# Chatter groups, access levels, and customers

*Platform Administrator Study Guide · Productivity and Collaboration · Last updated September 26, 2026 · https://certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator/productivity-and-collaboration/chatter-groups-and-access*

Public, private, unlisted, and broadcast Chatter groups: who can find, join, and administer each one, how Chatter customers are limited to their groups, and how records are added to groups.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Administrator
- Exam section: Productivity and Collaboration
- Study guide: https://certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> Describe the features of Chatter (groups, accessibility to groups, internal/external users).

## What the exam expects

- Choose the right Chatter group access level (public, private, or unlisted) for a visibility requirement, including what nonmembers can still see.
- Explain how people join each group type and who approves or invites them (owner, manager, admin permissions).
- Identify which permissions reach group content: Modify All Data and View All Data for public and private groups, Manage Unlisted Groups for unlisted groups.
- Bring external users into a group with Allow Customers, and describe what Chatter customers can and can't see, including the permanence of that choice.
- Configure group behaviour: Broadcast Only posting and adding records such as opportunities to a group.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Group limits | A user can join up to 300 groups; an org can have 30,000 groups | [Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_about.htm&type=5) |
| Create groups permission | Create and Own New Chatter Groups, on by default | [Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Private group join | Ask to join; owner or manager adds the person | [Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Unlisted group join | No asking; owner or manager must invite | [Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Unlisted availability | Off by default; enable in Chatter Settings | [Enable Unlisted Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_unlisted_groups_enabling_for_org.htm&type=5) |
| Unlisted vs admins | Modify All Data and View All Data see unlisted groups only as members | [Chatter Group Roles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_roles_overview.htm&type=5) |
| Unlisted access for nonmembers | Manage Unlisted Groups permission | [Chatter Group Roles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_roles_overview.htm&type=5), [Enable Unlisted Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_unlisted_groups_enabling_for_org.htm&type=5) |
| Allow Customers | Private or unlisted groups only; access level can't change afterwards | [Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Customer visibility | Only their groups, those groups' members, and shared files; no records | [Chatter Customers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_external_overview.htm&type=5) |
| Private to public | Content becomes visible to all and pending requests are accepted | [Change Group Access Level](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_access.htm&type=5) |
| Unlisted conversion | Owner or manager can open it up to private or public | [Change Group Access Level](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_access.htm&type=5) |
| Broadcast Only | Only owners and managers post; members read and comment | [Broadcast Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_groups_broadcast_about.htm&type=5) |
| Records in groups | Allow records in groups (default on) plus the Add Record action | [Records in Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_records_enabling.htm&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- What can a nonmember see about a private group that they can't see about an unlisted group? → The group itself in search and list views, with its name, description and member list; an unlisted group is hidden ([Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5))
- Why isn't Modify All Data enough to review every unlisted group, and which permission is? → It reaches an unlisted group only when the user is a member; Manage Unlisted Groups gives access even as a nonmember ([Chatter Group Roles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_roles_overview.htm&type=5))
- Why must you settle the access level before selecting Allow Customers? → Once customers are allowed, the group's access level can't be changed ([Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5))
- What exactly can a Chatter customer see in the org? → Only their groups, the people in those groups and files shared to them; no records, topics or recommendations ([Chatter Customers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_external_overview.htm&type=5))
- When can members add opportunities to a Chatter group? → When Allow records in groups is on in Chatter Settings (the default) and an admin has added the Add Record action through Group Layouts ([Records in Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_records_enabling.htm&type=5))

## Sources

- [Create Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_creating.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_about.htm&type=5)
- [Change the Access Level of a Chatter Group](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=experience.collab_group_access.htm&type=5)
- [Enable Unlisted Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_unlisted_groups_enabling_for_org.htm&type=5)
- [What Your Chatter Group Role Lets You Do](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_roles_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Chatter Customers in Private Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_external_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Broadcast Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_groups_broadcast_about.htm&type=5)
- [Enable Records in Chatter Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_group_records_enabling.htm&type=5)
- [Salesforce Mobile App](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.salesforce_app.htm&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 7 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Administrator pack (USD $19): https://certifyforce.com/practice-exams