# “General chat” channels

Zulip's [topics](/help/introduction-to-topics) help you keep conversations
organized, but you may not need topics in some channels (e.g., a social channel,
or one with a narrow purpose).

If you have permission to administer a channel, you can configure it to only
have the special “*general chat*” topic. The name of this topic is shown in
italics, and is translated into [your language](/help/change-your-language).

Users won't need to enter a topic when sending a message to a “*general chat*”
channel.

## Configure a channel to have only the “*general chat*” topic

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|channel|all}

1. Select a channel.

{!select-channel-view-general-advanced.md!}

1. Under **Messaging permissions**, set **Allow posting to the *general chat*
   topic?** to **Only “general chat” topic allowed**.

{!save-changes.md!}

{end_tabs}

## Related articles

- [Introduction to topics](/help/introduction-to-topics)
- [“*General chat*” topic](/help/general-chat-topic)
- [Require topics in channel messages](/help/require-topics)