Overview
Standard channels are available to all team members in Teams. Most channels are standard channels. If you need a smaller, specific audience for a particular subject, you can use a private channel.
Important
Once a channel is created, as either standard or private, it can not be changed. Make sure you consider the use-case before creating any new channel.
In this article:
How do I use this technology?
Standard Channels
- They’re open for all members and anything posted is searchable by others.
- By default, all members of a team can create standard channels. Team owners can change this permission on a per-team basis.
Private Channels
- They’re for discussions that shouldn’t be open to all members, so you must be invited to join one to view it within a team.
- By default, any team owner or team member can create a private channel and add members. Guests can't create them. Team owners can change this permission on a per-team basis.
- Messaging extensions, wikis, apps and bots, and scheduled channel meetings are not supported, but Microsoft is working on it!
Files that you share in a channel (viewable on the Files tab) are stored in SharePoint. To learn more, see Microsoft's How SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business interact with Teams article.
Note
Files shared in a private channel are only viewable by the members of the channel and are stored in a separate SharePoint site from the rest of the team's files.
Private channel meetings and calls
External guests can join a team's private channel meeting or Meet now call, but there are a few things to know.
- They're only able to participate if a member of the private channel sends them a link to join the meeting, or calls them during the meeting to meet now.
- During the meeting or call, they'll have temporary access to chat, files, whiteboard, notes, and the participants list (those not in the Outlook invite), but not after.
Need additional help or have issues
For additional assistance contact the IT Services Technical Support Center via phone at (907) 786-4646, toll-free at (877) 633-3888, email us at uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu.