Mac

Windows

Linux

Desktop app preferences can be set by distributing .plist or .mobileconfig files using enterprise management software for macOS. The desktop app supports two types of configurations:

Defaults

• Typically used for desktop app rollouts or deployment.
• Settings are adjustable by users but administrators can set default values.
• Settings are defined under a special Defaults sub-key.

Enforced

• Typically used to manage ongoing operations of distributed desktop apps.
• Settings are administratively locked and values aren't changeable by users.
• Settings are defined as values within the root key of the .plist file.

Creating configuration files

You can use mobile device management (MDM) solutions to deploy .plist or .mobileconfig files to define supported settings and values for the Slack desktop app. To make creating configuration files easier, manifests will be available in ProfileCreator and iMazing Profile Editor.

Here’s an example of what your .plist file could look like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
  <key>HardwareAcceleration</key>
  <false/>
  <key>Defaults</key>
    <dict>
      <key>ReleaseChannel</key>
      <string>beta</string>
    </dict>
  </dict>
</plist>

Note: The Slack desktop client uses the domain com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap for .plist and.mobileconfig files.

Desktop app settings can be set by Windows Group Policy. The desktop app supports two types of configurations:

Defaults

• Typically used for desktop app rollouts or deployment.
• Settings are adjustable by users but administrators can set default values.
• Settings are defined under a special Defaults sub-key.

Enforced

• Typically used to manage ongoing operations of distributed desktop apps.
• Settings are administratively locked and values aren't changeable by users.

Configure settings with registry locations

Settings can be configured in the registry under the HKLM (machine wide) or HKCU (current user) hive. If a setting is configured in both locations, the HKLM setting will take priority over HKCU.

To make configuring settings easier, download our Group Policy Object template. 

Defaults

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Slack\Defaults
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Slack\Defaults

Enforced

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Slack
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Slack

Desktop app preferences can be set by distributing a JSON formatted configuration file. The slack-desktop.conf file has to be placed in the /etc folder. The user or user group in which context the Slack app is executed has to have read access to the configuration file. The desktop app supports two types of configurations:

Defaults

• Typically used for desktop app rollouts or deployment.
• Settings are adjustable by users but administrators can set default values.
• Settings are defined as properties under a special Defaults object.

Enforced

• Typically used to manage ongoing operations of distributed desktop apps.
• Settings are administratively locked and values aren't changeable by users.
• Settings are defined as properties within the root object of the JSON file.

Creating configuration files

Here’s an example of what your slack-desktop.conf file could look like:

{
  "HardwareAcceleration": false,
  "defaults": {
    "DownloadPath": "/media/documents",
  }
}

Mac

Windows

Linux

Setting Configurations

Value

AutoUpdate

Enables or disables automatic updates of the desktop app.

Enforced

Boolean

True* (enabled)

False (disabled)

ClientEnvironment

Configures the client to run in either commercial mode or government compliance mode (GovSlack). 

Enforced

Defaults

Integer

1000* (commercial)

1001 (GovSlack)

DefaultSignInTeam

Sets a default workspace or org URL for users to sign into on first launch. 

Enforced

String 

A valid workspace or org ID

DownloadPath

Configures a download location. 

Enforced

Defaults

String
A valid path to a folder on the files system

(ex. /tmp/downloads)

HardwareAcceleration

Enables or disables hardware accelerated rendering on the client.

Enforced

Defaults

Boolean

True* (enabled)

False (disabled)

ReleaseChannel

Configure the client to receive updates from either the production (prod) or beta channel.

Enforced

String

prod*

beta

* Default values for the Slack desktop app. Setting Configurations Value

AutoUpdate

Enables or disables automatic updates of the desktop app.

Enforced

REG_DWORD

1* (enabled)

0 (disabled)

ClientEnvironment

Configures the client to run in either commercial mode or government compliance mode (GovSlack). 

Enforced

Defaults

REG_DWORD

1000* (commercial)

1001 (GovSlack)

DefaultSignInTeam

Sets a default workspace or org URL for users to sign into on first launch. 

Enforced

REG_SZ

A valid workspace or org ID

DownloadPath

Configures a download location. 

Enforced

Defaults

REG_SZ
A valid path to a folder on the files system

(ex. C:\Download\Path, \\SERVER\path)

HardwareAcceleration

Enables or disables hardware accelerated rendering on the client.

Enforced

Defaults

REG_DWORD

1* (enabled)

0 (disabled)

HideOnStartup

Controls whether Slack launches visible or minimized to the systray when the user logs into their machine and launch on login is enabled.

Enforced

Defaults

REG_DWORD

1* (enabled)

0 (disabled)

ReleaseChannel

Configure the client to receive updates from either the production (prod) or beta channel.

Enforced

REG_SZ

prod*

beta

* Default values for the Slack desktop app. Setting Configurations Value

ClientEnvironment

Configures the client to run in either commercial mode or government compliance mode (GovSlack). 

Enforced

Defaults

Integer

1000* (commercial)

1001 (GovSlack)

DefaultSignInTeam

Sets a default workspace or org URL for users to sign into on first launch. 

Enforced

String 

A valid workspace or org ID

 

DownloadPath

Configures a download location.

Enforced

Defaults

String
A valid path to a folder on the files system

(ex. /tmp/downloads)

HardwareAcceleration

Enables or disables hardware accelerated rendering on the client.

Enforced

Defaults

Boolean

True* (enabled) 

False (disabled)

* Default values for the Slack desktop app.