How to Create Private Channels in Groups (Communities)

You can create private channels within community groups to keep certain content private. Group admins and owners can create new private channels or convert existing public channels to private ones.

How to Use:

For New Channels:

• Create a new channel and turn on the private channel toggle or convert an existing channel to private by opening the channel settings, moving to the settings tab, and clicking on "Change to private channel."

Channel Emojis:

You can also add an emoji as a channel icon, enhancing customization and making your channels more visually appealing.

For Existing Channels:

• Open the channel settings and change it to private.

After converting the channel to private, reopen the channel settings and navigate to the "Members" tab to add members to the channel. 

You can designate a member as a channel manager, granting them admin access solely for that specific channel.

Private Channel-Based Course Access

Group admins or course owners can now control access to specific courses by setting their visibility to “Private Channel.” This allows access only to members of selected private channels. Once you choose the “Private Channel” visibility option in the Edit Course settings, only members of the designated private channels will be able to view and access the course. A new tag will be added to the course for easy identification. This feature is useful for offering exclusive content, running specialized training for specific groups, or restricting access to beta content.

Only admins or course owners can modify these course settings.

Things to Note:

• The group owner and channel creator will automatically be added as channel managers in the private channel.
• The channel manager is an admin of that specific channel, and group roles like group admin will have no significance inside a private channel.
• The group owner cannot leave a private channel.
• If a channel is private, it will not be visible in the channel list if you are not part of it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I create a private channel within a community group?

• To create a private channel, start by creating a new channel and toggle on the private channel option. Alternatively, you can convert an existing channel to private by opening the channel settings, navigating to the settings tab, and clicking "Change to private channel."

2. Can I convert a public channel to private?

• Yes, you can convert a public channel to private by accessing the channel settings, moving to the settings tab, and selecting "Change to private channel." Afterward, you can manage the members by going to the "Members" tab.

3. Who automatically becomes a channel manager when a channel is made private?

• The group owner and the channel creator are automatically added as channel managers in a private channel. They have admin access for that specific channel.

4. Can a group admin manage a private channel?

• No, group admin roles do not apply within a private channel. Only designated channel managers have admin rights in that specific channel.

5. What happens if I'm not part of a private channel?

• If you are not a member of a private channel, it will not appear in your channel list. Private channels are only visible to members who have been added to them.

6. Can I add an emoji as a channel icon?

• Yes, you can enhance your private channel's customization by adding an emoji as the channel icon, making it more visually appealing and easier to identify.