1. Slack Help Centre
  2. Using Slack
  3. Share files & conversations
    4. Use a canvas in Slack

Use a canvas in Slack

Who can use this feature?

When you need to share information that won’t fit in a simple message (like a project plan or meeting notes), create a canvas. A canvas is a surface built into Slack where you can create and share fully formatted content.

Canvas in Slack with text, videos and images

Tip: Canvases are included in most templates, pre-configured bundles of tools designed to help you get to work faster. If you aren’t using templates, you can browse ways to use canvases in Slack.


Create a canvas

You can create a canvas for anything that you’re working on – think meeting notes, project briefs or research findings – and then share it in any conversation. You can also keep canvases private, for select eyes only.

  1. Hover over   More, then select   Canvases.
    An image of a cursor over the More icon in the Slack desktop app.
  2. Click New canvas or Start from a template in the top-right corner.
  1. From the   Home tab, tap the search bar at the top of your screen.
  2. Tap Canvases, then tap   Create a canvas.
  3. The canvas will open. Start typing to add content.

Tip: Add a canvas as a tab in any conversation to access it directly from the conversation header.


Find and manage an existing canvas

To browse the canvases that you’ve created or have View or Edit access, click on  Canvases in your sidebar.

  1. Hover over   More, then click   Canvases.
    An image of a cursor over the More icon in the Slack desktop app.
  2. Use the   Filter and   Sort drop-down menu to sort by Recently viewed or Last updated, or search for a specific canvas.
  3. Choose a canvas from the list to open it, or click on the   three dots icon to manage it.
  1. From your mobile device, tap the   More tab.
  2. Tap Canvases.
  3. Tap a canvas in the list to open it, or press and hold to either Share in Slack, Copy link, Save for later or Delete the canvas.

 

Edit a canvas

To edit a canvas, you'll need Editor access. Anyone with Editor access will be able to apply formatting, mention people and add comments to the canvas.

If you need to edit a View only canvas, you can request editor access from your desktop using the steps below.

  1. From your desktop, click   View only in the top-right corner of a canvas, then click Request edit access.
  2. Your request will be sent to the canvas’ owner for review, and you’ll be notified once the request is approved.

You can send the canvas owner a reminder of your outstanding request by repeating step 1.

Tip: Review our guide on managing access to canvases for details on how to share and assign permissions.

Note: It’s not currently possible to request edit access on mobile.


Apply formatting

You can apply a variety of formatting options to the text in a canvas, such as headers, block quotes and bullet-point lists. You can also insert audio and video into a canvas to have it play inline, and inserting a file or another canvas will include a preview.

Add a cover image

Choose a cover image from our library, or customise it further by uploading your own.

  1. From the canvas, click the   three dots icon, then click Add cover image.
  2. To customise the cover, hover over the image, then click Edit.
  3. Choose an image from the library, or click Upload to add your own.
  4. Click on Save.


Format your text

Use the formatting bar at the bottom of the canvas to format your text, organise your content into lists or insert media such as clips and files.

  1. From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
  2. Click on the   formatting icon to reveal text formatting options. Select an option from the list to format your text.

To change the formatting, highlight the text to reveal the formatting bar and apply options such as Bold, Italic and Strikethrough.


Add a callout

If there's a section of your canvas that you'd like to highlight, you can add a callout to add a coloured background to the content.

  1. Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
  2. Click on the  plus button, then select   Callout.
  3. To change the background colour, click on the   six dots icon, then hover over Background colour and select an option.


Embed media and files

  1. Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
  2. Click on the  plus button and select from the list to add media.

To rearrange content in a canvas, click and hold the   six dots icon, then drag the content to a new location.Canvas-blocks_2x.gif

Tip: Click the   six dots icon to copy a link to the section, add a comment or access additional formatting options.

Format your text

  1. From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
  2. Tap on the   formatting icon to reveal text formatting options. Swipe left on the toolbar to scroll through the options.
  3. Select an option, then tap to apply the changes.

Note: It's not currently possible to add objects or a cover image to a canvas on mobile.


Use the toolbar

You can access the following common actions from the toolbar. Select an option to add it to the canvas:

  Open the emoji browser and add an emoji to your text

  Upload a file

  Format text as a checklist

  Create a table

  Add columns

Tip: To access formatting options, insert objects or embed files inline with a shortcut, press / on your keyboard.


Mention people in a canvas

To notify someone directly in a canvas, mention them by using the @ symbol followed by their name. As long as the canvas has been shared with the person that you mention, they'll receive a badge notification next to the   Activity tab in their sidebar. Members who don't have access permissions to the canvas won't be notified.


Comment on a canvas

Use comments to leave feedback or start a discussion. Comments on a canvas behave like messages in threads, and new replies will appear in both your Threads view and the   Activity tab.

Add comments

  1. Open a canvas.
  2. Find the text that you’d like to comment on, then click on the   six dots icon and choose   Add a comment.
  3. Type your comment, then press Enter to add it.
  1. Open a canvas.
  2. Highlight the text that you’d like to comment on, then tap the   Add comment icon. If you don’t highlight specific text, your comment will apply to the whole section.
  3. Type your comment, then tap   Send.

Tip: Instead of commenting, click the   Add reaction icon to use an emoji reaction.


View comments

  1. Open a canvas.
  2. Click on the   three dots icon in the canvas header, then choose Show all threads.
  3. To sort your comments by Most recent, Unread or Resolved, click on the   Filter icon.
  1. Open a canvas.
  2. Text that has been commented on will appear highlighted. Tap the highlighted text to view and reply to comments.

Tip: To resolve comments, click on the   resolve icon at the top of the comment thread.


Delete a canvas

You can delete canvases that you created, and restore them if you deleted them within the last 24 hours.

  1. From the canvas, click on the   three dots icon, then select Delete canvas.
  2. Click on Delete canvas.
  1. From your desktop, hover over   More, then select   Canvases.
    An image of a cursor over the More icon in the Slack desktop app.
  2. Click Deleted in the sidebar.
  3. Find the canvas that you’d like to restore, then click on the   restore canvas icon. 
  4. Click on Restore canvas.

Note: The option to delete and restore canvases is only available on desktop.

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