Public channels

To learn more about channels, take a look at our dedicated Channels knowledge base for admins article.

Public channels can be found and joined by any Rakuten Viber user that searches for the channel’s name, or keywords contained in a channel’s name and description.

We’ll also create a unique landing page for public channels, that will be displayed as part of the channel invite link. The page will allow people to preview your channel in their web browsers (even if they don’t have Rakuten Viber) and be searchable on Google.

Once you have a channel that is eligible to become public (by reaching several minimum thresholds), you* will receive a notification asking if you want to Go public.

To change your channel type after it’s eligible to go public:

1. Open Rakuten Viber on your phone
2. Tap on Chats 
3. Select a channel in which you are a superadmin
4. Tap Info (Android) or the name of the channel (iOS) at the top of the screen
   • Android: tap on Channel info
5. Tap Channel type
6. Select what type of channel you want
   • Private: The channel isn’t searchable, and members can only join via the invite link
   • Public: The channel is searchable, and anyone can join

While your request to go public is being processed, you will see Public pending next to Channel type on the Info screen. If your request is successful, the status will change to Public.

Please note that requests from channels that don’t comply with Rakuten Viber's Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of Service, will be rejected.

*You will need to be a superadmin of the channel. Any superadmin can change the channel type.

To find a public channel, Rakuten Viber users must:

Phone

1. Open Rakuten Viber on their phone
2. Tap on Chats 
3. Tap on Search (Android) or swipe down to reveal the Search bar (iOS)
4. Type in the name of a channel or a topic of interest

Desktop

1. Open Rakuten Viber on their desktop
2. Click in the Search field
3. Type in the name of a channel or a topic of interest

Tap/click Join channel in the chat screen to become a part of the channel.

Rakuten Viber offers a variety of opportunities for businesses that want to see their channels grow.

Benefits may include:

• Promotional stickers - our team will work with you to design a sticker pack. People that download the pack will automatically be added to your channel.
• Become verified - verified channels are trusted more by Rakuten Viber users.
• Go public - Rakuten Viber users will be able to find your channel using Search.
• Landing page - we’ll create a landing page for your channel on the Viber.com platform.

Take a look at our Rakuten Viber for business page for more information.