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How to add a bot to a MAX channel: admin rights, chat_id and publishing from CHBT
In short: in CHBT press Reinstall webhook on the MAX channel, then in the MAX app add the bot to the channel and make it an admin with rights to read all messages, write, edit and delete. After that CHBT shows the channel chat_id in Studio by itself — in the Detected channels: line. Paste it into the Connect the site form and press Connect and check permissions. The Rights confirmed status means you can publish posts, reply to comments and moderate them through the bot. Studio works on any plan. Below — each step in detail, errors and specifics of posts in MAX.
What to prepare
- A MAX bot that has passed moderation and is connected to CHBT in Channels with its token.
- A MAX channel where you are the owner or an admin.
- The owner or admin role in the CHBT project: an operator sees Studio in view mode only and does not set up platforms.
Why this is needed at all: the bot from Channels serves private conversations and by itself has no access to your channel. Admin rights in a specific channel let CHBT publish posts, edit and delete them, read comments in a shared feed with Telegram and VK, reply and delete spam.
Step 1. Update the bot webhook in CHBT
Open the bot → Channels → “⋯” in the MAX channel row → Reinstall webhook.
Why: CHBT learns that the bot was added to a channel from an event MAX sends to the webhook. A fresh subscription guarantees that the event arrives and passes the secret check. Without this step the channel may not appear in the detected list, and you will have to look for the chat_id manually.
Step 2. Add the bot to the channel as an admin
In the MAX app open your channel, add the bot there and make it an admin. Give it rights:
| Right in MAX | What it gives in Studio |
|---|---|
| Read all messages | Comments appear in the feed |
| Write | Publishing posts |
| Edit | Editing published posts |
| Delete posts and comments | Moderation |
Turn on comments in the MAX channel settings. The MAX API does not show this switch, so CHBT cannot check it.
Step 3. Get the channel chat_id
Open Studio → Platforms → Connect the site for MAX. After step 2 the form shows a Detected channels: line with the chat_id and the bot number — copy the number.
- If instead it says there are no bot addition events yet, the event did not arrive: repeat step 1, then remove the bot from the channel and add it again.
- The chat_id can be found manually using the MAX guide — the How to get chat_id in MAX link is right in the form.
A channel chat_id is a negative number, for example -123456789.
Step 4. Connect the channel and check the rights
- In the same form, in the Connected bot field, choose the MAX bot you added to the channel.
- In the channel chat_id field paste the number.
- Press Connect and check permissions.
Result: CHBT asks MAX what this chat is and what rights the bot has, and shows the Rights check result — Publish, Edit posts, Delete posts, Read comments, Reply to comments, Moderate comments, each with “yes” or “no”. The overall status is Rights confirmed, Need setup or Validation error.
Check: publish a test post from Studio and make sure it appears in the channel. Changed rights in MAX — press Check again: the check result is a snapshot at the moment of pressing.
If it did not work
| What you see | Cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “An active MAX channel with the bot added is required.” | The chat_id is not a channel’s, the bot is not in the channel or the channel is inactive | Check the chat_id and that the bot is added |
| Need setup | Some rights are missing | Give the rights from step 2 and press Check again |
| No bot addition events yet | The addition event did not arrive | Reinstall webhook, remove and add the bot to the channel again |
| No MAX bot in the Connected bot list | The bot is not connected in Channels | Connect it with the token |
| Posts are published, but there are no comments in the feed | No right to read all messages or comments are off | Give the right and turn on comments in the channel settings |
Specifics of MAX posts and comments
- Buttons — up to 8, one per row; in MAX they are real buttons under the post. Add a link button to the bot: a channel subscriber becomes a bot contact only when they press Start themselves.
- Text is sent without formatting.
- Media — JPEG/PNG photos up to 10 MB, videos and files up to 20 MB, everything together up to 40 MB.
- Editing a published post — only text and buttons; for a MAX post with media the buttons cannot be changed.
- Replies to comments — text only, without links, mentions or attachments. A deletion in MAX cannot be undone through CHBT.
- Code words in MAX comments work, but moving from a comment into a bot flow is not available yet.
How to run posts in three networks from one window — in the article on posts in Telegram, VK and MAX.
CHBT StudioMAX bot moderationReplies to channel commentsHow to bring subscribers to a MAX bot