---
id: 522
revision: '0'
language: en
title: Set up a private community
---

:::info
Currently, you can only set up private communities using Status desktop.
:::

By default, a new Status Community is public and available for everyone to join. As a community owner, you can [use token-based permissions][set-up-your-community-permissions] to create a token-gated or private community.

Only people holding the tokens the private community requires can join and participate. For instance, you can configure a token-based permission that requires members to hold a certain amount of DAI and ETH tokens to join. Or, you can restrict access to users in a particular ENS domain, such as acme.eth.

:::info
In addition to tokens, community owners can require [manual approval][manage-community-join-requests] to join their communities. Token-based permissions and manual approval work independently.
:::

Token requirements can be useful to ensure that your community members have a certain level of commitment or interest in the topic of the community. If you run an organization with an ENS domain, you can also set up a private community for holders of your ENS domain only (for example, alice.acme.eth or bob.acme.eth).

## What to expect

- Use the `Become member` token-based permission to set up a private community.
- You can set up token-based permissions with existing tokens or tokens you have [minted][mint-tokens-for-your-community] and distributed via [airdrops][how-to-airdrop-tokens-in-status].
- In a private community, members must always meet and keep the token requirements. Community members not holding the required tokens lose access to the community automatically.
- Use [channel permissions][set-up-channel-permissions] to make one or more channels private while keeping your community public.
- To transform a private community into a public one, [delete the `Become member` token-based permissions][delete-community-permissions].

## Set up a private community

Community owners customize permissions using three different variables: `Who holds`, `Is allowed to` and `In`.

=== "Desktop"

    1. From the navigation sidebar, click your community.
    1. On top of the channel sidebar, click your community logo and then, click **Permissions**.
    1. Click **Add permission**.
    1. For the `Who holds` variable, select the tokens and amounts (for assets and collectibles) members must hold to join your community. You can choose and combine up to five assets, collectibles or ENS names.
    1. For the `Is allowed to` variable, select :desktop-member: **Become member**.
    1. For the `In` variable, make sure your community is selected.
    1. Click **Create permission**. The new permission takes effect immediately.

:::tip
Tokens are linked by `AND` operators. This means access is granted when the holder owns all the tokens. If you want to use the `OR` operator instead, create additional permissions with different `Who holds` values. You can create a maximum of five different Become member permissions.
:::