Welcome to Slack — a messaging app for business. Slack transforms the way organizations communicate by bringing people together to work as one unified team.
To get started, download the desktop app and check out the video and guide below for a quick tour.
From the sidebar, you can access your conversations in Slack. You'll see a list of channels you've joined and your direct messages, notifications for specific conversations, and the option to compose new messages.
Compose
Channels
Notifications
Direct messages
You can use the compose button to write and send a message to any conversation. Messages automatically save as drafts in the Drafts section of your sidebar until you’re ready to send them.
In Slack, work comes together in dedicated spaces called channels. Channels bring the right people and information together for any project, topic, or team. Unlike email, discussions in channels are focused around specific topics, so you can join and leave them as needed.
Notifications in Slack are different from email or other tools you may be used to — they’re designed to make it clear where you’re needed by showing you a badge if a teammate mentions you. When there's new activity, conversation names appear bold in the sidebar.
Direct messages (DMs) allow for focused, one-off conversations that don't require an entire channel to weigh in. Use DMs for ad-hoc messages or tasks, like asking your manager a question, or coordinating a call with a teammate.
Channels
Channels are fundamental to working in Slack — they bring the right people and information together in one place, and make it possible to organize work around a common purpose.
Channel information
Messages & files
Emoji reactions
From the channel header, you can access details about the channel you're in. Click the channel name to see details like the channel topic and description, plus any added files. Use the other tabs to see who's in the channel and view other conversation settings.
Channels provide a dedicated space to write messages and add files. With everything related to a particular topic, project, or team in channels, you can scroll up to see the conversation history any time you open or join one.
Emoji reactions are a quick way to respond to any message in Slack. They're both fun and helpful for getting work done — a simple reaction can often replace the need for a follow-up message.
Message field
When working in Slack, you have a variety of messaging options available from the message field to help you communicate and connect with your team.
Files
Mentions
Formatting
More actions
Add files to your messages to share important information alongside your team's discussions.
Use mentions to get the attention of specific people in a conversation, whether you need to ask for feedback or follow up on action items.
Format your messages to add a little clarity or pizzazz — bold the most important items, break out thoughts with bullet points, and more.
From the more actions menu, you can correct typos or mistakes after you send a message. You can also delete a message you’ve already sent if you need to start over.
Navigation bar
Use the navigation icons to go back and forth in your history (just like you would in a web browser) or view recent conversations, search for information, or get help with Slack.
History
Search
Help
The history icons provide quick access to recently-viewed items. Use the left and right arrows to go back and forward in your history, or click the clock icon for a list of your recent channels, DMs, search results, threads, and more.Search your team’s conversation history in Slack to find the relevant messages, files, channels, and people you need to get work done.Click the question mark icon to the right of the search bar to access help and learning resources, or visit our Help Center from your browser.
Tip: Press CmdK (Mac) or CtrlK (Windows/Linux) and type the name of any channel or person to quickly jump to a conversation.
Learn more: For an in-depth look at using Slack, take our courses and test your knowledge to earn Slack Skills badges.
Welcome to Slack — your productivity platform. Slack transforms the way organizations communicate by bringing people together to work as one unified team. To get started, download the desktop app and check out the guide below for a quick tour.
Tip: When you're ready to learn more, see our Slack tutorials.
Sidebar
From the sidebar, you can access the channels you've joined, open your direct messages, view activity that might need your attention, and see a list of your saved items and reminders.
1. Home
2. DMs
3. Activity
4. Later
Home is where you'll access your conversations, including channels. Choose the conversations you're part of by joining and leaving channels, and customize what you see in your sidebar by adjusting your preferences. DMs is a list of all your direct messages (DMs) that you can search and filter. Use DMs for one-off conversations that don't require an entire channel of people to weigh in, or as a way to start a huddle with a coworker when it’s easier to talk than type. Activity is a single view of everything that might need your attention. See messages you’ve been mentioned in, threads you’re part of, and reactions to messages you’ve sent. Later is where you’ll find messages and files you’ve saved for later and reminders you’ve set. Prioritize tasks and enjoy the satisfaction of marking items as complete.
Tip: If you don't see Later, hover over any message and click the save icon.
Channels
Channels are fundamental to working in Slack — they bring the right people and information together in one place, and make it possible to organize work around a common purpose.
5. Channel header
6. Messages & files
7. Emoji reactions
Click the channel name to see details about the channel you’re in, like the channel topic and description, and files shared in the channel. You can also start a huddle and open the channel’s canvas.Channels provide a dedicated space to write messages and add files. With everything related to a particular topic, project, or team in channels, you can scroll up to see the conversation history any time you open or join one.Emoji reactions are a quick way to respond to any message in Slack. They're both fun and helpful for getting work done — a simple reaction can often replace the need for a follow-up message.
Message field
When working in Slack, you have a variety of options available from the message field to help you communicate and connect with your team.
8. Files
9. Formatting
10. Mentions
11. More actions
Double-click the plus icon to add files so you can share important information alongside your team's discussions.Format your messages to add a little clarity or pizzazz — bold the most important items, break out thoughts with bullet points, and more.Use mentions to get the attention of specific people in a conversation, whether you need to ask for feedback or follow up on action items.From the more actions menu, you can correct or delete a message you’ve already sent.
Search, Plus, and Profile
Use the search bar to find something in Slack, the plus button to create something new, and click your profile picture to manage your profile and preferences.
12. Search bar
13. Plus button
14. Your profile
Click the search bar to search your team’s conversation history in Slack and find messages, files, channels, and people you need to get work done.Use the plus button to quickly create messages, huddles, canvases, and channels.Click your profile image to set your status, pause your notifications, manage your preferences, and more.
Tip: Access all of our help and learning resources from Help. Click the question mark icon in the top right from your desktop, or the bottom left from a browser.
