How to Set Up Channel Moderation in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams channel moderation helps turn a busy discussion space into a controlled announcements or topic channel. Team owners can assign moderators and decide whether members can start posts, reply, pin messages, or allow bots and connectors to publish.

Check whether moderation fits the channel

Moderation is available for standard channels on Teams desktop or web. Microsoft says it is not available for the General channel or private channels. By default, non-private channels are unmoderated, so members can post, react, and reply. [1]

Use moderation for an announcements channel, a policy channel, or a space where a small group publishes updates. It is usually the wrong choice for an open working channel where everyone needs to start conversations.

1. Open channel management

1. Open the team and channel in Teams.
2. Select More options next to the channel.
3. Select Manage channel.
4. Review the current moderation and member-permission settings.

2. Turn on channel moderation

1. Under Channel moderation, select On.
2. Review the channel message shown after enabling it.
3. Confirm that only moderators will be able to start new posts.

When moderation is on, only moderators can start new posts. Moderators can post, react, and reply, and team owners have moderator capabilities by default. [1]

3. Add or remove moderators

1. In Who are the moderators?, select Manage.
2. Add the team members who should publish or manage the channel.
3. Remove moderators who no longer need the role.
4. Keep at least two responsible moderators for an important announcement channel.

Team owners cannot be removed as moderators. Owners and existing moderators can add or remove other moderators. [1]

4. Configure member permissions

Under Team member permissions, choose whether members can reply to channel messages. You can also control whether members can pin messages and whether bots or connectors can submit channel messages.

For a one-way announcements channel, disable member replies and review bot and connector permissions. For a moderated discussion channel, allow replies but keep new-post creation restricted to moderators.

5. Decide how guests should participate

If you only need to stop guests from starting new posts, Microsoft provides a simpler option under Who can start a new post?: choose Everyone except guests can start a new post. This is different from turning on full channel moderation because it does not make the channel moderator-led. [1]

6. Publish a clear channel description

Tell members what the channel is for, who can publish, whether replies are allowed, and where questions should go. A short description reduces confusion when people see that the new-post control is unavailable.

Common mistakes

• Trying to enable moderation on a private or General channel.
• Turning off replies when members still need a way to ask questions.
• Giving moderator access to too many people without a publishing standard.
• Leaving a connector enabled when the channel is meant to be human-curated.

Sources

1. Microsoft Support: Change moderator roles and settings in a channel in Microsoft Teams
2. Microsoft Learn: Overview of teams and channels in Microsoft Teams