---
title: You cannot post in a channel
type: troubleshooting
section: spaces
summary: The composer is locked because the channel is an announcement channel, it is archived, your access is read only, or a send failed.
applies_to:
  clients: [web]
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/lib/team-chat/post-policy-affordance.ts
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/composer/message-composer.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/chrome/status-banners.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/channels-and-sub-channels, spaces/space-members-and-roles, spaces/cross-account-access]
aliases: [team-chat/cannot-post, spaces/composer-locked]
---

Read the notice above or below the composer. Each message below names one cause.

## Only Space admins can post here

The channel's **Who can post** setting is **Space admins only**, which makes it an announcement channel. Everybody can read it; only Space administrators write in it. Ask a Space administrator to post for you, or to change the setting.

If a send slips through anyway it is refused with **Only Space admins can post in this channel.**

## This conversation is read-only. History remains searchable and threads can be reviewed.

The channel has been archived. The header also shows **Read-only archive**. Archiving cannot be reversed from Spaces; ask a Space administrator to create a new channel.

## This account is not authorized to send in the selected channel.

Two causes.

1. You reach this Space through a collaboration with another Account and your grant is **Read only**. Ask the owning Account's administrator for **Read and post**. See [Cross-Account access](/help/spaces/cross-account-access).
2. Your channel membership no longer allows sending. Check the member list for your own row.

## You cannot send messages to a member you have blocked.

You blocked the other person in this direct message. Open **Spaces settings**, find them under **Blocked people**, and choose **Unblock**.

## Sign in again before retrying this message.

Your session expired while the message was waiting. Reload the page, then send it again.

## Finish or remove file uploads before sending

An attachment is still uploading. Wait for the chip to finish, or cancel it on the chip.

## Message not sent. Retry when the connection is stable.

The send failed in transit. The message keeps a retry control. If it keeps failing, check whether the connection banner is showing.

## Storage for this channel type is not ready yet. Retry after setup is complete.

The channel's storage has not finished being set up. Wait and send again.

## Related

- [Channels and sub-channels](/help/spaces/channels-and-sub-channels)
- [Space members and roles](/help/spaces/space-members-and-roles)
- [Cross-Account access](/help/spaces/cross-account-access)