Manage channel roles, members, and defaults
Add or remove channel members, assign the Channel Manager, set a default channel, or export its history.
What someone can do in a channel depends on their workspace role and channel membership. Each channel also has a Channel Manager who can manage its settings and members.
Who can manage a channel?
- The channel creator starts as its Channel Manager.
- The Channel Manager and workspace owners or admins can change the channel name, description, and visibility.
- They can also remove members, assign a new manager, and delete the channel from the active list.
- Any active team member in the channel can add people.
- Only workspace owners and admins can make a channel a default channel.
- Channel members can leave. They can also save a CSV copy if that option is shown.
A workspace owner or admin may need to join a channel before opening its chat or settings.
Add channel members
- Open the channel.
- Open the channel settings.
- Open Members.
- Select Add people.
- Choose team members or client contacts.
- Select Add person or Add people.
Read the warning about past messages before you add people.
Client contacts appear when Portal live chat access is on. You also need access to their client account.
Remove a member
The Channel Manager or a workspace owner or admin can remove another member.
- Open the channel settings.
- Open Members.
- Find the person.
- Open the menu beside their name and select Remove from channel.
- Confirm the change.
The removed person loses access to the channel. Adding them later makes them an active member again.
Assign a new Channel Manager
There is one Channel Manager at a time.
- Open the channel settings.
- Open Members.
- Find an active team member.
- Open the menu beside their name and select Make channel manager.
- Choose Assign Channel Manager or Make manager.
The old manager becomes a regular member. Assign another manager before the current manager leaves or is removed.
Make a default channel
A default channel is a public channel that adds new team members when they join the workspace.
This setting is available to workspace owners and admins.
- Open the channel settings.
- Open Settings.
- Make sure the channel is public.
- Choose Make default channel or Set as default channel.
Default membership is not permanent. A member can leave later. Select Turn off default channel before making the channel private.
Download channel history
If you see Download CSV archive in channel settings, select it to save a copy of the chat. You need to be a member of the channel.
The CSV is a copy of the channel messages. It is not a complete compliance or audit record.
Why can't I manage the channel?
- Adding people, leaving, or downloading the CSV requires active channel membership.
- A channel's last active member cannot leave.
- Only the Channel Manager or a workspace owner or admin can remove people or edit channel details.
- Only a workspace owner or admin can change default status.
- Portal contacts cannot manage channel membership or settings.