Making calls in Slack
With Slack Calls, you can make a voice or video call to connect with anyone in your workspace. Keep reading to learn how Slack Calls work, and the subscriptions and devices they're available on.
Tip: You can set your preferences to always join Slack Calls with your audio muted and automatically set your status to On a call when you're on a call.
Call feature availability
| Feature | Subscriptions | Operating systems |
| Voice calls |
Free subscription Available in 1:1 direct messages (DMs) Paid subscriptions Available in 1:1 DMs, Group DMs and channels |
Mac Windows Linux iOS Android |
| Video calls |
Free subscription Available in 1:1 DMs Paid subscriptions Available in 1:1 DMs, group DMs and channels |
Mac Windows Linux iOS Android |
| Screen sharing |
Paid subscriptions Available in 1:1 DMs, group DMs and channels |
Mac Windows Linux* |
*On Linux, you can share your screen but won't be able to draw on it.
Note: Google Chrome is the only browser that supports Slack Calls.
Start a call
If you’re using the free version of Slack, you can start a call in a DM with one other person. If you're using a paid subscription, you can start a call with up to 14 other people in a DM or a channel and share your screen.
Desktop
iOS
Android
From a DM
- Open a DM and click on the member name(s) in the conversation header.
- Click on the About tab.
- Below the member name(s), select Start a call.
- Your call will start right away and the member(s) you're calling will see a prompt to join the call.
- If you like, you can click the camera icon to turn on your video.
Note: If the person you're calling has paused their notifications, they'll see a message about the missed call in the DM.
From a channel
- Open a channel and click on the channel name in the conversation header.
- Click on the About tab.
- Below the channel name, select Start a call.
- Slack will post a message to the channel letting others know that you've started a call. Up to 14 people can join the call by clicking Join.
- If you like, you can click the camera icon to turn on your video.
From a DM
- Open a DM and tap the name(s) at the top of the screen.
- Tap Call [member’s name] in a 1:1 DM or Start a Call in a group DM.
- Your call will start right away and the member(s) you're calling will see a prompt to join the call.
- If you like, you can tap the camera icon to turn on your video.
Note: If the person you're calling has paused their notifications, they'll see a message about the missed call in the DM.
From a channel
- Open a channel and tap the channel name at the top of the screen.
- Tap Start a call.
- Choose a name for the call if you like, then tap Start.
- Slack will post a message to the channel letting others know that you've started a call. Up to 14 people can join the call by tapping Join.
- If you like, you can tap the camera icon to turn on your video.
From a DM
- Open a DM and tap the details icon in the top right.
- Tap Start a call.
- Your call will start right away and the member(s) you're calling will see a prompt to join the call.
- If you like, you can tap the camera icon to turn on your video.
Note: If the person you're calling has paused their notifications, they'll see a message about the missed call in the DM.
From a channel
- Open a channel and tap the details icon in the top right.
- Tap Start a call.
- Choose a name for your call if you like, then tap Start.
- Slack will post a message to the channel letting others know that you've started a call. Up to 14 people can join the call by tapping Join.
- You can tap the camera icon to turn on your video in a call.
Tip: Owners and admins can set a third-party calling app as a default calling option. If this is the case in your workspace, clicking the phone icon may start your call in another app.
Invite others to a call
If your workspace is on a paid subscription, you can invite others to a call that's already started.
Desktop
iOS
Android
From Slack on your desktop, you can invite people directly from a call you’re on, or share a link to a call in a channel or DM.
Invite other people to a call
- Click Add people in the top left corner of the call window.
- Search for and select the people that you’d like to invite to the call.
- Click Invite.
Share a call link
- Click Add people in the top left corner of the call window.
- Click Copy link.
- Paste the call link in the message field of a channel or DM and send the message. Up to 14 people can join the call by choosing Join.
- From the call you’re on, swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
- Tap Add people.
- Search for and select the people that you’d like to invite to the call.
- Tap Invite.
- From the call you’re on, swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
- Tap Add people.
- Search for and select the people that you’d like to invite to the call.
- Tap Invite.
Note: For help with Slack Calls, visit our troubleshooting guide.