Create channel prefixes for your workspace

Help promote organization and consistency in Slack by creating a set of standard channel prefixes. Adding prefixes to channel names can help members determine where relevant work is happening and find answers to questions more quickly.

Things to keep in mind

  • Slack offers three default channel prefixes — #help#proj, and #team. Workspace Owners and Admins can choose to use these default prefixes or add their own custom prefixes. 
  • When creating channels, members will be able to choose from their workspace's list of channel prefixes, or create their own unique channel names.
  • Channel prefixes can only be used when creating channels from Slack on your desktop.

Note: Workspaces on the free plan can have up to six prefixes, while Pro and Business+ workspaces can have up to 99. Each workspace in an Enterprise organization can have up to 99 prefixes.


Create channel prefixes

Free, Pro, and Business+ plans

Enterprise plans

  1. From your desktop, click  Admin in the sidebar.
  2. Hover over Edit workspace, then click Channel prefixes
  3. Click Add Prefix
  4. Enter a prefix and a description telling members how it can be used.
  5. Click Save
  1. From your desktop, click your workspace name in the sidebar.
  2. Select Tools & settings from the menu, then click Customize. If you manage more than one workspace, choose one from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Channel Prefixes at the top of the page.
  4. Click Add Prefix
  5. Enter a prefix and a description telling members how it can be used.
  6. Click Save


Delete channel prefixes

If you no longer need a default or custom channel prefix, you can delete it. 

Free, Pro, and Business+ plans

Enterprise plans

  1. From your desktop, click  Admin in the sidebar.
  2. Hover over Edit workspace, then click Channel prefixes
  3. Click Channel Prefixes at the top of the page.
  4. Click the  icon next to the prefix you want to remove. 
  1. From your desktop, click your workspace name in the sidebar.
  2. Select Tools & settings from the menu, then click Customize. If you manage more than one workspace, choose one from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Channel Prefixes at the top of the page.
  4. Click the  icon next to the prefix you want to remove. 

Tip: If you delete a prefix and replace it with another one, ask members to rename any channels created with the old prefix. These channels won't update automatically.

Who can use this feature?

  • Workspace Owners and Workspace Admins
  • Available on all plans