First things to know about channels in Microsoft Teams

Channels sit inside teams

Teams are made up of channels, which are the conversations you have with your teammates. Channels sit inside of teams, similar to how files sit inside folders. Each channel is dedicated to a specific topic, department, or project.

Channels are where the work is done. They are where text, audio, and video conversations are shared with the whole team, where files are shared, and where apps are added.

While channel conversations are public, chats are just between you and someone else (or a group of people). Think of them as instant messages in other messaging apps.

Channels can be organized around anything. When you're naming a channel, try to use names that clearly describe the topic. Simple, intuitive names are best.

Every team has a first-named channel

Every team comes with a channel. This initial channel can't be deleted.  Here are some examples of how to use this channel:

• In larger teams with many employees, the first-named channel might function as a log of who's joined and left the team's org. Most of the subject-specific conversations are happening in the other channels in that team.

• In smaller teams with fewer channels and a more specific focus, the first-named channel might be the main place where conversations and announcements happen. 

Teams can have standard, private, or shared channels

• Standard channels are open to all team members and anything posted is searchable by others.

• Private channels are for discussions that shouldn't be open to all team members.

• Shared channels are for collaborating with people inside and outside your team or organization.

For more details, see Teams can have standard, private, or shared channels and Why use a shared channel versus other channel types?

Channels have tabs

When you go to any channel in Teams, you'll see certain tabs by default.

You can add more tabs

To put apps and files in tabs at the top of a channel, select Add a tab next to a tab name. You'll see a list of things to add (favorite apps and files). You can also search for a specific item you want to add. 

You can customize your notifications per channel

To adjust or fine-tune the notifications you're getting from a channel you're showing:

1. Go to the channel name

2. Point to reveal, then select More options

3. Select Channel notifications.

From there, you can choose to see notifications in the Banner and feed or Only show in feed.  

In addition to those notifications, you'll also see Mentions  and Tag Mentions . Find those just above your list of chat or channel conversations.

For more details, see Manage notifications in Teams, Use @mention to get someone's attention and Check a channel for notifications. 

You can sort, hide and group channels 

After the first named channel, your channels are organized alphabetically. You can change their order, hide channels, and group them into sections. 

• Reorder a channel by selecting and dragging it to the desired location on your list.

• Hide a channel by selecting More options from the channel's name, then select Hide .

• Group channels into custom sections by selecting More options > Move to .

• ​​​​​​​Sort channels by selecting filters just above your conversations.

For more details, see The new chats and channels experience, Hide inactive channels and Reorder the chats and channels list.