Connecting Channels as a Team Member
Learn how to connect or refresh social media channels in Publlish when you're a member of an organisation rather than the account owner. Covers permissions needed, what to do if you can't connect, and how to request access.
If you're a member of a Publlish organisation — rather than the account owner or admin — the process of connecting or refreshing social channels works a little differently. Your ability to connect, manage, or refresh channels depends on the permissions your organisation admin has granted you.
This guide explains what team members can and can't do with channel connections, and what to do if you run into a permissions issue.
What Permissions Control Channel Access
In Publlish, channel connection and management is controlled by your role within the organisation. Typically:
| Role | Can connect new channels | Can refresh channels | Can disconnect channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admin | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Editor / Manager | ⚠️ Depends on org settings | ✅ Usually yes | ❌ Usually no |
| Contributor | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Viewer | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Your organisation admin controls exactly what each role can do — the above is a general guide. If you're unsure what your role allows, check with your admin or look at Settings → Team in your dashboard to see your current role.
How to Connect a Channel as a Team Member
If your role allows channel connections:
- Go to Channels in your Publlish dashboard
- Click Connect a Channel
- Select the platform you want to connect
- Log in to the social platform with the account that has admin access to the channel
- Grant Publlish the required permissions
- Select the account and confirm the connection
The process is the same as for account owners. The key difference is that you must have admin access on the social platform itself — Publlish's permissions only control whether you can initiate the connection flow, not whether the social platform will accept it.
Full channel connection guide →
How to Refresh a Channel as a Team Member
Refreshing a channel (renewing an expired token) is typically available to Editors and higher roles, even if they can't connect new channels.
To refresh a channel:
- Go to Channels
- Find the channel showing a connection warning or error
- Click Refresh
- Re-authorise through the social platform using the account that originally connected the channel
Important: When refreshing, you must use the same social platform credentials that were used when the channel was first connected — or credentials that have equivalent admin access on that platform. If you use a different account, the refresh may fail or create a conflicting connection.
What to Do If You Can't Connect a Channel
If you click Connect a Channel and don't see the option, or receive a "permission denied" message, your role within the Publlish organisation may not allow channel connections.
Step 1 — Check your role Go to Settings → Team and look at your listed role. If you're a Contributor or Viewer, you won't have channel connection permissions.
Step 2 — Contact your organisation admin Ask your admin to either:
- Connect the channel on your behalf
- Upgrade your role to Editor or Admin so you can manage channels yourself
If you are the admin and still can't connect a channel, the issue may be on the social platform side — check that you have admin access to the Page or account you're trying to connect.
Connecting Channels for a Client You Manage
If you're an agency team member connecting channels on behalf of a client:
- Make sure the client has added you as an Admin (not just an Editor) on their Facebook Page, Instagram, or LinkedIn Page before you start
- For Instagram, the Facebook account you use to connect must have Admin access to the Facebook Page linked to the Instagram account
- For TikTok, you'll need the client's Business or Creator account credentials or a login from someone with admin access
If the client manages their own social logins and you need them to be present during setup, plan this into your onboarding call. Most connections take 2–3 minutes per platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect a social channel if I'm not the Publlish org admin? It depends on your role. Editors in most organisations can connect channels; Contributors and Viewers typically cannot. Check with your Publlish admin.
I can see the "Connect a Channel" button but nothing happens — why? You may have a permission level that shows the button but blocks the action. Contact your organisation admin to confirm your role and whether channel connections are enabled for your role.
Can I refresh a disconnected channel as a team member? Yes, in most cases — refreshing is typically available to Editor-level roles and above. If you get a permission error when trying to refresh, contact your admin.
Do I need the social media account's password to connect it? You need to log in to the social platform during the connection flow — so yes, you need either the account's credentials or for someone with access to authorise the connection. For client accounts, coordinate this with the client in advance.
What if I connected a channel with my personal credentials and I'm leaving the organisation? Before offboarding, make sure the channel connection is refreshed using credentials that will remain active after you leave. If you connected a Facebook Page using your personal Facebook login and your admin access is removed, the connection will break. Have your admin reconnect using a different admin account.