Slack Tips and Tricks in 2026 (50 Power-User Hacks)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut (Mac / Win)	Action
Cmd+K / Ctrl+K	Quick switcher (jump to channel/DM)
Cmd+T / Ctrl+T	Open theme/sidebar
Cmd+Shift+K	All DMs
Cmd+. / Ctrl+.	Hide right sidebar
Cmd+/ / Ctrl+/	All shortcuts
Up arrow	Edit your last message
Cmd+F / Ctrl+F	Search current channel
Cmd+G / Ctrl+G	Workspace search
Esc	Mark all as read
Cmd+Shift+M	Activity / mentions

Channel Organization

1. Custom Sections

• Group channels by project, team, or priority.
• Right-click sidebar → "Create new section".
• Move channels via drag or right-click.

2. Star Channels

• Star key channels to pin to top.
• Hover channel → star icon.

3. Mute Noisy Channels

• Right-click channel → mute.
• Still see in sidebar, no notifications.
• Use for "fyi" channels.

4. Hide Inactive Channels

• Settings → "Show inactive channels: 1 week / 1 month".
• Auto-hides quiet channels.

Search Operators

Operator	Effect
from:@user	Messages from specific person
in:#channel	Within specific channel
has:link / has:pin / has:reaction	Filter by content type
before:2026-04-01	Before date
after:2026-04-01	After date
during:April	During specific period
"exact phrase"	Exact match
-keyword	Exclude keyword

Notification Settings

Default Notifications

• Settings → Notifications → "Direct messages, mentions, and keywords".
• Turn off "All new messages" in active channels (overload).

Keyword Alerts

• Get notified when specific words mentioned anywhere.
• Examples: your project name, your nickname, urgent topics.
• Settings → Notifications → "My keywords".

Do Not Disturb

• Schedule daily DND hours (e.g., 6 PM - 9 AM).
• Settings → Notifications → "Notification schedule".

Message Tricks

Schedule Send

• Click clock icon next to send button.
• Pick date/time for future delivery.
• Great for: Friday afternoon → Monday morning.

Edit Past Messages

• Hover message → ellipsis → Edit.
• Or press Up arrow (your last message).

Save for Later

• Hover message → bookmark icon.
• Access via "Later" in sidebar.
• Set due dates on saved items.

Remind Me

• Hover → ellipsis → "Remind me about this".
• Slack notifies you at chosen time.
• Or: /remind me to ship the build at 3pm

Mark Unread

• Hover → ellipsis → "Mark unread".
• Returns channel to unread state.
• Use for "I'll get to this later" without reminding bot.

Threads

• Always reply in thread for sub-discussions.
• Keeps main channel scannable.
• Use "Also send to channel" sparingly (only for important conclusions).
• Pin key threads for reference.

Status & Custom Status

• Custom emoji + status text.
• Auto-clear after duration (1hr, today, week, never).
• Examples: "🍱 Lunch (30 min)", "🎧 Heads down (until 2pm)", "✈️ Out of office (May 5)".
• Pre-set common statuses in Preferences for one-click.

Workflows

• Automate routine tasks without code.
• Common workflows: standup bots, onboarding, request forms, approvals.
• Build via Workflow Builder (paid plans).
• Trigger by emoji, channel post, scheduled time.

Huddles

• Drop-in voice/video calls in channels.
• Click headphones icon at bottom of channel.
• Less formal than Zoom.
• Free on all paid plans.

Canvases

• Embedded docs in channels.
• Like Notion + Slack combined.
• Use for: project specs, team norms, FAQs.
• Click "+" in channel → Canvas.

Slack AI

• Channel summaries (catch up after vacation).
• Thread recaps.
• Search answers (semantic).
• Daily AI digest.
• Add-on: $10/user/month on most plans.

Power Apps & Integrations

• Google Drive / Notion — link previews + edit in-line.
• Linear / Jira — create tickets from messages.
• Calendly / Cal.com — schedule from DMs.
• GitHub — PR notifications + reviews.
• Loom — embed videos.
• Polly — quick polls.
• Donut — random coffee chats for remote teams.

Etiquette / Norms

• Don't @channel unless truly everyone needs to know.
• Use threads for sub-conversations.
• Async by default — respect timezones.
• "Hi" is incomplete — combine greeting with question.
• Public channels > DMs (for transparency).
• Use status to set expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions