---
name: "currentChannel"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Radio and Chat"]
arma3_since: "1.42"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": null, "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/currentChannel
revid: 376817
updated: 2025-11-21T20:34:59Z
---

# currentChannel

*Command · Radio and Chat · Arma 3 v1.42*

## Description

Returns currently selected user chat channel on the UI (selected with <kbd><</kbd> and <kbd>></kbd> in multiplayer).

| channel ID number correspondence |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Global | Side | Command | Group | Vehicle | Direct | Custom1 | .. | Custom10 | Arma 3 v2.22 Custom11 | .. | Custom50 |
| -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 26 | 65 |  |  |

For Custom Radio, see [radioChannelCreate](../commands/radioChannelCreate.md).

## Syntax

```sqf
currentChannel
```

**Returns:** [Number](../topics/Number.md) - channel ID (see [BIS_fnc_channelNumToRadioChannelID](../functions/BIS_fnc_channelNumToRadioChannelID.md), [BIS_fnc_radioChannelIDToChannelNum](../functions/BIS_fnc_radioChannelIDToChannelNum.md))

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
_selected = currentChannel; // 3 for the Group channel
```

## See also

[setCurrentChannel](../commands/setCurrentChannel.md) · [getPlayerChannel](../commands/getPlayerChannel.md) · [enableChannel](../commands/enableChannel.md) · [channelEnabled](../commands/channelEnabled.md) · [radioChannelCreate](../commands/radioChannelCreate.md)

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — currentChannel](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/currentChannel) (revision 376817).</sub>