If you’ve noticed a little lock icon next to a channel name in your Bubbles sidebar, that means the channel is private. Here’s how public and private channels work and how you can switch between them.
Understanding public and private channels
Public channels
Visible to everyone in your workspace
Any teammate can view and join
Great for open discussions, team-wide updates, or shared project notes
Private channels
Only visible to the person who created them and anyone they specifically invite
Others won’t see the channel in their sidebar unless invited
Perfect for sensitive topics or small-group discussions
How to make a channel private or public
Open the channel you want to edit
Click the Share button in the top-right corner
Find the option for Team access
Choose either:
Can access → Makes it public
No access → Makes it private
Once you set it to No access, you’ll see a lock icon next to the channel name in the sidebar.
Good to know
New channels are public by default.
Teammates can see bubbles within public channels even if they haven’t joined.
You can change channel privacy anytime using the same Share menu.
Still stuck?
If you’re unsure how to manage access or run into visibility issues, email hello@usebubbles.com, the support team will guide you through the right setup.