Set up a workflow in Slack
- All members (by default)
- Available on paid plans
Workflows are automated multi-step tasks or processes — no coding required! — that start in your Slack workspace. They can run right in Slack, or connect with other tools and services.
By default, any member of a Slack workspace on a paid plan can use Workflow Builder to create custom workflows. However, owners and admins can choose to restrict access to Workflow Builder. If you don’t see this option, ask an owner or admin for more information.
Tip: Be sure to check out our Guide to Workflow Builder before diving into the tutorials.
What you'll learn
- How to choose a trigger for your workflow
- How to customize your workflow depending on the trigger you select
- How to find and open Workflow Builder
Set up your workflow
While you’ll first be presented with picking a name for your workflow, the more important decision you’ll need to make is how your workflow will start.
Choose a trigger
The trigger you pick for your workflow determines how it will start. Workflows are channel-specific, and can only be used in the channel you choose.
| Trigger | How it works |
| Attachments and shortcuts menu | Your workflow starts when someone selects it from the attachments and shortcuts menu. |
| New channel member | Your workflow starts automatically when someone joins the channel. |
| Emoji reaction | Your workflow starts automatically when someone in the channel adds a certain emoji reaction to a message. |
| Scheduled date & time | Your workflow starts automatically at a set date and time. |
| Webhook* | Your workflow starts automatically when a custom webhook sends a web request to Slack from another app or service. |
*Creating workflows with webhooks requires some technical expertise.
Workflows in the attachments and shortcuts menu are easily accessible by members of a channel and can be used anytime. Workflows with other triggers that launch automatically are more contextual; you may want to consider the context of the action that launched them, and keep in mind that people may not be expecting them.
Customize your workflow
Once you’ve chosen a trigger, you’ll pick the channel where the workflow will be available and be prompted to further customize your workflow. What you need to do will depend on the trigger you chose.
Put what you've learned into practice
Follow the steps below to open Workflow Builder and set up your workflow.
Step 1: Open Workflow Builder
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Tools from the menu.
- Select Workflow Builder, which will open in a new window.
Step 2: Choose your workflow name and trigger
- From Workflow Builder, click Create in the top right.
- Enter a name for your workflow, then click Next.
- Click Select next to the trigger you'd like to use.
Step 3: Finish workflow setup
Follow the steps for the trigger you selected to choose a channel for your workflow and finish setup.
Shortcut
New channel member
Emoji
Date & time
- Select a channel from the drop-down menu.
- Add a short name for your workflow that will be visible in the attachments and shortcuts menu.
- Click Next.
- Select a channel for your workflow from the drop-down menu.
- Click Next.
- Select a channel for your workflow from the drop-down menu.
- Click Add Reaction.
- Search for and select any emojis you’d like to trigger your workflow.
- Click Next.
- Select a date from the drop-down menu, then pick the time you’d like your workflow to start.
- Open the Frequency drop-down menu to choose how often your workflow will run.
- Click Next.
Add a custom workflow icon
- Open your workflow in Workflow Builder.
- Click the Settings tab at the top of the screen.
- Click Edit next to your workflow’s icon.
- Select Choose File to upload a file.
- Crop your icon if you’d like.
- Click Save.
What's next:
📍 Set up a workflow in Slack