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# How to Set the Default Discussion Access Type

# How to Set the Default Discussion Access Type

**In this article:**
* Overview
* How to set the default access type
* The access types explained
* Things to keep in mind
* FAQs
* Who can do this

## Overview
Every discussion has an access type that decides who can see it. The **Default access type** setting chooses which value is pre-selected when someone starts a new discussion, so you can steer your community towards open conversations or private, invite-only ones without forcing the creator's hand. The person starting the discussion can still change the access type on that discussion before they post it.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/superpath-help-centre/how-to-set-the-default-discussion-access-type/default-access-dropdown-open_085d9e36.png)

## How to set the default access type
1. Go to **Settings → Features**.
2. Scroll to the **Discussions** section (Discussions must already be enabled).
3. Open the **Default access type** dropdown and choose **Open** or **Invite-only**.
4. Click **Save** to apply the change.

## The access types explained
* **Open — visible to all users.** The discussion appears for everyone who can access Discussions. This is the default for a newly enabled tenant.
* **Invite-only — creator selects participants.** The discussion is visible only to the people the creator invites (and to admins/owners who manage discussions).

> **Note:** There is also a **Team-only** access type, which limits a discussion to members of chosen Teams. Team-only can be selected on an individual discussion when it is created, but it is **not** offered as a tenant-wide default — the **Default access type** dropdown only lists **Open** and **Invite-only**.

## Things to keep in mind
* This setting only changes the *pre-selected* value on the new-discussion form. It does not lock the access type — the creator can switch it before posting.
* Because it is only a default, changing it never alters the access type of discussions that already exist.
* An Invite-only discussion needs at least one invited participant, and a Team-only discussion needs at least one selected Team, before it can be posted.

## FAQs
**Why can't I set the default to Team-only?**
Team-only exists as a per-discussion access type but is intentionally left out of the tenant-wide default. Creators can still choose Team-only on an individual discussion; you just cannot make it the pre-selected default for everyone.

**Does changing the default affect existing discussions?**
No. It only changes what is pre-selected the next time someone starts a new discussion.

**Can a creator override the default I set?**
Yes. The default simply pre-fills the access type on the new-discussion form; whoever starts the discussion can change it before posting.

## Who can do this
Only **Owners** and **Admins** can reach **Settings → Features** and change the **Default access type**. Other roles cannot open Settings. Choosing the access type on an individual discussion is available to whoever is starting that discussion, subject to the **Who can create discussions** setting.