Assigning a channel administrator in MAX: permissions and access settings

What the channel administrator role in MAX means

MAX is a standalone messenger, not Telegram. That said, the logic of channels and access management in MAX is similar to the familiar messenger model: the owner assigns users as administrators and chooses which actions they are allowed to perform. The names of menu items and the location of settings may vary depending on the app version.

An administrator gets access only to the channel where they were assigned the role. This does not give them the password, login code, access to the owner's personal messages, or control over other channels. They will work through their own account, and access will be determined by the permissions that are enabled.

The channel owner and an administrator are not the same thing. The owner is responsible for the channel itself and its management, while an administrator receives a limited set of functions. That's why when adding a user, it's important to check not only that the assignment was made, but also each permission in their profile.

What to check before assigning an administrator

First, open the channel itself, not a group or a personal chat. Then check whether your account has the right to manage administrators. Usually this operation is performed by the owner. Sometimes it is also available to an administrator if they have been separately allowed to add other administrators.

Determine the user's task in advance. If they only need to publish posts, there's no point in granting access to channel settings. If the person will be monitoring discussions, they need moderation tools, but not necessarily the ability to publish posts or add new administrators.

Don't give an employee your password, a code from a message, backup data, or access to your account. To assign them, it's enough to find their profile in MAX and save the role within the channel. If the user can't be found via search, check the spelling of the name and make sure you've selected the correct profile.

How to add a channel administrator in MAX

1. Open MAX and go to the channel you need.
2. Tap the channel name or image at the top of the screen.
3. Open the "Channel Management" section or an item with a similar name.
4. Go to the "Administrators" subsection.
5. Tap "Add administrator".
6. Find the user via the search bar and select their profile.
7. Open the administrator permissions screen.
8. Enable only the necessary permissions and tap "Save" or a button with a similar meaning.

The path may look slightly different on a computer and on a phone. In one version, a list of toggles opens immediately after selecting a user; in another, you're first asked to choose a ready-made role. In the latter case, still check what the role includes before saving: the name "administrator" alone doesn't show which actions will be available.

If there is no "Add administrator" item, first check your role and the "Adding administrators" permission. Also make sure you've opened the settings of a channel you actually manage.

Which permissions you can grant an administrator

In access settings, permissions are usually presented as separate toggles or checkboxes. An enabled item determines the action the user will be able to perform in the channel. The exact set depends on the MAX interface and version, so go by the actual names on the assignment screen.

• "Publishing messages" — posting new posts in the channel. This is the main permission for a content author.
• "Editing messages" — modifying already published posts, text, links, or attachments, if such changes are supported by the interface.
• "Deleting messages" — removing posts from the channel. This right should not be enabled automatically along with publishing.
• "Managing comments" — working with comments and discussions, including deleting messages that violate the rules, if such a feature is available.
• "Managing subscribers" — actions involving channel members, if this item exists in your version of MAX.
• "Changing channel settings" — modifying general parameters, appearance, and other channel settings.
• "Adding administrators" — assigning new administrators and granting them access to the channel.

The set of permissions doesn't always appear in exactly this order or with exactly these wordings. If MAX shows a ready-made role, open its parameters and check which individual actions it includes.

How an author, moderator, and administrator differ

A role name is convenient for quick assignment, but the actual level of access is determined by permissions. The same user may be called an administrator but have only one available action.

• A content author prepares and publishes materials. Usually the "Publishing messages" permission is enough for them. Add "Editing messages" only when they need to correct posts that have already been published.
• A moderator monitors discussions and rule compliance. What they need first and foremost is "Managing comments". Publishing posts, changing settings, and adding administrators are not required for this work.
• A channel administrator handles broader management. They may need to edit and delete posts, manage subscribers or settings, but each of these rights must be granted separately.

For example, a content editor can have publishing and editing messages enabled, but leave deletion, subscriber management, and settings changes disabled. For a moderator, enable comment management; for an author, only publishing. The right to assign administrators should be given only to the owner or an employee who is genuinely responsible for managing the team.

How to restrict an administrator's permissions

Configure access right after selecting the user, before tapping the save button. Leave enabled only the actions that are part of the person's responsibilities. This approach reduces the risk of accidental post deletion, appearance changes, or new users appearing with extended access.

Pay especially close attention to three permissions: "Deleting messages", "Changing channel settings", and "Adding administrators". The first allows removing published content, the second affects the channel's general parameters, and the third can lead to new users being assigned and access being further expanded.

Don't choose a broad role just for one needed action. If an employee needs to edit posts, that doesn't mean they need subscriber management. If a moderator needs to delete comments, they don't necessarily need to be allowed to publish messages in the channel itself.

After saving, open the user's profile again and check the toggles. This helps make sure MAX saved exactly the set of rights you chose, and not a ready-made role with additional permissions.

How to change or remove administrator rights

To change access, open the channel and go to "Channel Management" — "Administrators". Select the person you need, open their permissions, and enable or disable the necessary items. Finish the change with the "Save" button.

If an employee temporarily needs additional access, restore the previous restrictions after the task is completed. Don't leave a permission enabled "just in case", especially when it comes to changing settings, deleting messages, or assigning new administrators.

When a person stops working with the channel, remove them from the list of administrators. In the user's profile, find the action to remove the role or delete the administrator. It should remove that specific user's access, not the channel itself.

Periodically review the list of administrators and match permissions to current responsibilities. When an editor, moderator, or owner changes, disable the previous access right away and only then assign the new user.

What to do step by step

1. Open the channel you need in MAX and go to "Channel Management".
2. Select "Administrators" and tap "Add administrator".
3. Find the user and open their permissions screen.
4. Determine the role: leave publishing for an author, comment management for a moderator, and grant an administrator only the necessary additional functions.
5. Check the "Deleting messages", "Changing channel settings", and "Adding administrators" permissions.
6. Save the settings and open the user's profile again to verify.
7. When the work is done, disable unnecessary permissions or remove the administrator from the list.