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Channels

Overview​

Channels are topic-based rooms for group conversations — the RocketChat equivalent of a Slack channel. This covers the difference between public and private channels, how to create one, how to join one, and how to pin a channel to the top of your sidebar.

Prerequisites​

Steps​

Public vs. private channels​

  • Public channels (marked with a # icon) are open to everyone in the workspace — anything posted is visible and searchable by all members. Use these for announcements, team updates, or anything worth broadcasting widely.
  • Private channels (marked with a lock icon) are invite-only. Use these for sensitive conversations. By default, only admins, room owners, and moderators can invite members.
  • Every workspace also has a general channel that all users belong to automatically.

Create a channel​

  1. Click Create new (+) in the top menu bar, then select Channel.
  2. Enter a channel name and, optionally, a topic.
  3. Add members now, or skip this and add them later.
  4. Choose whether the channel should be private or public.
  5. (Optional) Expand Advanced settings to configure encryption, read-only mode, or broadcast mode.
  6. Click Create.

Join a channel​

  • Use the search bar (Ctrl/Cmd + K) to look up a channel by name. Public channels appear in results; private channels don't unless you're already a member.
  • Open a public channel you're not yet a member of and click Join.
  • You can also be added automatically when someone invites you or mentions you in a channel you're not in.

Favorite a channel​

Pin a channel to the top of your sidebar for quick access:

  • Hover over the channel in the sidebar, click the kebab menu (⋮), and select Favorite.
  • Or, inside the channel, click the star icon next to the channel name.
  • Repeat the same step and select Unfavorite to remove it.

Screenshots​

Screenshot pending — Create new → Channel dialog.

Screenshot pending — public vs. private channel icons in the sidebar.

Troubleshooting​

  • Can't find a channel in search: it's likely private — ask a member to invite you.
  • "Create" button is greyed out: make sure you've entered a channel name; names must follow your workspace's naming rules.
  • Can't invite others to a private channel: only admins, owners, and moderators can invite by default — ask one of them to add the person instead.