# Connect a channel

> Add an account on X, LinkedIn, Instagram or any other network to your workspace.

A channel is an account Orbitwrite can publish to. Connecting one means signing in to the network and allowing
Orbitwrite to post for you; your password goes to the network, never to us.

> **Note:** Owners, admins and managers can connect channels. If the **Connect** button is greyed out, ask one of them, or ask for
> the Manager role.

## Connect one

1. Go to **Settings → Channels** and choose **Connect**, or use the account row in the composer.
2. Pick the network. Most open the network's own sign-in page; a few ask for something first:
   - **Bluesky**: your handle, such as `you.bsky.social`, so we can send you to the right server to sign in.
   - **Mastodon**: your instance, such as `mastodon.social`.
   - **Telegram**: no sign-in. You add our bot to your channel and prove it's yours. See [Telegram](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/telegram).
3. Approve the permissions the network asks for. Some networks then ask which account to add:
   - **LinkedIn** lists your profile and every page you administer. Untick any you don't want.
   - **Discord** and **Slack** ask which server and channel to post to.
4. You're back in Orbitwrite with the channel connected. The first time, a short setup asks how often you want to post
   from it and when. See [Posting schedule](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/guides/channels/posting-schedule).

## What each network needs

| Network                                                      | Before you connect                                                                         |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [X](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/x)                 | Any account.                                                                               |
| [LinkedIn](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/linkedin)   | To add a page, you must be one of its admins.                                              |
| [Instagram](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/instagram) | A **Business** or **Creator** account. Personal accounts can't be published to by any app. |
| [Facebook](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/facebook)   | A Facebook **Page** you manage. Orbitwrite doesn't post to personal profiles.              |
| [Threads](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/threads)     | Any Threads account.                                                                       |
| [Bluesky](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/bluesky)     | Any account, on bsky.social or your own server.                                            |
| [Mastodon](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/mastodon)   | Any account, on any instance.                                                              |
| [TikTok](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/tiktok)       | Any account.                                                                               |
| [YouTube](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/youtube)     | A YouTube channel on the Google account you sign in with.                                  |
| [Pinterest](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/pinterest) | Any account. A Pin needs a board to go on.                                                 |
| [Discord](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/discord)     | Permission to add a bot to the server.                                                     |
| [Slack](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/slack)         | Permission to install an app in the workspace.                                             |
| [Telegram](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/platforms/telegram)   | Admin rights on the channel, so you can add our bot.                                       |

## If it doesn't connect

| Message                                                             | What to do                                                                                              |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **That account is a personal account**                              | Switch it to a Business or Creator account in the network's app, then connect again.                    |
| **That Facebook account has no Pages**                              | Create a Page, or ask a Page admin to give you access, then connect again.                              |
| **Your plan's channel limit is reached**                            | Disconnect a channel you don't use, or [upgrade](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/guides/workspace/billing). |
| **Only workspace owners, admins and managers can connect channels** | Ask one of them to connect it.                                                                          |
| **That connection attempt expired**                                 | You took a while on the network's page. Start again.                                                    |
| **Connection cancelled**                                            | You declined on the network's page. Nothing was connected.                                              |

## How many you can connect

Your plan sets how many channels a workspace can have, and how many on any one network. The [plans
table](https://orbitwrite.com/docs/guides/workspace/billing#plans) has the numbers. On Pro and Advanced you can go past the included channels
for a monthly charge per extra channel.