MAX Adds Creator Tools for Channels as Count Tops 16.5 Million

The MAX messenger has rolled out new features for channel authors. According to the service's press office, bloggers can now choose which profile they use to reply to comments, and they get a mini-app called "Channel Tools" that brings the main content and audience features into one place.

The mini-app sits in a channel's settings. Among other things, it lets authors manage promotion and apply for the A+ badge, which confirms that the channel has been registered with Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator. The company also says users will soon be able to attach photos and videos to comments.

Channels pass 16.5 million

Channels appeared in MAX in July 2025, but the ability to create them was opened up gradually. Since February 2026, all users have been allowed to create private channels, and since July, public ones.

The press office says the number of public and private channels on the platform now exceeds 16.5 million. Their combined audience has reached 610 million subscriptions.

Why it matters

For authors, the update means fewer separate steps for running a channel and more control over how they appear in discussions. Choosing the replying profile lets a blogger separate personal and channel communication, while a single tools hub simplifies day-to-day work with the audience.

The release follows another batch of changes in mid-October 2026, when MAX introduced channel recommendations, a stories archive and new settings. Users can now change text size and turn on automatic saving of photos and videos from chats to their phone's gallery. Media in comments is the next feature the company has announced.