Control Who Can Use Team Chat

Team Chat is on for everyone by default. The Team Chat section in Settings lets you narrow what customers and instructors can see and do. Admins and office admins always have full access to every default channel and can always message anyone.

Open it

1. Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar and choose Settings.
2. Choose Team Chat.

There are two groups of switches, one for customers and one for instructors. Each switch saves as soon as you flip it.

Customers

• Customers can use Team Chat: turn off to hide Team Chat from customers entirely.
• Customers can view General: shows the school-wide General channel.
• Customers can view Customers channel: shows the shared Customers channel.
• Customers can send direct messages: lets customers message people one-to-one.
• Customers can only DM admins: customers can message admins directly, but not other customers or instructors.
• Customers only see direct messages: hides every group channel from customers. Direct messages still work if they're allowed.
• Customers can create channels: lets customers start their own private group channels.

Instructors

• Instructors can use Team Chat: turn off to hide Team Chat from instructors entirely.
• Instructors can view General: shows the General channel.
• Instructors can view Instructors channel: shows the staff Instructors channel.
• Instructors can view Customers channel: shows the shared Customers channel.
• Instructors can view Admins channel: shows the office Admins channel.
• Instructors can send direct messages: lets instructors message people one-to-one.
• Block instructor-to-instructor DMs: instructors can still message admins and customers directly, but not each other.
• Instructors can create channels: lets instructors start their own private group channels.

Common setups

• Staff only. Turn off Customers can use Team Chat. Instructors and admins keep everything.
• Front desk as the only contact. Leave Customers can send direct messages on, turn on Customers can only DM admins, and turn on Customers only see direct messages.
• Keep the office channel private. Turn off Instructors can view Admins channel.

Related settings

• Team Chat emails in Settings > Email emails each direct message to the person who receives it. See Choose Which Emails Your School Sends.
• Customers can never mention the AI assistants in Team Chat. That's set by role, not here.

Troubleshooting

• A customer says Team Chat disappeared. Check Customers can use Team Chat. If customers can't see any channel, send direct messages, or create channels, Team Chat leaves their sidebar too.
• Someone sees "Your school has restricted direct messages with this person." One of the direct message switches blocks that pair. That's working as set.
• A private channel isn't showing for someone. Only people added to it can see it. Add them to the channel.