# Groups and channels

> Community groups where clients talk under random names, channels where only your team posts, invite links, mutes, tags and pins.

# Groups and channels

Turn on **Community groups** and **Channels** in [Features](https://docs.facia.chat/business/features) (both are on by default). Owners and admins create them from the chat list with **New group** or **New channel**.

## Groups

Groups are where clients talk to each other and to your team.

![A members group: clients appear under random names, the team with a Team badge](https://docs.facia.chat/_assets/shots/client-group.webp)

- **Clients appear under a random two-word name**, like "Silver Fox", with no photo or username. Clients never see each other's real names.
- **Your team appears with real names** and a Team badge, and sees each client's real name next to their alias.
- The group header shows **N members, M online** to everyone. Your team can see who's online in **Chat info → Members**.
- Tap a member to see who they are (team only), rename their alias, open their support chat or remove them.

### Group settings

| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Topics** | Turns the group into a forum with topics. **Members can create topics** lets clients add them |
| **Only the team can send messages** | Clients read and react; only staff post |
| **Reactions** | On or off |
| **Public** | Listed for your clients to find and join |
| **Who can join** | Everyone, Verified only, or VIP only |
| **Add new clients automatically** | New clients join without doing anything |
| **Add all current clients** | Adds everyone you already have, in one go |
| **Invite links** | Copy, show as a QR code, or revoke. A link stops working if the person who made it is no longer an admin |

### Members-only groups

A group for **Verified only** or **VIP only** fills itself. Getting verified adds the client, and the group posts "🎉 *Silver Fox* just got verified" or "👑 … just became a VIP" under their alias. Your first Verified group is created for you when the first client gets verified. Guests see it locked in their chat list, which gives them a reason to get verified.

## Channels

Channels are one-way: only your team posts, and subscribers read and react. Subscribers can't see each other.

- **Sign posts** shows which admin wrote each post.
- **Post without notifying subscribers** sends a silent post (channel admins only).
- Reactions can be turned off.

To schedule a post for later, use an [Announcement block](https://docs.facia.chat/business/blocks#announcement).

## Internal notes in groups

Owners, admins and managers can write internal notes inside groups and channels. Only the team sees them.

## Tags and mentions

- `@name` tags someone in a group. Clients are tagged by alias.
- `@everyone` / `@all` tags the whole group. Clients can't use it in community groups.
- Tags get through mutes.

## Mutes

Anyone can mute a chat for **1 hour**, **8 hours**, **2 days**, or **until they turn it back on**.

## Pins and read receipts

Admins pin messages in groups and channels. Owners, admins and managers can see who read a message in groups, channels and the Team chat. Read receipts are never shown in DMs or client chats.

## Voice rooms

With [Voice calls](https://docs.facia.chat/business/calls) and **Group voice rooms** on, groups and the Team chat get live audio rooms: your team hosts, clients listen and raise a hand to talk.

## Apps bar and games

The Verified group can show a slim **Member Apps & More…** bar under its header. It opens the group's Apps page with games, live activities and the leaderboard. See [Games](https://docs.facia.chat/business/games).