When a member says they can't get into a space or can't post, it is almost always a setting doing its job โ not a bug. This guide maps each symptom to the exact setting behind it and how to resolve it. Work top to bottom; the causes are ordered from most to least common.
"I can't join this space"
Access to a space is governed by its privacy level and access policy, both set in Manage Space. There are three privacy levels:
- Public โ anyone in the community can join freely.
- Private โ visible, but joining is controlled by an access policy (request, payment, or invite-only).
- Secret โ hidden entirely; it won't appear in browse or search, so a member who can't find it may simply lack an invite.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Space isn't visible at all | Space privacy is Secret | Send the member a direct invite, or switch privacy to Private/Public in the space's Access Policy. |
| "Request pending" after clicking Join | Private space uses request-to-join; the request is awaiting review | An admin approves it under Manage Space > Access Requests. Rejected requests can include a reason. |
| Join button asks for payment | Access policy is payment/tier-gated | Member must buy the space or hold the required membership tier. Confirm their tier under Members, or adjust the required tiers in the access policy. |
| "Invite only" message | Private space has invite-only enabled | Generate and share an invite link, or turn off invite-only in the Access Policy. |
| Can't register for the community at all | Community registration mode is Approval, Invite-only, or Closed | Approve the person under Settings > Registration (Approval mode), send an invite (Invite-only), or reopen registration. |
The community-wide registration mode โ open, invite-only, approval, or closed โ sits in Settings and gates the whole community before any single space is reached. In Approval mode, new sign-ups queue for review and won't have access until approved.
"I'm in the space but can't post"
Once someone is a member, posting is a separate permission. Check these in order:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No compose button for anyone but staff | Allow member posts is turned off for the space | Enable it under Manage Space > Moderation. There is a matching toggle for replies. |
| One member sees a "muted" banner | That member is muted in the space (temporary or permanent) | Muted members can read but not post, comment, or chat. Unmute them, or wait for the auto-unmute time to pass. |
| One member sees a "banned" banner | That member is banned from the space | Unban them from the space's moderation tools if the ban was a mistake. |
| A whole role can't post | Posting is limited to certain roles | Confirm the member's role under Members; some spaces reserve posting for moderators/admins. |
| Member can't do anything anywhere | The member is suspended or banned community-wide | Review their status in the Members area and unsuspend/unban if appropriate. |
Remember the distinction: a space ban or mute only affects one room, while a community suspension or ban blocks everything. The moderation banner a member sees tells you which one is in effect.
Next steps
- Set up clean privacy tiers with spaces vs channels.
- Build consistent rules with moderation and community safety.
- Configure paid access on the monetization page, or explore rooms on the spaces page.