# Moderation

# Moderation

One dashboard switch enables `/ban` and `/mute` for a group's own Telegram admins.

## The Admin Moderation switch

Settings → Features (**Bot Utilities**) has an **Admin Moderation** card — "Allow group admins to use /ban and /mute." Off by default. It applies to every Telegram admin of every group the bot is authorized in; it is not a per-group setting.

- [Owner notifications](/telegram-bot/owner-controls#owner-notifications)

## /ban and /mute

Both work in groups only, and the leading slash is required.

*Group-admin commands*

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/ban` | Bans the target from the group and deletes their messages, along with the `/ban` command and the message it replied to. |
| `/mute` | Stops the target from sending messages or media, or changing group settings. |

#### Who may send them, and against whom

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Sender | A Telegram admin of that group. Being the bot's owner doesn't count on its own. |
| The bot's own permission | The bot must be a group admin with the restrict-members right, or the command is ignored with no reply. |
| Target | Reply to the target's message, or pick their @ from Telegram's autocomplete. |
| Protected targets | Other admins of the group, the bot itself and the bot's owner can't be banned or muted; the command is ignored. |

*What the bot replies*

| Situation | Reply |
| --- | --- |
| Target can't be resolved | `Reply to the user's message instead, or tap their @ from the autocomplete dropdown — Telegram doesn't expose user IDs in plain @ mentions.` The hint and your command are deleted after 3 seconds. |
| Success | `User banned successfully.` or `User muted successfully.`, shown for 1 second. |

> **There is no /unmute**
>
> A mute lasts 24 hours and can't be lifted early.