--- title: "Create Federated Rooms in Rocket Chat" slug: "create-federated-rooms" description: "Learn how to create federated rooms in Rocket Chat. Enable secure collaboration and mission-critical communications across networks." tags: ["Premium"] updated: 2026-05-18T18:52:30Z published: 2026-05-18T21:38:33Z canonical: "docs.rocket.chat/create-federated-rooms" stale: true --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rocket.chat/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create Federated Rooms ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/Premium(1).svg) > [!WARNING] > **Permission Model Consideration** > > Federation operates across different permission models. Rocket.Chat uses a role-based permission system, while Matrix relies on power levels to define user capabilities within rooms. Due to the lack of a direct mapping between these models, changes to roles and permissions in Rocket.Chat may not be consistently reflected in federated rooms. This can result in unexpected behavior in certain scenarios, particularly when permissions are dynamically updated. It is recommended to validate permission changes carefully when operating in federated environments.Federated rooms allow users from different servers to communicate seamlessly within the same Rocket.Chat environment. With federation, rooms are created and managed directly in Rocket.Chat. You can create and participate in the following types of federated rooms: - **1:1 Direct Messages (DMs)**: Chat privately with one user from another server. - **Multi-user DMs**: Start a group DM with multiple users across servers. - **Channels**: Create shared spaces that include both local and federated users. Federated rooms are marked with a **globe icon** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/image(265).png) next to the room name. Their names also include the **home server** where the room is hosted. > [!NOTE] > For details on federated user address structure and invitation rules, see the [Invite External Users to Your Rocket.Chat Server](/v1/docs/invite-external-users-to-your-rocketchat-server) user guide. ## Create a 1:1 direct message (DM) To create a federated DM: 1. Click the **Create new** (**+**) button next to your room list and select **Direct message**. 2. In the **New direct message** dialog, search for or enter the federated user’s full address, for example: ```less @username:server.domain ``` 3. Select the user and click **Create**. Here `@username:server.domain` represents the federated user you want to start a DM with. > [!NOTE] > If your workspace has an allowed federation domain list configured, the domain part of the federated user ID (for example, `server.domain`) must be included in that list. ## Create a multi-user direct message With federation, you can create [multi-user DMs](https://docs.rocket.chat/v1/docs/create-a-new-direct-message#create-a-11-and-1m-dm-from-the-menu-bar) (group direct messages) that include users from your own workspace and external federated servers, all within the same chat. To create a federated group DM: 1. Click the **Create new** (**+**) button next to your room list and select **Direct message**. 2. In the **New direct message** dialog, search for or enter the federated users’ full addresses, for example: ```less @username1:server1.domain @username2:server2.domain ``` 3. Select all the users you want to include and click **Create** to start the group DM. Each `@username:server.domain` represents a federated user you want to add to the group DM. ## Create a channel With federation, you can create [channels](https://docs.rocket.chat/v1/docs/channels) that include both local and federated users from other servers, directly from the creation dialog. To create a federated channel: 1. Click the **Create new** (**+**) button next to your room list and select **Channel**. 2. Enter a **name** for your channel. 3. (Optional) Add a **topic** to describe the purpose of the channel. 4. In the **Members** field, add users from your workspace or external federated users using their full addresses. 5. In **Advanced settings**, enable **Federated** which allows users from other servers to join and participate. > [!NOTE] > Notes: > > - Once federation is enabled for a room, **encryption**, read only and **broadcast** features cannot be enabled. > - [**Discussions**](https://docs.rocket.chat/docs/discussions) aren’t supported inside federated channels yet. > - When you join a federated room hosted on another server, that server’s name appears next to the room title to help distinguish similarly named rooms. ## Edit a federated room After a federated room is created, only certain details can be modified. This ensures the room’s identity and federation links remain stable across all connected servers. #### To edit a federated room 1. Open the room you want to update and click the **Room information** icon![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/image(243)(1).png)from the room header. 2. Click **Edit** from the sidebar that opens. 3. You can update the following details: - **Name**: Change the room’s display name. - **Avatar**: Upload a new image or remove the current one. - **Topic**: Edit the room’s topic or description. 4. Click **Save**. > [!NOTE] > **Notes:** > > - Federation can be enabled or disabled by workspace administrators from the workspace settings. If federation is disabled, the rooms will no longer participate in federation. > - Deleting federated rooms and sharing invite links are **not supported yet.** #### To leave a federated room If you want to leave a federated room, open the room and click the **Room information** icon![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6ae79a05-7252-45d0-96e8-8f375e07b1b2/Images/Documentation/image(243)(1).png)from the room header. A sidebar opens containing the room information. Click **Leave** under the room avatar to exit the room. If you have permissions to edit the room, click the kebab menu **(⋮)** next to **Edit**. Select **Leave** to exit the room. After leaving, the room will no longer appear in your rooms list. > [!WARNING] > Important: Username changes after federation > > Once a user has interacted with a federated server, their username becomes permanently tied to their Matrix ID (MXID). > > - Disabling federation **does not restore** the ability to change usernames > - This behavior ensures consistency across federated servers > - Plan usernames carefully before enabling federation