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Add Apps and Bots to channels

Choose which channels each App or Bot can access.

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Installing and managing Apps and Bots requires Root on desktop. Once installed into a community, Apps and Bots can be used on Root desktop and mobile.

Required permissions
  • Manage Appsmanage channel assignments for Apps and Bots

Why channel access matters​

Apps and Bots can only interact with channels they're assigned to. Controlling access lets you limit what an App can see and do, for example keeping a moderation Bot out of private staff channels, or restricting a polling App to specific discussion channels.

How channel permissions work​

Like members, Apps and Bots receive permissions through roles, Channel Visibility, and channel permissions. If you're not familiar with how permissions work, see Roles and permissions overview.

Here's how the system determines the permissions an App or Bot has in a channel or channel group:

  1. Manifest defines base permissions: Every App and Bot includes a manifest, a file created by the developer that declares the permissions the App needs to function. The App or Bot starts with the channel permissions declared in its manifest. You can think of this as a virtual role that's automatically created and assigned.
  2. Roles add permissions: Like members, Apps and Bots get the Everyone role by default. You can assign additional roles.
  3. Channel Visibility controls access: Apps and Bots can only see channels they're added to under Channel Visibility.
  4. Permissions adjust per channel: You can grant or deny specific permissions in specific channels or channel groups.

The final permissions depend on the combination of all four, using the same calculation used for members. For details, see Permission troubleshooting.

Channel permissions are the ones you have the most control over. You can restrict them below what the manifest requests using roles and channel permissions, which is useful for limiting an App or Bot to only the channels and actions it needs. Granting permissions beyond the manifest is possible but rarely useful. If the App or Bot needed a permission, it would be in the manifest.

For step-by-step instructions on Channel Visibility and permissions, see Manage channel visibility.

Assign channels to an App or Bot​

  1. Select the community image in the sidebar.
  2. Select Community settings.
  3. Under Management, select Apps or Bots.
  4. Select the App or Bot to open its management panel.
  5. Select the Channel assignment tab.
  6. Check or uncheck individual channels and channel groups as needed. Use the search bar, Select All, or Deselect All to manage assignments quickly.

Remove an App or Bot from channels​

  1. Select the community image in the sidebar.
  2. Select Community settings.
  3. Under Management, select Apps or Bots.
  4. Select the App or Bot to open its management panel.
  5. Select the Channel assignment tab.
  6. Uncheck the channels you want to remove.

The App or Bot will no longer be able to see or interact with content in those channels.