---
title: "Channels"
slug: "channels"
description: "Dialpad offers two types of channels:Public Channel - Available for anyone to joinPrivate Channel - Users must be invited to the channel."
tags: ["Channel", "create channel", "voice channel"]
updated: 2025-10-16T21:29:01Z
published: 2025-10-16T21:29:01Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.dialpad.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Channels

Channels help you stay organized and focused. With a dedicated space for every topic, you can easily follow important conversations and tasks without getting lost in group chats or email chains.

Dialpad group messages have a participant limit, but channels can include unlimited members.

> [!NOTE]
> Who can use this
> 
> Channels are available to Dialpad users on all plan types.

## Channel types

Dialpad offers two types of channels:

| **Public Channel** | Available for anyone to join. |
| --- | --- |
| **Private Channel** | Users must be invited to the channel. |

Easily tell the difference between channel types from the channel icon on the left-hand sidebar.

If the channel is private, you'll see a lock icon. If it’s public, you'll see our standard channel icon.

![Main screen of Dialpad, showing a list of channels the user is a part of.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel Types.png)

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Public channels may be made private at any time, but private channels may never be made public.

## Create a channel

Creating channels is simple and can be done by anyone.

To create a channel:

1. Select **All channels** >**Create Channel** ![The All Channels screen, showing the option to create a channel in Dialpad.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Create a Channel.png)
2. Name your channel
3. Write a channel description (optional) ![Creating a new channel with a description and privacy settings.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/image-1760638705719.png)
4. Choose to make your channel **private or public**
5. Select **Create channel**
6. Search users by name to add them to the channel

The new channel displays in the channel section of your sidebar and is now searchable in the channel list.

You can also create a new channel from the left-hand sidebar by selecting **Create new channel** from the channel options menu (that's the 3 vertical dots).

## **Add users to a channel**

There are three ways to add users to a channel:

1. When creating a channel ![Interface for adding new members to the channel in Dialpad.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/image-1760638728118.png)
2. Select**Add members** in the channel description or **Channel Profile**

![Option to add members from a button in the conversation window or from the channel information skinny bar.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel Add.png)
3. By **@mentioning** a user who is not in the channel ![View of adding a member to a channel by using the @ symbol and typing their name.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Add by hashtag.png) Once you've @mentinoned them, you can choose if you'd like to add them to the channel instantly, or send a channel invite from Dialbot.

![Option in a channel after mentioning someone in a channel they aren't part of to add them to the channel.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Add to channel.png)

## Find a channel

Easily discover new channels by browsing your company's channel directory.

To find a channel, navigate to the **All Channels** section of your Dialpad app.

1. Enter the channel name to search
2. Hover over a channel name to **Preview**, **Join**, or **Delete**

![View of All Channels with the option to join, delete, or preview a channel highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Find a channel.png)

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Company Admins can see private channels but will be unable to join them.

## Delete a channel

When a channel is dormant or no longer in use, you can delete the channel.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Only Company Admins or channel creators can delete channels.

To delete a channel, navigate to the **All Channels** section of your Dialpad app.

1. Search for the channel you want to delete
2. Hover over the channel and select **Delete** ![View of All Channels, with the option to delete a channel highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Delete Channel.png)
3. Select **Yes, delete channel**

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Once a channel is deleted, it can't be recovered.

![Confirmation window to delete a channel, with the confirm option highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Confirm channel delete.png)

> [!TIP]
> Tip
> 
> You can also delete a channel from the Channel Profile, accessible via the information icon on the Skinny Bar. From the Channel Profile, select **Channel Settings** (that's the 3 vertical dots), then **Delete channel.** ![Option to delete a channel highlighted in the channel profile view.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel Settings Delete.png)

## Channel notifications

Channel notifications are configured individually for each channel.

To edit your channel notification preferences:

1. Select the channel name

> [!TIP]
> Tip
> 
> You can also access channel details from the information icon on the Skinny Bar.
2. Select**Settings**(that's the 3 vertical dots)

![View of the channel and channel profile, with the option to manage notifications for the channel highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel Notifications.png)
3. Select **Manage notifications**and choose the desired notification frequency:

| **All messages** | Receive notifications for all messages (including @mentions) in the channel |
| --- | --- |
| **@mentions only** | Receive a notification when you are @mentioned in the channel |
| **Mute channel** | You’ll not receive any badge or push notifications for this channel |

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel_notification.png)

6. Select **Save Changes**

> [!TIP]
> Tip
> 
> By default, users only receive push notifications for @ mentions. If you'd like to receive notifications for every new message, or none at all, you'll need to adjust your notification settings for each channel.

