel'));
-        msg.is_selected = msg.id === this.selected_id;
-        return msg;
-    },
-
     /**
      * Removes a message and re-renders the thread
      * @param {int} [message_id] the id of the removed message
@@ -308,6 +303,56 @@ var Thread = Widget.extend({
         clearInterval(this.update_timestamps_interval);
     },
 
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} message
+     * @param {integer} [message.id]
+     * @param {string} [message.model]
+     * @param {string} [message.subject]
+     * @param {string} [message.message_type]
+     */
+    _preprocessMessage: function (message) {
+        var msg = _.extend({}, message);
+
+        msg.date = moment.min(msg.date, moment());
+        msg.hour = time_from_now(msg.date);
+
+        var date = msg.date.format('YYYY-MM-DD');
+        if (date === moment().format('YYYY-MM-DD')) {
+            msg.day = _t("Today");
+        } else if (date === moment().subtract(1, 'days').format('YYYY-MM-DD')) {
+            msg.day = _t("Yesterday");
+        } else {
+            msg.day = msg.date.format('LL');
+        }
+
+        if (_.contains(this.expanded_msg_ids, message.id)) {
+            msg.expanded = true;
+        }
+
+        msg.display_subject = message.subject && message.message_type !== 'notification' && !(message.model && (message.model !== 'mail.channel'));
+        msg.is_selected = msg.id === this.selected_id;
+        return msg;
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} options
+     * @param {integer} [options.channel_id]
+     * @param {string} options.model
+     * @param {integer} options.id
+     */
+    _redirect: _.debounce(function (options) {
+        if ('channel_id' in options) {
+            this.trigger('redirect_to_channel', options.channel_id);
+        } else {
+            this.trigger('redirect', options.model, options.id);
+        }
+    }, 200, true),
+
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Handlers
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_field.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_field.js
index 75e379e6ea112..6f0ed7b2db53f 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_field.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/thread_field.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ var AbstractField = require('web.AbstractField');
 var core = require('web.core');
 var field_registry = require('web.field_registry');
 var concurrency = require('web.concurrency');
+var session = require('web.session');
 
 var _t = core._t;
 
@@ -69,7 +70,15 @@ var ThreadField = AbstractField.extend(chat_mixin, {
         this.res_id = record.res_id;
     },
 
-    // public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @param  {Object} message
+     * @param  {integer[]} message.partner_ids
+     * @return {Deferred}
+     */
     postMessage: function (message) {
         var self = this;
         var options = {model: this.model, res_id: this.res_id};
@@ -84,18 +93,54 @@ var ThreadField = AbstractField.extend(chat_mixin, {
             });
     },
 
-    // private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @returns {Object[]} an array containing a single message 'Creating a new record...'
+     */
+    _forgeCreationModeMessages: function () {
+        return [{
+            id: 0,
+            body: "<p>Creating a new record...</p>",
+            date: moment(),
+            author_id: [session.partner_id, session.partner_display_name],
+            displayed_author: session.partner_display_name,
+            avatar_src: "/web/image/res.partner/" + session.partner_id + "/image_small",
+            attachment_ids: [],
+            customer_email_data: [],
+            tracking_value_ids: [],
+        }];
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {integer[]} ids
+     * @param {Object} [options]
+     */
     _fetchAndRenderThread: function (ids, options) {
         var self = this;
         options = options || {};
         options.ids = ids;
         var fetch_def = this.dp.add(this._getMessages(options));
         return fetch_def.then(function (raw_messages) {
-            self.thread.render(raw_messages, {display_load_more: raw_messages.length < ids.length});
+            var isCreationMode = false;
+            if (!self.res_id) {
+                raw_messages = self._forgeCreationModeMessages();
+                isCreationMode = true;
+            }
+            self.thread.render(raw_messages, {
+                display_load_more: raw_messages.length < ids.length,
+                isCreationMode: isCreationMode,
+            });
         });
     },
 
