A **channel** is a named group conversation for more than two people — for example a house team, a shift handoff group, or a topic like medication questions.

Only **Managers** and **Billing users** can create channels, rename them, and add or remove members. Staff and guests can participate once they are members.

## Create a channel

1. Open **Messages**.
2. Click the **+** next to **Channels**.
3. Enter a **Name** (for example `team-standup`).
4. Leave **Announcement channel** off unless you want a one-way broadcast. See [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels).
5. Under **Members**, type names to add people from the roster. You can also type **@** and choose a shortcut to add several people at once:
   - **@here** — everyone you are allowed to add
   - **@managers** / **@staff** / **@guests** — those roles from your roster
   - **@group** — members of a company group who are also on your roster
6. Click **Create**.

Channels appear in the sidebar with a **#** before the name.

## Who you can add

Only Managers and Billing users add members. Pick people from your roster — team members (managers, staff, guests) and self-reporting profiles that have **Send/Receive Messages** on.

- **Regular channel** — at most **one** self-reporting profile.
- **Announcement channel** — **many** self-reporting profiles (they can read; only the creator can post). See [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels).

The **@managers**, **@staff**, **@guests**, and **@group** shortcuts add **team members** only. To add self-reporting profiles, pick them by name.

Staff and guests do not get a member list. They see the channel name, who posts, and names when they type **@** — not a roster of everyone in the channel.

## Edit members or rename

1. Open the channel.
2. Open the conversation **⋯** menu and choose **Edit**.
3. Change the name and/or members, then save. The **Members** field accepts the same **@** shortcuts as when you create a channel.

You cannot remove the person who created the channel.

## Mute and archive

These options are on the **⋯** menu for a conversation in the left list — for a **direct message** or a **channel**.

- **Mute notifications** — stops ordinary alerts for you; @mentions in a channel can still notify you.
- **Archive** — only the person who **started** the conversation sees this. Choose **Archive**, confirm, and the chat disappears from everyone’s list. Use it when the conversation is finished, not when you only want fewer alerts.

Staff and guests see **Archive** only on conversations they started. **Edit** (rename or change members) is for channels and is limited to Managers and Billing users.

## Sending in a channel

People in the channel can type a message and press **Send**. To tag someone in the channel, type **@**. See [Mentions, search, and manager review](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/mentions-search-and-manager-review).

In an **announcement channel**, only the person who created it can post. Everyone else can read. See [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels).

Channel messages stay in Messages — they are not saved to a profile unless a manager copies one into **Daily Tracking** with **Document**. See [Discussing notes and documenting messages](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/discussing-notes-and-documenting-messages).

## Common questions

- **Can staff create channels?** — No. Ask a Manager or Billing user.
- **Can I turn a regular channel into an announcement later?** — No. Announcement is chosen only when the channel is created.
- **Why can’t I add a second self-reporting profile to a regular channel?** — Regular channels allow only one. Use an **announcement channel** to include many (read-only for them), or use **direct messages**. See [Messaging with self-reporters](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messaging-with-self-reporters).

## Related articles

- [Messages overview](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messages-overview)
- [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels)
- [Messaging with self-reporters](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messaging-with-self-reporters)