# Manage shared channels

Assign shared flat-rate channels to a Capacity group when multiple DID numbers should share additional inbound call
capacity. Unassign shared channels when the group no longer needs them.

## Before you begin

- At least one active [DID number](../../buy-numbers/how-to-buy.html#user-panel-buy-numbers-process) is required.
- At least one unassigned flat-rate channel is required to assign shared channels. See [Purchase flat-rate channels](purchase-flat-rate-channels.html#capacity-purchase-flat-rate-channels).
- Only DID numbers that support additional Capacity can be assigned to a Capacity group.

## Assign shared channels

Use this flow to create a Capacity group with shared flat-rate channels and assign DID numbers to that group.

### Step 1: Open Capacity and create a group

1. In the DIDWW User Panel, go to **Phone Numbers > Capacity**.
2. Select the capacity pool, such as **Standard** or **Extended**, where you have at least one unassigned channel.
3. Click **Create Capacity Group**.

[![Create a Capacity group for shared channels](../../../_images/1assign_shared_channels2.png)](../../../_images/1assign_shared_channels2.png)


**Fig. 1.** Create a Capacity group

### Step 2: Assign shared channels to the group

1. In the pop-up window, enter a **Group name**.
2. Enter the number of channels in **Assigned shared Channels**.
3. Click **Create**.

[![Assign shared channels to a Capacity group](../../../_images/2capacity_group_popup.png)](../../../_images/2capacity_group_popup.png)


**Fig. 2.** Assign shared channels

### Step 3: Select DID numbers

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 to assign to a Capacity group](../../../_images/3shared_select.png)](../../../_images/3shared_select.png)


**Fig. 3.** Select DID numbers and open Batch Actions

### Step 4: Assign the capacity group

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

[![Update Capacity Group window for shared channels](../../../_images/4shared_update_capacity_group.png)](../../../_images/4shared_update_capacity_group.png)


**Fig. 4.** Update Capacity Group

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## Unassign shared channels

Use this flow to reduce the number of shared flat-rate channels assigned to an existing Capacity group.

### Step 1: Review shared channel allocation

1. In the DIDWW User Panel, go to **Phone Numbers > Capacity**.
2. Select the capacity pool where the shared channels are allocated.
3. In the **Channel allocation** block, review the number of channels assigned as shared.

[![Channel allocation block showing shared channels](../../../_images/channel-allocation.png)](../../../_images/channel-allocation.png)


**Fig. 5.** Review channel allocation

### Step 2: Open the group editor

1. Find the Capacity group where the **Assigned Channels** column shows shared channels.
2. Edit the capacity group by clicking **Actions > Edit group**.

[![Edit group option in the Actions menu](../../../_images/step21.png)](../../../_images/step21.png)


**Fig. 6.** Open Edit group

Important

Before reducing shared channels, make sure the reduction will not cause call failures or traffic loss. A Capacity group
must have at least one shared or metered channel.

To cancel all shared channels while keeping the group active, first increase the number of metered channels to at least
1, then reduce assigned shared channels to 0. To remove all channels from a group, first unassign all DID numbers from
the group, then delete the group.

### Step 3: Reduce shared channels

1. In the **Edit Capacity Group** pop-up window, locate **Assigned shared Channels**.
2. Reduce the number of shared channels to the required value, or 0 to completely remove them from a capacity group.
3. Click **Submit**.

[![Reduce assigned shared channels in Edit Capacity Group](../../../_images/edit-capacity-group2.png)](../../../_images/edit-capacity-group2.png)


**Fig. 7.** Unassign shared channels

## Related resources

- [Capacity groups](../capacity-groups.html) - Understand group behavior, fields, and limits.
- [Manage DID(s) in a Group](manage-dids-in-group.html) - Assign DID numbers to an existing group from the Capacity page.
- [Remove flat-rate channels](remove-flat-rate-channels.html) - Remove unassigned flat-rate channels.

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