Use a canvas in Slack
When you need to share information that won’t fit in a simple message (such as project plans or meeting notes), create a canvas. A canvas is a surface built into Slack where you can create and share fully formatted content. You can use a canvas in two ways:
- In a channel or direct message (DM)
- On its own
Tip: Discover some helpful ways to use canvases in Slack.
Create a canvas
A channel or DM canvas
Every channel and DM has a built-in canvas where you can store details about the conversation and the work that is happening there. Channel canvases can be viewed by anyone with access to the channel, while DM canvases are visible only to members of the DM.
Desktop
Mobile
- Click on the add canvas tab in any conversation header to open the canvas.
- If you have permission to post in the conversation and edit access to the canvas, start typing to add content to the canvas.
- Tap the blank add canvas icon in any conversation header to open the canvas.
- If you have permission to post in the conversation and edit access to the canvas, start typing to add content to the canvas.
A standalone 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.
Desktop
Mobile
- Hover over More, then select Canvases.
- Click New canvas or Start from a template in the top-right corner.
- From the Home tab, tap the search bar at the top of your screen.
- Tap Canvases, then tap Create a canvas.
- The canvas will open. Start typing to add content.
Find and manage an existing canvas
A channel or DM canvas
Desktop
Mobile
- From your desktop, open a channel or DM.
- Click on the canvas tab in the conversation header to view the canvas in the conversation.
- Click on the three dots icon to manage the canvas.
- From your mobile device, open the channel or DM that the canvas is in.
- Tap the canvas icon to view the canvas in the conversation.
- Tap the three dots icon to copy a link to the canvas.
A standalone canvas
Desktop
Mobile
To browse canvases that you’ve created or that you have View or Edit access to, click on Canvases in your sidebar.
- Hover over More, then click Canvases.
- Use the Filter and Sort drop-down menu to sort by Recently viewed or Last updated, or search for a specific canvas.
- Choose a canvas from the list to open it, or click on the three dots icon to manage it.
- From your mobile device, tap the More tab.
- Tap Canvases.
- 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.
Tip: Add a canvas tab in any conversation to access standalone canvases in the conversation header.
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.
A channel or DM canvas
The ability to edit a channel or DM canvas is determined by the following:
- Whether you're a member of the conversation
- Whether a channel manager has set edit permissions to Anyone who can post in the channel or Channel managers only
If you belong to a channel and can't edit its canvas, ask the channel manager for permission to edit.
Tip: Review our guide on canvas sharing, security and access to learn how to share and assign permissions.
A standalone canvas
If you need to edit a View only canvas, you can request editor access from your desktop using the steps below.
- From your desktop, click View only in the top-right corner of a canvas, then click Request edit access.
- 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.
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.
Desktop
Mobile
Add a cover image
Choose a cover image from our library, or customise it further by uploading your own.
- From the canvas, click the three dots icon, then click Add cover image.
- To customise the cover, hover over the image, then click Edit.
- Choose an image from the library, or click Upload to add your own.
- 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.
- From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
- 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.
- Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
- Click on the plus button, then select Callout.
- To change the background colour, click on the six dots icon, then hover over Background colour and select an option.
Embed media and files
- Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
- 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.
Tip: Click the six dots icon to copy a link to the section, add a comment or access additional formatting options.
Format your text
- From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
- Tap on the formatting icon to reveal text formatting options. Swipe left on the toolbar to scroll through the options.
- 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:
Upload a file
Create a table
Format text as a checklist
Open the emoji browser and add an emoji to your text
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
Desktop
Mobile
- Open a canvas.
- Find the text that you’d like to comment on, then click on the six dots icon and choose Add a comment.
- Type your comment, then press Enter to add it.
- Open a canvas.
- 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.
- Type your comment, then tap Send.
Tip: Instead of commenting, click the Add reaction icon to use an emoji reaction.
View comments
Desktop
Mobile
- Open a canvas.
- Click on the three dots icon in the canvas header, then choose Show all threads.
- To sort your comments by Most recent, Unread or Resolved, click on the Filter icon.
- Open a canvas.
- 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.
Delete a canvas
Restore a deleted canvas
- From the canvas, click on the three dots icon, then select Delete canvas.
- Click on Delete canvas.
Tip: Channel and DM canvases can’t be deleted, but you can delete all the content if you’d like to start fresh.
- From your desktop, hover over More, then select Canvases.
- Click Deleted in the sidebar.
- Find the canvas that you’d like to restore, then click on the restore canvas icon.
- Click on Restore canvas.
Note: The option to delete and restore canvases is only available on desktop.
- All members and guests
- Channel and DM canvases are available on all subscriptions
- Standalone canvases are available on paid subscriptions