# Channel settings
## Changing the settings of a channel
From within a channel for which you are the administrator, you can access the settings by clicking on the button containing its name and a downward arrow.
A side window opens and displays the previously saved settings and the **groups associated** with the channel, i.e. the groups whose members are invited to join this channel.
You can change the settings by clicking on `Edit` at the bottom right of the window.
This will take you to the channel details window, where you can **change the channel name, icon and description**, as well as the access settings:
## Access parameters
### Public / Private Channel
1. A public channel is **visible and accessible by all members** of your Spot without invitation or validation from you. After joining your Spot, your members will be able to see it directly from the home page of their discussions (see next parameter) or find it from the list of channels accessible via the `More channels` button.
2. A private channel is only **visible and accessible by invitation**. This allows you to create a private discussion between admins of a Spot, or to create a channel for a specific group of members. [See this section](https://help.meltingspot.io/english/spot-content/discussions/add-or-delete-channel-members) to learn how to invite members or groups to your private channel.
### Enabling / disabling the automatic addition of members to the channel
The `Add New Spot Members to Channel` button can only be enabled if you have previously set your channel as public. It is not possible to automatically add new members of a spot to a private channel.
If your channel is public and you activate this button, each new member of your spot will be automatically added to it.
{% hint style="info" %}
This button is particularly useful when creating a General channel or introducing your members!
{% endhint %}
### Allow/restrict members from sending messages
Whether your channel is public or private, you can decide who can send messages on it. When you enable this button, members can no longer send messages in this channel; they can only react to messages sent by admins.
### Show / hide the list of channel members
Whether your channel is public or private, you can enable or disable the display of channel members.
When you enable this button, a `Members` button appears at the top right of the member's chat channel. Each member of the channel can then click this button to see and search for other members in the channel:
{% hint style="info" %}
Even if your channel is public, you don't have to make the list of members accessible!
{% endhint %}
Once you have configured your access settings, click the `Save` button at the bottom right of your edit window to make them effective. **You can change them again at any time** by following the same procedure!
