Groups
Create a group, invite people with links, use channels and events, list a group in Discover, and leave or delete a group in TACENZA Chat.
Groups in TACENZA Chat range from a few friends to large communities with channels, roles and moderation. Group names, descriptions, photos and messages are all end-to-end encrypted: the server knows who is in a group, but not what it’s called or what anyone says. This page covers creating, joining and using groups. Managing one is covered in Group settings, Roles and permissions and Moderation.
Create a group
- Choose New › New group.
- Enter a Group name. Only members can see it.
- Optionally, add members by username, separated by commas. You can also invite people with a link later.
- Choose Create group.
A group can start with only you. There’s no limit on the number of members, on any plan.
Some people choose Nobody – only invite links under Who can add me to groups. You can’t add them directly; send them an invite link instead.
Invite people
The owner and admins create links in Manage group › Invite links.
- Open the group, open the Details panel and choose Manage group.
- Go to Invite links.
- Choose when the link Expires (never, after 1 hour, 1 day or 7 days) and how many Uses it allows.
- Turn on Admins approve new members if you want to approve each person.
- Choose Create invite link, then Copy to share it.
Revoke stops a link at once. The secret part of a link never reaches the server.
Join a group
- With a link. Choose New › Join with a link and paste it, or open the link. You’ll see the group’s name and member count before you join.
- From Discover. Open Discover and pick a listed group.
If the link needs approval, the owner or an admin sees your request under Members and approves or declines it.
When someone joins, the group gets a new key. New members can read only what’s sent after they join. Earlier messages show as “messages from before you joined can’t be read”. Right after joining, messages open as soon as a member who’s online shares the group’s keys with you.
Channels
Every group has a main channel. Members who can manage channels add more in Manage group › Channels:
- Text – everyone who can see it can write in it.
- Announcements – only roles you allow can post; everyone else reads and reacts.
- Read-only – only roles you allow can post or react.
A Private channel has its own encryption keys, given only to members who can view it. Nobody else can decrypt it, whatever the server does. Categories group channels in the channel list.
Events
In a group, open the details panel and choose Events to plan something. Members answer Going, Maybe or Can’t go, and can get a notification 15 minutes before.
List a group in Discover
Members allowed to change group settings can list a group under Manage group › Directory.
Listing makes a group public. Its name, picture, description, tags, language and member count become visible to everyone on TACENZA, with a join link. Messages stay end-to-end encrypted, but anyone who joins can read what’s sent after they join. Member names are never listed.
Remove from Discover removes the listing and stops its public link. Other invite links keep working.
Leave or delete a group
- Leave group (Manage group › Overview, under Leave or delete): you stop receiving messages, and the group gets new keys. If you’re the owner, leaving hands the group to an admin.
- Delete group (owner only): deletes every message, file and invite link for everyone.
Deleting a group can’t be undone.