--- title: "Default Channel or Contact: An Overview" description: Default channel (contact) allows users of Zello app to skip a step of selecting a contact or channel to talk before making a push-to-talk call with... --- [Skip to content](https://support.zello.com/zw/default-channel-or-contact-an-overview#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://support.zello.com/zw/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![wordmark@2x](https://support.zello.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2024%20Trial%20series/wordmark@2x.png?width=92&height=16&name=wordmark@2x.png)](https://zello.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://support.zello.com/zw/kb-tickets/new) - [Contact us](https://zello.com/contact/new-ticket/) [Contact us](https://zello.com/contact/new-ticket/) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Zello Work](https://support.zello.com/zw?hsLang=en) 2. [Using Zello](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en) 3. [User Communications](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#user-communications) May 8, 2026 # Default Channel or Contact: An Overview This article is written for: ✅ Zello Work  ❌ Zello Friends & Family. Default channel (contact) allows users of Zello app to skip a step of selecting a contact or channel to talk before making a push-to-talk call with hardware or screen button. It could be most useful in the following cases: - User only talks to one channel or contact as typical for many dispatch scenarios - User predominantly talks to the same channel (i.e. team channel) or person (i.e their supervisor) with occasional conversations with others - When using specialized push-to-talk devices including screenless network radios Assigning the Default channel (contact) has the following impact on the application behavior: - When first started, Zello will automatically open the talk screen for the default channel - When using hardware PTT button it'll broadcast to the default channel after 20 seconds of inactivity with other users. This is especially useful with screenless devices such as network radios - On Android devices, set "Automatically activate a contact" to never if you'd prefer it to not work this way. - You can still talk to anyone and any channel in your list, however, after 20 seconds of inactivity the app will switch back to the default channel. - When the app switches back to the default channel a special notification sound is played The Default channel (contact) has a pin icon and displays at the top of the list. ![](https://support.zello.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/27683622671373-2.jpg?width=450&height=381&name=27683622671373-2.jpg) **Note:** You can only select **one** default contact or channel from within the app. ### How to set the Default channel (contact) from the app --- From the drop down menu on the respective talk screen select **Set as default ![](https://support.zello.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/27683637944333-2.jpg?width=450&height=646&name=27683637944333-2.jpg)** You can remove the Default the same way as it was added (the menu action changes to **Clear default**). **Note:** You can also press and hold from the contact/channels list or swipe to the side to show these options. [Please go to **this link** for instructions on how to set it up from the Admin console](https://paidsupport.zello.com/hc/en-us/articles/26991816221709-How-to-set-the-Default-channel-from-the-Admin-console) **Note:** Default channel (contact) is currently only available on the Zello Android and iOS app. Users should be on Zello version **4.91 and above on Android**, and **4.110 and above on iOS**. - [Getting Started](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Trials](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#trials) - [Admins](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#admins) - [Users](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#users) - [Dispatch Hub](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#dispatch-hub) - [Intro to Zello](https://support.zello.com/zw/getting-started?hsLang=en#intro-to-zello) - [Admins](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#main-content) - [User Management](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#user-management) - [Channels](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#channels) - [Dispatch Hub](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#dispatch-hub) - [Network Settings and Configurations](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#network-settings-and-configurations) - [Zello Enterprise Server](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#zello-enterprise-server) - [Payments, Subscriptions, and Billing](https://support.zello.com/zw/admins?hsLang=en#payments-subscriptions-and-billing) - [Using Zello](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Dispatch Hub](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#dispatch-hub) - [User Communications](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#user-communications) - [Channels](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#channels) - [Settings](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#settings) - [Features](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#features) - [Windows PC App](https://support.zello.com/zw/using-zello?hsLang=en#windows-pc-app) - [Accessories](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Rugged/Specialized Phones](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#rugged-specialized-phones) - [Network Radios](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#network-radios) - [Headsets](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#headsets) - [Speakers/Mics](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#speakers-mics) - [Wireless Buttons](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#wireless-buttons) - [Gateways](https://support.zello.com/zw/accessories?hsLang=en#gateways) - [Partners & Developers](https://support.zello.com/zw/partners-developers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Partnerships](https://support.zello.com/zw/partners-developers?hsLang=en#partnerships) - [New Mobile SDK (iOS, Android, React Native)](https://support.zello.com/zw/partners-developers?hsLang=en#new-mobile-sdk-ios-android-react-native) - [Legacy SDK (Android-Only)](https://support.zello.com/zw/partners-developers?hsLang=en#legacy-sdk-android-only) - [API and Integrations](https://support.zello.com/zw/partners-developers?hsLang=en#api-and-integrations) - [FAQ](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Functionality](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#functionality) - [Accessories](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#accessories) - [Troubleshooting](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [Network](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#network) - [Compliance](https://support.zello.com/zw/faq?hsLang=en#compliance) - [Videos](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Android](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#android) - [Management Console](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#management-console) - [iOS](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#ios) - [Channels](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#channels) - [Dispatch Hub](https://support.zello.com/zw/videos?hsLang=en#dispatch-hub) [![wordmark@2x](https://support.zello.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2024%20Trial%20series/wordmark@2x.png?width=92&height=16&name=wordmark@2x.png "wordmark@2x")](https://zello.com) Zello Inc Help Center Copyright © 2025, Zello