Public vs private chats: what's allowed
Why TribeSync needs private chats for paid access — and how to switch a chat to private.
Updated: July 24, 2026
Paid access only works when entry is controlled, so TribeSync is strict about chat types.
What's allowed
- Private channel — paid access ✅
- Private group — paid access ✅ · moderation ✅
- Public group — moderation only ✅ (anyone can join for free, so no paywall)
- Public channel — not supported ❌
How to switch a chat to private
- Channel: open it → Edit → Channel Type → Private, then remove the public link.
- Group: open it → Edit → Group Type → Private.
🔧 What happens under the hood
When your bot becomes an admin, TribeSync checks the chat type. A public channel is declined with a message asking you to make it private. A public group is accepted only if you connected the bot for moderation only — otherwise it's declined, because a paywall on a free-to-join chat makes no sense.
⚠️ Watch out
Switch the chat to private before you add the bot. If it was declined for being public, make it private and add the bot again.
Related: channel or group.