# User groups: membership, permissions and default channels

*Slack Administrator Study Guide · User Lifecycle Management · Last updated October 21, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-administrator/user-lifecycle-management/user-groups-membership-permissions-and-default-channels*

Who may create and edit user groups and how an org policy sets that for every workspace, who can and can't be in a user group, how a group's default channels add members automatically, and how org-level groups differ from workspace groups and IdP groups.

- Certification: Salesforce Slack Administrator
- Exam section: User Lifecycle Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, assess if the created user group and its permissions meet the required access criteria.

## What the exam expects

- Decide who can create and edit user groups, and where an Org Owner or Admin sets that permission for every workspace.
- Judge whether planned members can be in a user group (guests and Slack Connect external people cannot).
- Use a user group's default channels so current and future members land in the right channels.
- Choose between a workspace-level group, an org-level group and an IdP group in an Enterprise org, and know what each can and can't do.

Key terms:
- **User group**: a set of people with a handle (such as @designers) that notifies everyone when mentioned and can add them to channels.
- **Group default channels**: up to 100 channels whose members are added automatically when they join the group.
- **Org-level user group**: a group created in Organization settings that works across workspaces and can assign workspace membership.
- **IdP group**: a group synced from the identity provider, taught in IdP groups for workspace and channel membership.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Default permission | Workspace Owners and Admins create and edit workspace user groups; they can open it to all members | [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups) |
| Org policy | Org Owners and Admins can set user group permissions for every workspace; otherwise Workspace Owners and Admins set it | [Manage user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/115004952926-Manage-user-groups-from-the-admin-dashboard) |
| Excluded members | Guests and Slack Connect people can't be added to, or mention, your user groups | [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups) |
| Group default channels | Up to 100; group members are added automatically | [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups) |
| Workspace group reach | Can't be accessed from other workspaces in the org | [Manage user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/115004952926-Manage-user-groups-from-the-admin-dashboard) |
| Org-level group channels | Connect channels appears only after a workspace connection | [Manage user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/115004952926-Manage-user-groups-from-the-admin-dashboard) |
| Org-level groups vs IdP and SCIM | Can't be combined with IdP groups or managed from SCIM | [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups) |
| Deactivating a group | Handle can't be mentioned; group stays in the list and members remain | [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups) |

## Check yourself

- Why can't a Support workspace member find a user group created in the Sales workspace's admin settings?
- When does the Connect channels option appear for an org-level user group?
- Why do group default channels suit a team-only requirement better than workspace default channels?
- Who sets user group permissions for every workspace in an Enterprise org?

## Sources

- [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-and-edit-user-groups)
- [Manage user groups from the admin dashboard](https://slack.com/help/articles/115004952926-Manage-user-groups-from-the-admin-dashboard)
- [Understand guest roles in Slack](https://slack.com/help/articles/202518103-Understand-guest-roles-in-Slack)
- [Maximize Access & Security in Slack](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/identity-management-in-slack/explore-access-and-security-controls)
- [Connect identity provider groups to your Enterprise organization](https://slack.com/help/articles/115001435788-Connect-identity-provider-groups-to-your-Enterprise-organization)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 4 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Slack Administrator pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams