Slack is one of the most commonly used business messaging apps – beyond basic communication, the service has plenty of built-in features that can help you be more productive and less overwhelmed by the volume of messages you receive. These are the top tips and tricks for using Slack efficiently.
If you have dozens of channels and DMs to keep track of and a long sidebar list that needs scrolling through, you can create custom sections to keep related conversations together and prioritize the ones you need most at the top. For example, you can create a section just for conversations with your team or a group of channels and DMs related to a specific project. On the desktop app, tap the three dots next to a channel or direct message and go to Create > Create SectionThen give the section a name. Then, open a channel or DM, tap the star icon and move the conversation to the correct section. This tool is only available for paid users, so if you are on the free plan, you can use Filter and Sort Options to organize your sidebar and show or hide muted channels (click the gear icon next to the workspace name).
Type forward slash for shortcut
Slack has a long list of shortcut commands for specific tasks in your workspace, like running apps (creating documents in Google Drive): /To drive), performing common Slack actions (enabling or disabling Do Not Disturb: /dnd), or automating workflow tasks. Simply type the forward slash in the message field of a DM or channel to browse the list of available shortcuts – many will vary depending on what apps are connected to your workspace, but there are A list of built-in Slack commands Ready to use.
Customize your notification schedule according to your working hours
If you don’t want your device to be on with Slack notifications all the time, you can set a schedule to allow notifications. When Do Not Disturb is on, you will still receive messages, but you will not be notified. (Desktop and mobile notifications are on by default in Slack.) On desktop, tap your Profile photo > Preferences > Notifications and scroll down notification schedule. You can allow notifications only on weekdays, every day, or on a customized schedule, as well as set specific time limits. To set it on mobile, tap your Profile photo > Notifications. you can do it too use slash command To pause or restart notifications (types) /dnd in the message field).
To stay up to date with the most important information—whether from people or apps—set contacts as VIPs. This will move their DMs and mentions to a specific VIP section at the top of your sidebar. You can also allow notifications from VIP contacts when Do Not Disturb is turned on. To add a VIP, tap your Profile Photo > Preferences > VIPThen find the person, app, or workflow you want to add. Under Notifications, you can toggle on Always allow notifications from VIP. This feature is available to all users with paid plans.
Schedule messages for later
A simple but extremely useful feature of Slack is the ability to schedule messages for later, such as during a coworker’s work hours or at a regular check-in time. This allows you to create and send messages when they’re top of your mind, but deliver them when you actually want to read them. This is especially helpful when your team works across multiple time zones or on different schedules. After drafting a message, click the down arrow icon – Slack will suggest the time, or you can select Custom Time > Schedule Message. You can view your scheduled messages below Drafted and shipped On the sidebar.
Use reminders to flag messages for follow-up
If you forget about messages after reading them, you can use Slack’s reminder feature to mark them for review later. Tap the three dots next to a message in a conversation to bring up the actions menu, then select remind me And choose a default time frame or set a custom time frame. Once the reminder arrives, you will get a notification and you will see this Later section of your taskbar. You can also mark messages as unread, but you will not receive any notifications at the scheduled time.
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Use search modifiers to find specific messages more quickly
If you haven’t flagged a message or saved it for later, it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for in highly active channels. You can do a basic search using the search bar at the top of the desktop app (or tapping the magnifying glass in the bottom corner on mobile), but Slack’s search modifiers Will help you find specific text more easily. For example, you can use quotation marks to search for a specific phrase, add In: To find results in a specific channel, section, or DM, or type First:, Later:Or But: To find results for a specific time period.
Add custom emoji to your workspace
Slack has hundreds of standard emojis available by default as well as themed emoji packs like hybrid and remote work. You can even create custom emojis for your workspace—my personal favorite from Lifehacker Slack is several iterations of :partyparrot:. Tap the emoji icon below any message and select add emoji. Tap upload imageSelect an image from your device, and enter a name, then press Save. On mobile, tap the plus sign at the top of the emoji menu, then choose one take photo Or photo library. Your custom emoji will be available to everyone in your workspace. Note: If you don’t see the Add Emoji button (or the plus sign on mobile), your workspace administrator may have removed permissions to create custom emoji.
Collaborate using Slack Canvas
Slack has a built-in collaboration tool called Canvas, which lets you and other users share formatted content that doesn’t fit in a regular message. Plus, canvases are stable—pinned to the top of a channel or DM—and can be shared, so it’s an easy way to make meeting notes, agendas, channel summaries, and more accessible. You can create and format a blank canvas or choose a pre-made template. Open any channel or DM and click add canvas (or plus icon) To start from scratch, add a saved canvas, or use a template.
Delegate note-taking to AI in Huddle
Slack’s built-in meetings feature, Huddle, has an AI notetaking option for members on paid plans, so you don’t need to go to another video conferencing app or add integrations or ask someone to manually take minutes. The AI will take notes, summarize takeaways and action items, and compile them into a canvas shared in the Huddle thread for all members to see. Once you start a movement, tap AI Notes: Closed in the upper left corner, then click Start AI Notes & Transcription > Start Notes. You can also set notes to start automatically in specific channels so no one needs to remember to turn them on. Click Channel Name > Settings tap more edit Near Always start AI Notes. Check the box next to #Automatically start AI notes for every movement in channel-name and click save.
