Skip to content

Join and leave channels

import useBaseUrl from '@docusaurus/useBaseUrl'; import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs'; import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';

Join a channel

Channels are either public or private.

  • Public channels are identified with a Globe <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/globe_E805.svg')} alt="Public channels are identified with a Globe icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon. Anyone on the team can join a public channel.
  • Private channels are typically used for sensitive topics, and are identified with a Lock <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/lock-outline_F0341.svg')} alt="Private channels are identified with a Lock icon." className="theme-icon" /> icon. You must be invited to private channels by another channel member.

To join a private channel, you need to be added to the channel by a member of that channel.

To join a public channel:

  1. Select the Add channels button in the channel sidebar, then select Browse Channels.

<img src={useBaseUrl('/images/add-channels-button.png')} width="400" alt="You can browse channels using the Add channels button" />

Alternatively, you can select <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/plus_F0415.svg')} alt="The Plus icon provides access to channel and direct message functionality." className="theme-icon" /> at the top of the channel sidebar, then select Browse Channels.

You can browse available channels to join using the + option at the top of the channel sidebar.

  1. Select Join next to the public channel you want to join.

When browsing available channels, select the join option next to any channel to become a member.

  1. Tap <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/plus_F0415.svg')} alt="The Plus icon provides access to channel and direct message functionality." className="theme-icon" /> located in the top right corner the app.

Tap the plus icon to view additional options.

  1. Tap Browse Channels.

Click on Browse Channels to view the list of public channels.

  1. Tap the public channel you want to join.

Tap on the public channel name that you want to join.

When you join channels, depending on the channel actions configured, you may see a welcome message, and channels may be added to a category in your channel sidebar automatically. Using Mattermost in a web browser or the desktop app, access Channel Actions from the channel name drop-down menu in the center pane to see what automatic actions have been configured.

See the following documentation to learn more about working with channels:

Leave a channel

When you leave a private channel, you must be re-added by another channel member to rejoin. You won't receive mention notifications from a channel if you're not a member of that channel.

All users are added to the Town Square channel automatically. This means that users can't archive, unarchive, or leave the Town Square channel. However, guests who are manually invited to Town Square can leave the channel.

Select the channel name at the top of the center pane to access the drop-down menu, then select Leave Channel.

You can use channel options available from the channel name to leave a channel.

  1. Tap the channel you want to leave.

Select the channel that you want to leave.

  1. Tap the More <img src={useBaseUrl('/img/ui/dots-vertical_F01D9.svg')} alt="Use the More icon in the top left corner to access Mattermost desktop apps customization settings." className="theme-icon" /> icon located in the top right corner of the app.

Tap on More options to access available options for the channel you want to leave.

  1. Tap Leave channel.

Tap on Leave channel to leave the current channel.

  1. Tap on Leave to confirm you choice.

Tap on Leave to confirm your choice.

Leave a public channel added by a membership policy

From Mattermost v11.8.0, when you leave a public channel you were added to by a membership policy, Mattermost asks you to confirm:

  • Choosing Leave channel removes you from the channel.
  • Choosing Mute instead keeps you in the channel and mutes its notifications.

If the channel is already muted, Mattermost shows Cancel and Leave channel instead of Mute instead.

Hide join and leave messages in a channel

From Mattermost v12.0, you can hide the system messages that display when users join, leave, are added to, or are removed from a public or private channel. This is useful in busy channels where frequent membership changes add noise.

By default, any channel member can change this setting, just like the channel name and header. System admins can restrict who can change it using the Manage Channel Settings permission in the System Console. See the advanced permissions documentation for details.

Unlike the Enable Join/Leave Messages setting, which each user sets for themselves across all channels, this setting applies to a single channel and hides these messages for all channel members, regardless of their own preferences.

  1. Open the channel using a web browser or the desktop app.
  2. Select the channel name at the top of the center pane to access the drop-down menu, then select Channel Settings.
  3. Select Configuration, then disable the Join/Leave System Messages option.
  4. Select Save to apply the changes.

Mattermost continues to store join and leave messages while they're hidden. Enable the Join/Leave System Messages option again to show all stored messages in the channel.

  • This setting isn't available for direct or group messages.
  • Users who are added to a channel are still notified, even when join and leave messages are hidden in that channel.