# Manage metered channels

Assign metered channels when a Capacity group needs pay-per-minute inbound call capacity. Unassign a DID number from the
Capacity group when it should no longer use metered channels.

## Before you begin

- At least one active [DID number](../../buy-numbers/how-to-buy.html#user-panel-buy-numbers-process) is required.
- A positive prepaid balance is required to use metered channels. To add funds, go to [Payment Methods](../../../billing/payment-methods/index.html#billing-payment-methods).
- Only DID numbers that support additional Capacity can be assigned to a Capacity group.

## Assign metered channels

Use this flow to create a Capacity group with metered channels and assign DID numbers to that group.

### Step 1: Open Capacity and select a channel pool

1. In the DIDWW User Panel, go to **Phone Numbers > Capacity**.
2. Select the channel pool, such as **Standard** or **Extended**, based on the country of your DID numbers.

Note

The pay-per-minute cost is shown in the pricing block under **Metered capacity cost**.

[![Capacity page before assigning metered channels](../../../_images/step1pay-per-minute-assign.png)](../../../_images/step1pay-per-minute-assign.png)


**Fig. 1.** Open Capacity and select a pool

### Step 2: Create a capacity group

Click **Create Capacity Group**.

[![Create Capacity Group for metered channels](../../../_images/create_metered_group.png)](../../../_images/create_metered_group.png)


**Fig. 2.** Create a Capacity group

### Step 3: Assign metered channels to the group

1. In the pop-up window, enter a **Group name**.
2. Under **Assigned metered Channels**, enter the number of channels, up to 1,000.
3. Click **Create**.

[![Assign metered channels to a Capacity group](../../../_images/step2assign-metered-channels.png)](../../../_images/step2assign-metered-channels.png)


**Fig. 3.** Assign metered channels

### Step 4: Select DID numbers

After creating a Capacity Group and assigning metered (pay-per-minute) channels to it, you need to **Update Capacity
Group** and assign your DID numbers to that group.

1. In the DIDWW User Panel, go to **Phone Numbers > My Numbers**.
2. Select the DID numbers you want to assign to the Capacity group.
3. At the bottom of the page, click **Batch Actions**.
4. Select **Update Capacity Group**.

[![Select DID numbers and open Batch Actions](../../../_images/3shared_select.png)](../../../_images/3shared_select.png)


**Fig. 4.** Select DID numbers and open Batch Actions

Important

- Shared flat-rate channels always take priority over metered channels. Metered capacity is used only when no shared channels are assigned to the group, or when all included, dedicated, and shared channels are already in use.
- DID numbers purchased with the Pay-per-minute Capacity option are automatically added to a Capacity group in the Standard pool, with 100 metered channels assigned by default.

### Step 5: Update the capacity group

1. In the **Update Capacity Group** window, select a **Capacity Group**.
2. Choose the **Group Name**.
3. Click **Confirm**.

[![Update Capacity Group window showing metered channels](../../../_images/step4update_capacity.png)](../../../_images/step4update_capacity.png)


**Fig. 5.** Update Capacity Group

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## Unassign metered channels

If you no longer want a DID number to use additional pay-per-minute capacity, unassign it from its Capacity group.

### Step 1: Filter DID numbers by capacity group

1. In the DIDWW User Panel, go to **Phone Numbers > My Numbers**.
2. Select the **Active** or **All Numbers** tab.
3. To quickly locate numbers with dedicated channels, open **Filters** and enable the **Capacity group** filter.
4. When the filter is added, choose the capacity pool (**Standard** or **Extended**) and select the name of the Capacity Group (e.g., Pay per minute).

[![Filter DID numbers by Capacity group](../../../_images/step1filter-numbers.png)](../../../_images/step1filter-numbers.png)


**Fig. 6.** Filter DID numbers by Capacity group

### Step 2: Review metered channel allocation

To confirm you are unassigning the correct numbers, check the **Capacity** column for details about the assigned metered
capacity.

1. Locate the DID number in the table.
2. Hover over the **Capacity** column to review capacity details.

[![Capacity allocation showing metered channels](../../../_images/step2-capacity-metered.png)](../../../_images/step2-capacity-metered.png)


**Fig. 7.** Review metered channel allocation

### Step 3: Open the Update Capacity Group action

1. Select the DID numbers.
2. At the bottom of the page, click **Batch Actions**.
3. Select **Update Capacity Group**.

[![Select DID numbers and open Update Capacity Group](../../../_images/step3select_numbers.png)](../../../_images/step3select_numbers.png)


**Fig. 8.** Open Update Capacity Group

### Step 4: Unassign the capacity group

1. In the **Update Capacity Group** window, open the **Capacity group** dropdown.
2. Select **Unassign Capacity Group**.
3. Click **Confirm**.

[![Unassign a DID number from its Capacity group](../../../_images/unassign_capacity_group.png)](../../../_images/unassign_capacity_group.png)


**Fig. 9.** Unassign Capacity Group

## Related resources

- [Pay-per-minute channels](../pay-per-minute-channels.html) - Understand metered capacity behavior and billing.
- [Capacity groups](../capacity-groups.html) - Understand group fields and limits.
- [Capacity billing](../capacity-billing.html) - Understand metered per-minute charges.

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