-    // handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
     /**
      * When a new message arrives, fetch its data to render it
      * @param {Number} message_id : the identifier of the new message
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/xml/chatter.xml b/addons/mail/static/src/xml/chatter.xml
index d45bd3312037e..e36bff6e6f1d4 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/xml/chatter.xml
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/xml/chatter.xml
@@ -50,14 +50,14 @@
         Chatter (mail_thread widget) buttons
     -->
     <t t-name="mail.Chatter.Buttons">
-        <button t-if="new_message_btn" type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_new_message" title="Send a message">
+        <button t-if="new_message_btn" type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_new_message" title="Send a message" disabled="disabled">
             Send message
         </button>
-        <button t-if="log_note_btn" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_log_note" title="Log a note. Followers will not be notified.">
+        <button t-if="log_note_btn" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_log_note" title="Log a note. Followers will not be notified." disabled="disabled">
             Log note
         </button>
-        <button t-if="schedule_activity_btn" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_schedule_activity" title="Log or schedule an activity">
-            <i class="fa fa-clock-o"/> <t t-if="isMobile">Activity</t><t t-else="">Schedule activity</t>
+        <button t-if="schedule_activity_btn" class="btn btn-sm btn-link o_chatter_button_schedule_activity" title="Log or schedule an activity" disabled="disabled">
+        <i class="fa fa-clock-o"/> <t t-if="isMobile">Activity</t><t t-else="">Schedule activity</t>
         </button>
     </t>
 
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/tests/chatter_tests.js b/addons/mail/static/tests/chatter_tests.js
index d4b4c37704dee..a19e9485fb325 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/tests/chatter_tests.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/tests/chatter_tests.js
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ QUnit.test('basic rendering', function (assert) {
     form.destroy();
 });
 
-QUnit.test('chatter is not rendered in mode === create', function (assert) {
-    assert.expect(4);
+QUnit.test('chatter in create mode', function (assert) {
+    assert.expect(8);
 
     var form = createView({
         View: FormView,
@@ -197,16 +197,30 @@ QUnit.test('chatter is not rendered in mode === create', function (assert) {
     assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 1,
         "chatter should be displayed");
 
+    // entering create mode
     form.$buttons.find('.o_form_button_create').click();
-
-    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 0,
-        "chatter should not be displayed");
-
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 1,
+        "chatter should still be displayed in create mode");
+
+    // topbar buttons disabled in create mode (e.g. 'send message')
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter_topbar button:not(:disabled)').length, 0,
+        "button should be disabled in create mode")
+
+    // chatter containing a single message with 'Creating a record...'
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_mail_thread').length, 1,
+        "there should be a mail thread");
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_thread_message').length, 1,
+        "there should be a single thread message");
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_thread_message_content').text().trim(),
+        "Creating a new record...",
+        "the content of the message should be 'Creating a new record...'");
+
+    // getting out of creation mode by saving
     form.$('.o_field_char').val('coucou').trigger('input');
     form.$buttons.find('.o_form_button_save').click();
 
     assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 1,
-        "chatter should be displayed");
+        "chatter should still be displayed after saving from creation mode");
 
     // check if chatter buttons still work
     form.$('.o_chatter_button_new_message').click();
@@ -259,8 +273,8 @@ QUnit.test('chatter rendering inside the sheet', function (assert) {
 
     form.$buttons.find('.o_form_button_create').click();
 
-    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 0,
-        "chatter should not be displayed");
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_chatter').length, 1,
+        "chatter should be displayed"); // creating a new record...
 
     form.$('.o_field_char').val('coucou').trigger('input');
     form.$buttons.find('.o_form_button_save').click();
@@ -861,7 +875,7 @@ QUnit.test('form activity widget: schedule activity does not discard changes', f
 });
 
 QUnit.test('form activity widget: mark as done and remove', function (assert) {
-    assert.expect(14);
+    assert.expect(15);
 
     var self = this;
 
@@ -969,6 +983,8 @@ QUnit.test('form activity widget: mark as done and remove', function (assert) {
         "there should be no more activity");
     assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_mail_thread .o_thread_message').length, 1,
         "a chatter message should have been generated");
+    assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_thread_message:contains(The activity has been done)').length, 1,
+        "the message's body should be correct");
     form.destroy();
 });
 
diff --git a/addons/web/models/ir_http.py b/addons/web/models/ir_http.py
index 23a87f4cd027b..0cb7c5a6daa3b 100644
--- a/addons/web/models/ir_http.py
+++ b/addons/web/models/ir_http.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def session_info(self):
             "server_version_info": version_info.get('server_version_info'),
             "name": user.name,
             "username": user.login,
+            "partner_display_name": user.partner_id.display_name,
             "company_id": request.env.user.company_id.id if request.session.uid else None,
             "partner_id": request.env.user.partner_id.id if request.session.uid and request.env.user.partner_id else None,
             "user_companies": {'current_company': (user.company_id.id, user.company_id.name), 'allowed_companies': [(comp.id, comp.name) for comp in user.company_ids]} if display_switch_company_menu else False,