---
title: Explore and join a Space
type: how-to
section: spaces
summary: Open Explore Spaces from the destination rail, search for the Space by name, and choose Join.
applies_to:
  clients: [web]
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/space-discovery/space-discovery-surface.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/space-discovery/use-space-discovery.ts
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/page-nav/team-chat-space-rail.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/i18n/locales/en/team-chat.json
verified:
  at: 2026-09-04
  env: code
  by: content-lane-spaces
ttl_days: 45
related: [spaces/what-a-space-is, spaces/create-a-space, spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space]
aliases: [team-chat/join-a-space, spaces/discover-spaces]
---

1. In the destination rail on the far left, choose the compass button, **Explore Spaces**.
2. Type at least two characters of the Space name in **Search in Spaces**. Results narrow as you type.
3. Choose **Join** on the Space you want.

Spaces confirms with a message naming the Space, then opens its first channel. If the Space has no channels yet, you see **You joined this Space, but it does not have any channels yet. A Space administrator can create one.**

Only Spaces that a Space admin has opened to your Account appear in the list. Those are marked **Everyone in your organization**. A Space set to **Invite only** never appears; a Space admin has to add you.

## Spaces you never have to join

Some Spaces are set so that every active member of the Account is a member automatically. Those are marked **Everyone in the Account is a member** and are kept in step with Account membership by the platform, so they appear in your rail without a join step and do not appear in **Explore Spaces**.

## If the list is empty

**No Spaces are available to join right now.** means nothing is open to your Account at the moment. The page then offers three ways forward: ask a Space admin for an invite, start a direct message, or create a Space if your account may do that.

## If it did not work

- **This Space is no longer available to join.** or **This Space changed while you were joining. Refresh the list and try again.** means the Space's visibility changed while the list was open. Search again.
- **Space discovery is not available for this organization yet.** means self-service joining is not turned on for your Account. Ask a Space admin to add you.
- **Spaces could not be loaded.** is a network or service failure. Choose **Retry**.
- If the Space you want never appears, see [You cannot see a Space](/help/spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space).