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How to Create and Manage Channels in Microsoft Teams

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Open the add-channel menu

    Click the more options (...) menu next to your team's name and select "Add channel."

  2. Choose a channel type

    Enter a channel name and description, then choose a Standard channel visible to the whole team or a Private channel limited to selected members.

  3. Add members to a private channel

    If you created a private channel, you'll need to separately add the specific team members who should have access to it.

  4. Adjust channel notification settings

    Open the more options menu next to a channel name and select "Channel notifications" to choose All activity, Custom, or Off.

  5. Clean up channels you no longer need

    Hide channels you're not using anymore from your channel list, or, if you're the owner, delete them completely.

Why It Pays to Split Work Into Separate Channels

Running every conversation through one team-wide channel makes information easy to lose track of. Splitting channels by project or topic, and using a private channel when only certain people should see a discussion, keeps collaboration much more organized.

A Few Habits That Keep Channels Useful

Naming a channel so its purpose is obvious at a glance saves everyone time later. Hiding a channel first rather than deleting it right away also gives you a safety net, since a hidden channel can be restored if it turns out you still need it, while pinning frequently used files or tabs to the top of a channel cuts down on time spent searching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a standard channel be switched to private later, or vice versa?

No, a channel's type is set when it's created and can't be changed afterward -- a private channel can't be converted into a standard one, or the other way around.

If I delete a channel, does all its content disappear too?

Yes, deleting a channel removes all of its posts and files along with it. It can usually be restored within a limited window afterward, but once that window passes, it's gone for good.