## Channel sorting

Organize your channels that best suit your setup. This allows you to stay organized by reordering your channels in the sidebar.[Channel Sorting](https://app.vidgrid.com/embed/esxHr6GfiAJr)

Channels are organized in this order:

| **Mentions** | Displays the most recent mention first, with muted mentions at the bottom. |
| --- | --- |
| **Unread** | Displays channels with unread messages first, then sorted by the latest interactions. |
| **Normal** | Displays channels by the latest interactions. |
| **Muted** | Displays @mentions first, then sorted by latest interactions. |

To change the channel order, select the **Options** icon (the 3 dots next to the **Channels** label) and choose how you’d like to view your channel messages:

- **Alphabetically (A-Z)**
- **By Priority**

For mobile channel sorting:

1. From the main screen, tap the **Options** icon ![Mobile interface showing chats and channels. The Options icon is highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/ChannelSorting1(1).jpg)
2. From the slide-up window, choose a sorting option ![Mobile interface showing channel sorting options in a slide-up panel with the options highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/ChannelSorting2(1).jpg)

Once you select an option, slide the window down to see your sorted channels.

## Reply in thread

Keep related conversations together by replying directly to a message.

To reply in the thread:

1. Hover over the desired message and select the **Start message thread** icon ![Conversation thread window on the right, highlighting where to add text. The reply in thread option is highlighted in the conversation view.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Thread Reply.png)
2. Navigate to the right-sidebar to reply to the conversation
3. Press the **Enter** key or select the **Send** icon to send your message

Check your **Threads** folder to view and respond to any related threads you've replied to. ![The Threads window, showing all threads in channels a user is added to.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Threads.png)

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> Message threading isn’t available for group messages.

## Delete channel messages

Need to delete a message sent in a channel chat? No problem! You can easily remove messages from a channel chat.

To allow users to delete messages from a channel chat, head to your Dialpad **Admin Settings**.

1. Navigate to **Office** > **Office Settings**
2. Go to **Office-wide settings**
3. Select **Allow non-admins to delete personal contacts, personal calls, recordings, voicemails, transcripts, and other call related data** ![Office Settings page, highlighting an option to allow users to delete messages in channel chats.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Admin_Enable_ChannelChat_Delete.png)

To delete a message from a channel chat:

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> You can only delete your own messages from a channel chat, not messages from other users.

1. Go to the channel and locate the message you want to delete
2. In the message, select **Options** > **Delete**

![Channel chat, showing the Options menu with the Delete option highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/Channel_Chat_Delete.png)
3. In the confirmation window, select **Delete**

## Frequently asked questions

### Can Company Admins control all #channels?

Company Admins can view, edit and add members to public channels. They can view all private channels, but cannot read, post in, edit, or remove private channels.

### What happens if I tag someone in a channel that they are not a part of?

If you tag someone in a channel that they are not a member of, you'll be asked if you want to invite them or add them to the channel, or do nothing at all. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/0f28ad44-2863-4372-a27e-c6728808d742/Images/Documentation/channel-invite.png)

If you invite the user to the channel, they'll receive a channel invitation from Dialbot. If you choose **Add to channel**, they'll instantly join.

If you select **Do nothing**, the user will not be notified of your message, but it will remain in the channel.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> If the channel is private, you'll only be able to add the user to the channel or do nothing, you will not see the **Invite user** option.

### Do #channels work the same on the Dialpad mobile apps?

No, you can send and receive #channels messages on mobile, but can’t browse, join or create #channels via mobile.

### Can I use #channels to talk to people outside the company?

No, #channels are internal only.

### Can I transfer channel ownership?

You can't currently transfer channel ownership to another person, but stay tuned, we're working on it.

## Related

- [Send a Message](/send-a-message.md)
- [Group Messaging](/group-messaging.md)