Channels bring your team's conversations into LumifyHub. No need for a separate chat app - discuss work right where it happens.

Why Use Channels?

Keep context together - Discussions next to the work they're about
Find things later - Searchable history, not lost in email
Stay focused - Organize by topic, project, or team
Include everyone - Your whole team in one place
Save money - No separate Slack subscription needed

Types of Channels

Public channels - Open to everyone in your workspace. Great for team-wide topics like #general or #announcements.

Private channels - Invite-only for sensitive discussions. Perfect for leadership conversations or confidential projects.

Direct messages - One-on-one conversations with teammates.

Group DMs - Quick chats with a few people without creating a formal channel.

Getting Started

Click the + next to Channels in your sidebar to create your first channel. Give it a clear name like #marketing-team or #project-launch so everyone knows what it's for.

Creating Channels

Channel names should be descriptive and lowercase. Use hyphens instead of spaces:

✅ #website-redesign
✅ #q4-planning
✅ #random
❌ #WebsiteRedesign
❌ #Q4 Planning

Add a description to help people understand what the channel is for. This shows up when people browse channels to join.

Choose who to invite when creating the channel. You can always add more people later.

Joining Existing Channels

Can't find a channel you need? Click "Browse channels" to see all public channels in your workspace. Join any that look relevant to your work.

If you see a channel mentioned but can't access it, it might be private. Ask the channel creator to invite you.

Sending Messages

Type your message and hit Enter to send. On mobile, tap the send button.

Formatting Your Messages

Make your messages clearer with formatting:

Bold text - Wrap text with asterisks
Italic text - Wrap text with underscores
Code - Wrap text with backticks
Create links by typing URLs

Mentioning People

Type @ followed by someone's name to notify them directly. They'll get a notification even if they're not actively watching the channel.

Examples:

@sarah can you review this?
@john what do you think about this approach?

Mentioning Channels

Type # to mention other channels. This creates a clickable link that helps people navigate between related discussions.

Examples:

Check out the updates in #project-status
Moving this discussion to #design-feedback

Adding Reactions

Click the emoji button on any message to add a quick reaction. Great for acknowledging messages without adding clutter.

Common reactions:

👍 for agreement
✅ for "done" or "approved"
👀 for "I'm looking into this"
❤️ for appreciation

Attach files by clicking the paperclip icon or dragging files directly into the message box. Share:

Images and screenshots
Documents and spreadsheets
Design files and mockups

View all channel files by switching to the Files tab at the top of any channel. Download or delete files as needed.

Files are automatically organized by channel, so you can always find what was shared where.

Using Threads

Start a thread by clicking the reply icon on any message. Threads keep detailed discussions organized without cluttering the main channel.

When to use threads:

Detailed back-and-forth discussions
Follow-up questions on announcements
Side conversations that might distract from the main topic

Keep the main channel for:

New announcements
Quick updates
Starting new topics

Click "X replies" on any message to see or join the conversation thread.

Staying Organized

Channel Naming Strategy

Organize your channels with consistent naming:

By team:

#marketing
#engineering
#sales
#support

By project:

#website-launch
#q4-planning
#product-beta
#client-onboarding

By topic:

#announcements
#general
#random
#industry-news

Managing Channel Members

Add people to private channels through the channel settings. Click the channel name at the top and select "Manage members."

Remove people who no longer need access to keep discussions focused and secure.

Set channel admins to help moderate busy channels and manage membership.

Message Management

Editing Messages

Made a typo? Click the three dots on your message and select "Edit" to fix it. Edited messages show a small "edited" indicator.

Deleting Messages

Delete messages you sent by mistake. Click the three dots and select "Delete." Others won't see deleted messages.

Message History

Free plan: See the last 30 days of messages Teams plan ($10/user/month, or $7/user/month billed yearly): Unlimited message history

When you hit the 30-day limit on the free plan, a card appears at the bottom of the conversation telling you older messages are hidden. Click Unlock full history to open the upgrade dialog.

Never Miss Important Messages

Unread Indicators

Bold channel names show channels with unread messages
Number badges show unread mention count
Red dot indicates new activity

Notifications

Mentions always notify you, even if the channel is muted.

Channel notifications can be customized per channel. Mute busy channels but keep important ones active.

Desktop notifications work when LumifyHub is open in your browser. Grant permission when prompted.

Search and Discovery

Search messages using the search bar at the top. Find old decisions, shared files, or specific conversations quickly.

Search works across:

All message content
File names and descriptions
User names and mentions
Channel names

Mobile Experience

Same features work on mobile as desktop. Switch between channels, send messages, and join threads seamlessly.

Push notifications keep you connected when away from your desk.

Voice messages and quick reactions make mobile conversations natural.

Tips for Better Team Chat

Channel Etiquette

Use threads for discussions longer than 2-3 back-and-forth messages.

@mention sparingly - only when you need that specific person's attention.

Post in relevant channels - don't duplicate messages across multiple channels.

Use clear subject lines when starting new topics in busy channels.

Keeping Channels Active

Pin important messages that everyone should see (like team goals or important links).

Regular check-ins help quiet channels stay engaged.

Archive old channels that are no longer needed to keep your sidebar clean.

Integration with Other Features

Link to documents by mentioning page names with @ - creates clickable links to your workspace docs.

Create tasks from channel messages by copying the message link into your project boards.

Move discussions to dedicated project channels when casual chat becomes serious planning.

Common Questions

Q: Can I join a private channel? A: Only if someone with access invites you. Ask the channel creator or an admin.

Q: How do I leave a channel? A: Click the channel name, go to settings, and select "Leave channel."

Q: Can I get email notifications? A: Yes, configure email notifications in your workspace settings.

Q: What happens to my messages if I'm removed from a channel? A: Your past messages remain, but you can't see new ones or participate.

At $10/user/month, LumifyHub replaces both your team chat tool and your document workspace - saving you money while keeping everything connected.