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I encountered an issue when trying to create a new team from scratch in the desktop version of Teams. It seems that naming the first channel has become a mandatory step. However, I am unable to name the channel "General" as it shows the message: "The name General is reserved. Try another name."
Could anyone please advise on how to create a "General" channel from scratch in the desktop version of Teams? Is there a workaround for this restriction?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Controlling settings, permissions, and membership within Teams and channels
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
A super easy fix - add another word to the channel name
General Talk
General Chat
General Conversation
General whatever....
Another workaround that I have found is to start in SharePoint and create a new Team Site.
Once that is created you can use the "Teamify" option on the bottom left of the home page to generate the new Team from the group, and the General channel is set up automatically.
Hello,
Any updates on this issue? The other problem names "Teams has no General Channel" also has no additional replies from Microsoft. Please reply to your customers and fix your bug!
This works!! Thank you so much
UPDATE - It looks like this temporary fix of using the app on your phone doesn't work any longer. (posting on Feb 5, 2025). Really unfortunate as now the best way is to use "Create a Team from Template" > Select the 2nd option "Manage a Project" - which shows the "General" channel > and then go back and delete the extra channels that it automatically creates.
NOT A GREAT SOLUTION - when the "FROM SCRATCH" option should include the GENERAL channel as its default and primary channel.
REALLY FRUSTRATING that this continues to be a problem.
_ _ _
Here's an easy fix - USE THE TEAMS APP ON YOUR PHONE (not the desktop) - and it will only ask you to name the "Team" and will automatically add "General" as the first channel.
When using app on your Phone (for now, until Microsoft messes it up further) - you only have to enter the Team Name, and General Channel is set up automatically.