Install Apps and Bots

Browse the App Store to install, update, or remove Apps and Bots.

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You can install and manage Root's own Apps on desktop or mobile. Apps from other developers, and Bots, are installed from Root on desktop. Once installed into a community, Apps and Bots can be used on Root desktop and mobile.

Required permissions

• Manage Appsinstall, update, and remove Apps and Bots

What to expect

Installing an App creates a dedicated channel in your community. Installing a Bot adds it to your community without a channel. During installation, you assign roles to give the App or Bot the permissions it needs.

When you install an App, it creates a dedicated channel in your community. You'll name the channel and configure who can see it. Some Apps also have global settings (configuration specific to that App, like choosing which roles can create content or who can vote). If an App has required settings, you'll need to fill them in before the installation can finish.

After installation, you'll also want to choose which channels the App or Bot operates in (that is, which channels it can see). See Add Apps and Bots to channels for details. You can also adjust settings at any time. See App and Bot settings.

App and Bot slots

Root's own Apps are free and don't use a slot. Only Apps and Bots that cost a core use one. How many your community can have depends on its level, and each core a member assigns adds one slot. See Community levels.

Swap an App for another one

When you remove an App or Bot that uses a slot, the slot is free again, so you can install a different one. Removing an App deletes its channel and data, so only remove one you no longer need.

If your community drops below the number of slots it's using, because a member takes a core back or their subscription ends, one of your Apps is suspended and then permanently deleted after about three days. Community owners get an email with the deadline.

Install an App

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Apps can also be installed from Community Settings. Under Management, select Apps, then select Add App to open the App Store. Select an App card, choose a Channel Group, then select Install. Then follow the same steps from step 8.

1. Right-click a channel group in the sidebar and select Create channel, or select the + icon next to the group.
2. Under channel type, select App channel.
3. Select Choose app to open the App Store.
4. Browse the available Apps or use the search bar to find a specific one. Each card shows the App's name, developer, category, and a short description.
5. Select an App card to view its details, including the description, screenshots, and developer information.
6. Select Install to choose the App.
7. Back in the Create Channel dialog, configure the App:
   • General: Enter a channel name and optional description.
   • Permissions: Control who can see the App channel. By default, permissions sync with the parent channel group. Turn off Sync Permissions to customize.
   • App Global Settings: Configure the App's settings. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*). This tab only appears for Apps that have global settings.
8. Select Create.
9. In the Assign roles to [App name] dialog, select + to assign roles to the App.
10. Select Done.

The App appears as a new channel in the channel group you selected.

Install an App on mobile

On mobile, you can install Root's own Apps. Apps from other developers show Install from desktop instead, and are installed from the desktop app.

1. Open the community drawer by swiping right, or by tapping the menu icon in the top left corner. Inside a community, that button shows the community's picture instead.
2. Tap the Discover icon in the drawer header.
3. Tap the App Store icon in the top right corner.
4. Browse the Apps, or tap Search apps to find one. Use the category pills (All, Entertainment, Productivity, Tools) to narrow the list.
5. Tap an App to open its page, with its description, screenshots and the permissions it asks for.
6. Under Community, tap Choose a community and pick where to install it. Communities where you don't have the Manage Apps permission are marked Needs the Manage Apps permission.
7. Under Channel group, choose the channel group for the App's channel.
8. Tap Install app, then confirm with Install app.
9. On the Set up screen, tap Assign roles to give the App the roles it needs, or Not now to do it later.

The App appears as a new channel in the channel group you chose.

Install straight into a community

If you are already in the community, tap the community name, then Community settings > Apps, and tap the +. The App Store opens for that community, so you skip choosing one.

If the community doesn't have a free App slot, Root offers to assign one of your cores first. The button reads Assign core and install.

Install a Bot

1. Select the community image in the sidebar.
2. Select Community settings.
3. Under Management, select Apps.
4. Select Browse the bot store.
5. Browse the available Bots or use the search bar to find a specific one.
6. Select a Bot card to view its details.
7. Select Install.
8. In the Install bot dialog, select Install to confirm.
9. In the Assign roles to [Bot name] dialog, select + to assign roles to the Bot.
10. Select Done.

Bots run in the background without a channel.

Update an App or Bot

When a new version is available, the App's channel shows an update dot, with Update available under the channel name. You can update it two ways.

From the App's channel

1. Right-click the App's channel in the sidebar.
2. Select App settings. A green dot next to it means an update is waiting.
3. In the UPDATE AVAILABLE panel at the top of the General tab, select Update.
4. In the Update app window, select Update to confirm.

From App settings

1. Select the community image in the sidebar, then Community settings.
2. Under Management, select Apps or Bots.
3. Select the App to open its General tab. When an update is available, an UPDATE AVAILABLE panel appears at the top.
4. Select Update, then select Update again in the Update app window to confirm.

If the update needs new settings, the Update app window asks you to fill them in before you confirm.

On mobile

1. Press and hold the App's channel in the channel list.
2. Tap Update to and the new version number, then confirm.

You need the Manage Apps permission to see this option.

Automatic updates

When a new version is released, you have 24 hours to update manually. After 24 hours, the update is applied automatically. The App channel is temporarily unavailable while the update is being applied.

Suspended Apps

An App is suspended when your community doesn't have enough cores to power it, for example after a member unassigns a core or their subscription ends. The channel shows App suspended, and a red APP SUSPENDED banner appears at the top of the App's General tab.

Adding a core brings the App back, with nothing to reinstall. Do it before the deadline in the owner's email, because suspended Apps are deleted after about three days. See Restore a suspended app.

Remove an App or Bot

1. Select the community image in the sidebar.
2. Select Community settings.
3. Under Management, select Apps or Bots.
4. Select the App or Bot to open its management panel.
5. On the General tab, scroll to Remove.
6. Select Remove app (or Remove bot).
7. In the confirmation, select Delete.
8. Confirm the removal.

Removing an App permanently deletes the App, its channel, and all associated data. This action cannot be undone. If it used a slot, the slot is free again, so you can install another App or Bot.

On mobile

1. Tap the community name to open the menu.
2. Tap Community settings, then Apps.
3. Tap the App.
4. In the Remove app section at the bottom, tap Remove.
5. Tap Remove again to confirm.