Understand your actions in Slack
In Slack, work happens in channels and direct messages (DMs). You can send messages and files, mention other people to get their attention, pin important messages to find them again later or star items to keep them in a special place just for you. Here’s a breakdown of how these features behave so you don’t have to guess.
What's covered
To learn more about what happens when you perform certain actions in Slack, click on any of the links below:
Send messages and files
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Send a message in a channel |
All members with access to the channel will be able to read your message |
|
Send a message in a private channel |
Only members who have been invited to the channel will be able to read your message |
|
Send a DM to a member |
The member is notified |
|
Send a DM to a group |
All members of the group DM are notified |
Mention teammates
|
Action |
What happens |
|
@mention someone who’s in the channel |
The member(s) will be notified |
|
@mention someone who’s not in the channel |
The member(s) won’t be notified, but you’ll have the option to invite them to the channel or do nothing |
|
@mention someone not in the DM |
The member(s) won’t be notified or allowed to join the conversation |
Pin and star items
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Pin an item to a channel or DM |
All members with access to the channel or DM can see items you or other members have pinned |
|
Star an item in a channel or DM |
Only you can see the items you’ve starred |
Link channel names
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Send a message with a hashtag + channel name (e.g. #channel) |
The channel’s name will appear linked in blue. All members with access can click the channel’s name to open it |
|
Send a message with a hashtag + private channel name (e.g. #privatechannel) |
The private channel’s name won’t appear linked in blue and members can’t click the channel’s name to open it |
New to Slack? We offer a series of lessons to help people get in, get comfortable and get to work in Slack. Head to Slack 101 to get started.
In Slack, work happens in channels and direct messages (DMs). You can send messages and files, save messages and files to bookmark them, pin important messages to conversations and mention other people to get their attention. Keep reading to learn more about how these features work.
Send messages and files
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Send a message in a channel |
All members with access to the channel will be able to read your message. |
|
Send a message in a private channel |
Only members who have been invited to the channel will be able to read your message. |
|
Send a DM to a member or a group of members |
The member(s) will be notified. |
Pin and save items
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Pin an item to a channel or DM |
All members with access to the conversation can see messages and files that you or other members have pinned. |
|
Save an item from a channel or direct message |
Only you can see messages and files that you’ve saved. |
Mention teammates
|
Action |
What happens |
|
@mention someone in a channel |
The member(s) will be notified. |
|
@mention someone not in the channel |
The member(s) won’t be notified, but you'll have the option to invite them to the channel or do nothing. |
|
@mention someone not in a direct message |
The member(s) won't be notified or allowed to join the conversation. |
Link channel names
|
Action |
What happens |
|
Send a message with a hashtag and channel name |
The channel’s name will appear linked in blue. All members with access can click the channel’s name to open it. |
|
Send a message with a hashtag and private channel name |
The private channel’s name won’t appear linked in blue, and members can’t click the channel’s name to open it. |
New to Slack? We offer a series of lessons to help people get in, get comfortable and get to work in Slack. Head to Slack 101 to get started.