Message threads

Who can use this feature?

• All members and Guests can use this feature. 
• Available on free and paid plans.

Threads let you respond directly to a message in a channel, keeping the replies organized neatly in a single, threaded conversation. Go ahead, ask questions and dig deeper, have side conversations, or go on a tangent without interrupting the flow of conversation.

Why use threads?

• Encourage open discussion without distracting others.
• Organize conversations and preserve meaningful context. 
• Focus your time and attention on the task at hand.
  
  

Thread etiquette: Yes, it's a thing! Jump down to our guide to using threads for more. ✨

Start a thread to reply to a message

Desktop

iOS

Android

Windows Phone

1. Hover over the message you'd like to reply to directly.
2. Click the  reply icon. Or, click on any message with replies to view the thread in the details pane.
3. Compose your message.
4. Click Send. 

1. Tap the message you’d like to reply to directly.
2. Add a reply of your own to start or join the thread.
3. Tap Send.

1. Tap the message you’d like to reply to directly.
2. Add a reply of your own to start or join the thread.
3. Tap the  paper plane icon to send.

1. Tap the message you’d like to reply to directly.
2. Select the Start a thread button that appears at the bottom of the thread.
3. Tap the  paper plane icon to send.

Keep track of threads

Follow a thread

You’ll automatically follow a message when you add a reply to a thread. If you’re interested in the conversation but have nothing to add, follow the message to stay in the loop:

Desktop

iOS

Android

Windows Phone

1. Hover over a message or conversation you’d like to follow.
2. Click the   three dots icon.
3. Select Follow thread from the menu to be notified about all new replies.

1. Tap the message you’d like to follow.
2. Tap the   three dots icon.
3. Tap Follow Thread. 

1. Tap the message you’d like to track.
2. Tap the  three dots icon at top right.
3. Tap Follow message.

1. Tap the message you’d like to track.
2. Tap the  three dots icon found under the original message in the thread.
3. Tap follow this thread.

Note: If you @mention a member in a threaded message, they will begin following the thread automatically and see new messages in the All Threads view.

Unfollow a thread

If you're not interested in new replies in a conversation, you can simply unfollow the thread:

Desktop

iOS

Android

Windows Phone

1. Open the All Threads view at the top of the channel list.
2. Hover over the original message in the thread you'd like to unfollow.
3. Click the   three dots icon.
4. Choose Unfollow thread from the menu.

1. Open the All Threads view at the top of the channel list.
2. Tap the thread you'd like to unfollow.
3. Tap the   three dots icon found under the original message in the thread.
4. Tap Unfollow Thread in the menu. 

1. Open the All Threads view at the top of the channel list.
2. Tap the thread you'd like to unfollow.
3. Tap the   three dots icon found under the original message in the thread.
4. Tap Unfollow thread in the menu.

1. Open the All Threads view at the top of the channel list.
2. Tap the thread you'd like to unfollow.
3. Tap the   three dots icon found under the original message in the thread.
4. Tap unfollow this thread in the menu.

Send a reply to the entire channel

Threads help focus conversations because threaded messages are separated from the main channel's view. But what if a wider audience would benefit from seeing what you have to say? You can send your reply to a thread to the entire channel. 📢

Desktop

iOS

Android

Windows Phone

1. Click the  reply icon to reply to a thread. 
2. Compose your message.
3. Click the box to the left of Also send to #channel-name.
4. Click Send. Here's how your message will appear in channel:

1. Tap the message you'd like to reply to directly. 
2. Compose your message. 
3. Check the box next to Also send to #channelname.
4. Tap Send. Your reply will be sent to the entire channel.

1. Tap the message you'd like to reply to directly, then tap Start a thread.
2. Check the box to the left of Also send to #channel. 
3. Compose your message. 
4. Tap the  paper plane icon to send.

1. Tap the message you'd like to reply to directly, then tap Start a thread.
2. Check the box to the left of Also send to #channel-name. 
3. Compose your message. 
4. Tap the  paper plane icon to send.

Catch up on new replies

Open the All Threads view — at the top of your channel list — to catch up on threads you follow. You can also reply to a thread, jump back to the conversation in a channel, or simply unfollow threads you're no longer interested in, all from one convenient location.

Tip: On the Slack desktop app, open the All Threads view from the comfort of your keyboard: ⌘ Shift T (Mac) or Ctrl Shift T (Windows).

A guide to using threads

• To thread or share a message? Threads work best when you want to keep your response connected to the original idea. Sharing a message is best used to rekindle past conversations or highlight specific messages from one channel to another. 

• Avoid overuse. A thread's discussion won't appear in a channel's main view, so if other members would benefit from seeing your message, it's best to keep it out of a thread.

• Threads are courteous. They help keep channels focused and prevent active discussions from becoming derailed. But if you want others to see your message in a thread, send it to the entire channel just like a regular message in Slack. 

Note: Message threads cannot be turned off at this time.