---
title: "Configuring default, source, and locked groups"
description: "Default groups are the groups new members join automatically. Source and locked groups go further: members cannot leave or unfollow them on their own."
category: administration-security
section: platform-settings
tags: [admin, guests]
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-06
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/administration-security/configuring-default-source-and-locked-groups
---

# Configuring default, source, and locked groups


## Configuring default, source, and locked groups
Default groups are the groups that every new member joins automatically on joining your organisation. Source groups and locked groups go further: members cannot leave or unfollow them on their own, which makes them reliable channels for communications everyone must see. All three lists live on one page: **Administration > Groups settings**, in classic Talkspirit.

> **Role prerequisite:** You need to be an organisation administrator or a groups administrator to open this page.

None of this applies to guests. Guests never join default groups automatically and are not added to source groups; invite a guest to each group individually.

## Add or remove default groups

1. Open **Administration > Groups settings**.
2. In the **Default groups to new members** section, type the first letters of a group's name and select it to add it. Remove a group from the selection to stop new members joining it.
3. Confirm your changes in the save bar that appears at the bottom of the page.

![The lower part of the classic Groups settings screen, showing the Default groups to new members field with General selected, the Source groups section listing General with a switch, and the Other locked groups field with its own group picker](/images/administration-security/configuring-default-source-and-locked-groups/01-groups-settings-default-source-locked.png)

Every organisation starts with one default group: **General**, an open group created with the organisation.

Changing the list only affects members who join afterwards. Existing members are not added to a new default group, and removing a group from the list does not remove anybody from that group.

## Turn a default group into a source group

In the **Source groups** section, each default group appears with a switch. Turn a group's switch on and save to make it a source group.

A source group reaches everyone, permanently:

- When you save, every existing member of the organisation (except guests) is added to the group, and every future member joins it automatically.
- Members cannot leave the group or unfollow it.
- Member management is closed: neither group managers nor administrators can remove individual members from a source group.

Use a source group for communications that must reach the whole organisation, such as company-wide announcements.

## Lock a group that is not a default group

The **Other locked groups** section works like the default-groups list: type a group's name to add it. Only groups that are not default groups can be selected here.

A locked group keeps its members: they cannot leave or unfollow it on their own. Unlike a source group, nobody is added automatically, and an organisation administrator can still remove a member when needed.

Locked groups suit department-level communications where everyone concerned must keep seeing the group's posts.

> **Note:** Organisation administrators are the exception: they can leave a source or locked group themselves.

## What's Next?

- [Creating a group](/en/communication/creating-a-group)
- [Dynamic groups and people sets](/en/communication/dynamic-groups-and-people-sets)
- [Manage all groups as an administrator](/en/administration-security/managing-groups)
- [What is a groups administrator?](/en/communication/the-groups-administrator)