Shared channels errors in Microsoft Teams

• Applies to:

  Microsoft Teams

If your users see error messages when trying to add people from outside your organization to shared channels, check the settings in this article.

Due to admin policy, you can't add external people to the channel. For more info, talk to your admin.

Teams uses Microsoft 365 Groups for team membership. The Microsoft 365 Groups guest settings must be turned on in order for people outside the organization to be added to a shared channel. If your users see this error, check the Microsoft 365 Groups settings for people outside the organization.

To set Microsoft 365 Groups settings for people outside the organization

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, in the left navigation pane, expand Settings.
2. Click Org settings.
3. In the list, click Microsoft 365 Groups.
4. Ensure that the Let group owners add people outside your organization to Microsoft 365 Groups as guests and Let guest group members access group content check boxes are both checked.
5. If you made changes, click Save changes.

Due to admin policy, you can't add external people to the channel

Teams channel policies determine how users can interact with shared channels. If users see this error message, check the channel policy for that user.

To set the policy for inviting people outside the organization to shared channels

1. In the left navigation of the Microsoft Teams admin center, go to Teams > Teams policies.
2. Select the policy that your user is assigned to.
3. Ensure that Invite external users to shared channels is On.
4. If you made changes, select Apply.

For more information about Teams channel policies, see Manage channel policies in Microsoft Teams.

You can't share this channel with people from this org

If your users see this error, then they're prevented from sharing the channel with people in the other organization by the Microsoft Entra cross-tenant access settings. This may be due to the inbound settings in your organization or the outbound settings in the other organization.

To check the inbound settings for your organization

1. In Microsoft Entra ID, select External Identities, and then select Cross-tenant access settings.
2. Select the inbound access link for the organization that you want to check.
3. On the B2B direct connect tab, choose Customize settings.
4. On the External users and groups tab, ensure that Allow access and All external users and groups are selected, or if you've chosen Select external users and groups, make sure that the user being invited is a member of the selected groups.
5. If you made changes, select Save and close the Inbound access settings blade.

If users continue to see the error, check with the organization that they're collaborating with. That organization's outbound settings may disallow sharing with your organization. For information about setting up shared channels between organizations, see Collaborate with external participants in a shared channel.

You can specify an internal help link that appears as part of this error message. The link can go to your internal documentation about how to request shared channel for your organization. For more information, see Specify a link to your internal process for requesting new external organizations.

We couldn't find any matches. Make sure the email address is correct, or talk to your admin

If your users see this error, then Microsoft 365 is not able to find the specified email address in the external organization. You'll need to confirm the address with the external organization.