> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://playbook.nativemsg.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://playbook.nativemsg.com/mcp/tool-reference/channels.md).

# Channels

A **channel** is a connection to one messaging destination — an RCS agent, SMS 10DLC number, web chat, or Facebook page. Channel-type ids include `rcs`, `dlc`, `dsc`, `fb`, `twr`, `alx`, `web`, and `bmp`. Every channel runs exactly one experience, chosen at creation (it cannot be repointed later).

| Tool                              | What it does                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Key inputs                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `list_channel_types`              | The channel types the account can create: `{ name, description }`                                                                                                                                                                                               | `limit`, `cursor`                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| `list_channels`                   | All channels: `id`, `channelType`, `botId`, `name`, `description`; filter with `bot_id`                                                                                                                                                                         | `bot_id`, `limit`, `cursor`                                                                                                                                                                             |
| `get_channel`                     | One channel's full details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | `channel_id`                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| `create_channel`                  | Create a channel running an experience                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | `channel_type`, `experience_id`, `name` (≤255), optional `description` (≤200), `config` (type-specific: e.g. `phoneType`/`countryCode` for dlc; `user`/`token` for fb; `data` + `subconnector` for rcs) |
| `update_channel`                  | Change name, description, or `config`. The experience cannot be changed. Updating an **RCS** channel re-submits its agent registration to the carrier provider, which can affect a launched agent — refused unless `force: true`                                | `channel_id`, fields, `force`                                                                                                                                                                           |
| `delete_channel`                  | Delete the channel, **its contacts, and their conversations**; removes it from every blast and unschedules blasts that sent only through it. Cannot be undone. Refused — with subscriber count — when it has subscribers or active blasts, unless `force: true` | `channel_id`, `force`                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| `get_channel_subscription_count`  | `{ channelId, subscribedHumansCount }`                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | `channel_id`                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| `subscribe_humans_to_channel`     | Make contacts eligible to receive messages on the channel. Only subscribe contacts who have opted in                                                                                                                                                            | `channel_id`, `human_ids`                                                                                                                                                                               |
| `unsubscribe_humans_from_channel` | Stop contacts receiving messages and blasts on the channel                                                                                                                                                                                                      | `channel_id`, `human_ids`                                                                                                                                                                               |

Related: `check_rcs_capability` and `add_tester_device` (RCS-specific, documented with [Contacts & Tags](/mcp/tool-reference/contacts.md)) also take a `channel_id`.

## Notes

* **RCS channels and testers:** an RCS agent that has not launched can only message its registered tester devices (`add_tester_device`).
* **Capability differs per channel:** the same phone number can report different RCS features on different channels, because the check runs against the carriers that channel's agent is launched on.
* Deleting a channel is the second-biggest blast radius in the toolset (after deleting an experience): contacts and conversation history on that channel go with it.


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