With Slack Connect, you can share channels with external organizations to work together securely and productively. Sharing a channel lets you communicate with members across different organizations in one centralized place, without leaving your own workspace. To share a channel, every participating organization must be using one of Slack's paid plans.

Note: Book a free 20 minute call with a Slack expert to help you get started working with your external partners in Slack.

What to expect

• Sharing a channel allows external organizations access to only that channel in your workspace.
• You can send direct messages (DMs) to members from external organizations, as long as you’re sharing at least one channel.
• Members from external organizations can join a shared channel from their workspace, or be added by another member of their workspace who's already in the channel.
• You can’t share the #general channel, multi-workspace channels, or org-wide channels.

How to share a channel

There are three steps to sharing a channel:

• An organization can send an invitation to share one of its channels with other organizations (up to 19).
• Invited organizations can accept or decline the invitation.
• If accepted, the invitation may need to be approved by someone from both organizations, depending on each organization's settings.

Working in shared channels

Working in a channel shared with external organizations is similar to using other channels in Slack. You can identify these channels by the   diamond icon next to the name in your channel list. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when working in channels you’re sharing.

View a member's profile 

When a member from an external organization sends a message in a channel you're sharing, you'll see their profile photo with their organization's Slack icon in the bottom right corner. You can view certain fields in their profile, but you won't be able to see any status they've set in their workspace.

Use custom emoji

In channels you're sharing, you can use your workspace’s custom emoji like you would in any other channel. Members of external organizations can see your workspace’s custom emoji, but won’t be able to use them in messages or add them as emoji reactions.

Send direct messages

You can send DMs to members from an external organization if you’re sharing the same channel. To create a group DM with members from multiple external organizations, you must share at least one channel with every member you’re adding to the conversation.

Use apps and workflows

Here’s what to expect when you use apps and integrations in channels you’re sharing with other organizations:

• If an app has been added by another organization, you’ll see that organization’s Slack icon next to the app’s name. Only the organization that added an app can remove it from the channel.
• All members can see messages from bots and apps, and exchange messages with an app’s bot user when it’s been added to the channel.
• App shortcuts will be available to other organizations if an app is installed to their workspace. When someone takes an action from an app shortcut, that action will only apply to the account they have connected to the app.
• Any custom slash commands created for your workspace will only be available to members of your organization.
• Any workflows added to channels you're sharing will be available for anyone in the channel to use.

Tip: We've taken added precautions to keep your workspace secure when sharing channels with external organizations. Visit Slack Connect security and data policies to learn more.