1. What This Feature Does
The Channel Expiry setting allows administrators to define when channels expire and how they are handled after expiry.
This helps organizations automatically manage channel lifecycle, reduce data retention risk, and enforce compliance policies.
You can define:
- Whether channel expiry is enabled by default
- Whether expired channels are automatically deleted
- The soft delete period before permanent deletion
- Whether users can modify expiry settings at the channel level
2. Who Can Use It
- Admin users can configure Channel Expiry settings
Plan-Based Behavior
For Non-Enterprise Plans
- Settings are applied globally across the subscription
- When enabled, settings apply to all users and all channels
- Users cannot override these settings
For Enterprise Plans
Channel Expiry includes a mix of role-based controls and subscription-wide controls:
- Some settings are available in Manage Roles
- Others are enforced across the entire subscription
Important:
- Channel Expiry must be enabled before it can be assigned through Manage Roles
- Some settings cannot be controlled by roles and apply to all users
3. Step-by-Step Instructions
- Navigate to Data Retention
- Locate the Channel Expiry section
- Configure the following options:
A. Enable Channel Expiry on Newly Created Channels
- Toggle ON to enable channel expiry by default for new channels
- Toggle OFF to disable channel expiry
Behavior Notes:
- This setting can be applied retroactively to existing channels
- For Enterprise plans:
- This setting is available in Manage Roles
B. Edit Soft Delete Period on Deleted Channels
- Configure the number of days a channel remains in a soft deleted state before permanent deletion
Behavior Notes:
- This setting is enforced subscription-wide
- This setting can be applied retroactively
C. Automatically Delete Channels Once Expired
- Toggle ON to automatically delete channels after they expire
- Toggle OFF to keep expired channels accessible until manually deleted
Behavior Notes:
- This setting is enforced subscription-wide
- There is no Manage Roles control
D. Allow Channel Owners and Managers to Edit Channel Expiry
- Toggle ON to allow users to modify channel expiry settings at the channel level
- Toggle OFF to restrict expiry configuration to admins only
Behavior Notes:
- For Enterprise plans:
- This setting is available in Manage Roles
- When disabled:
- Users cannot modify expiry settings
Changes are saved automatically when toggles are enabled or disabled. There is no Save button.
4. What Happens After
For Non-Enterprise Plans
- Channel expiry settings are applied across the entire subscription
- Changes (where applicable) can be applied to existing channels
- Users cannot override these settings
For Enterprise Plans
- Toggle 1 and Toggle 4:
- Can be assigned and controlled through Manage Roles
- Toggle 2 and Toggle 3:
- Apply globally across the entire subscription
- Cannot be controlled through roles
Important Behavior
- If Channel Expiry is enabled:
- Channels will expire based on configured rules
- If Automatic Deletion is enabled:
- Channels are permanently deleted after expiry and soft delete period
- If Soft Delete Period is configured:
- Channels remain recoverable for the defined number of days
- If User control is disabled:
- Channel Owners and Managers cannot modify expiry settings
- If retroactive application is selected (where applicable):
- Existing channels are updated to reflect the new settings
5. Best Practice for Enterprise
For greater flexibility and control:
- Enable Channel Expiry in Data Retention
- Use retroactive application carefully when enforcing changes across existing channels
- Control user access using custom roles in Manage Roles
- Keep deletion settings (Toggle 2 & 3) centrally managed for consistency
This ensures:
- Consistent lifecycle management across channels
- Controlled flexibility for users
- Alignment with compliance and retention policies