25+ Hidden Slack Features You Need to Know
Check your plan before you chase a tip: most of the AI features below need Business+. This list rounds up 25+ Slack features worth knowing in 2026, from AI-powered search and summaries to Canvas, workflow automation and classic hidden settings that are easy to miss. Each AI item says which plans get it, as listed in Slack's guide to AI features.
We recommend deciding by plan. Recaps, search answers, translations and AI-built workflows need Business+, which costs about twice as much as Pro per user ($15 against $7.25 a month, billed annually, in the US). Pro already includes thread summaries, huddle notes, Lists and Workflow Builder. Unless a Business+ feature fixes a problem you can name, spend a month on the Pro features and the classic settings below before you pay for the difference.
New AI-Powered Features
1. Slack AI for Intelligent Search and Summaries
Slack AI answers questions instead of making you scroll for them. Type a question in plain language into the search bar, such as "What's our Q1 sales strategy?", and a short answer appears at the top of the results, with citations that point to the source messages or files. Search answers are on the Business+ and Enterprise+ plans.
The catch: Slack AI only answers from what the person asking can already see, meaning public channels plus the private channels and DMs they belong to. Two teammates can ask the same question and get different answers, so a decision made in a private channel is invisible to everyone outside it. If an answer matters to the whole team, post it where the whole team can read it.
2. Channel Recaps and Daily Digests
Turn on Recap and Slack gives you a new recap every morning of what you missed the previous day in the channels you choose. You can add or remove channels at any time from Manage Recap, so the recap stays short. Recaps are on the Business+ and Enterprise+ plans.
3. Thread Summaries with One Click
Joining a lengthy discussion mid-way? Click Summarize at the top of the thread to get a summary of what's been discussed, with its sources, so you can contribute without reading everything. You can summarize a channel or DM too: on desktop, open the three dots menu at the top of the conversation and choose your unread messages, the last seven days or a custom date range. Summaries are on the Pro, Business+ and Enterprise+ plans.
Or ask the agent: mention Kipwise Agent in the thread and ask it to summarize what was said. It reads the thread and replies there.
4. AI-Powered Huddle Notes
Slack AI can take notes during a huddle and capture key takeaways and action items in a canvas. After the huddle, the notes (who was there, topics discussed, action items and more) are shared in a canvas in the huddle thread, with the transcript embedded. By default someone in the huddle has to turn AI notes on, though a channel member can set a channel to start them automatically. AI notes do not work in huddles with external people or guests, and they are on paid plans.
5. AI-Enhanced Workflow Builder
Describe the workflow you want in plain words and Slack builds it for you to edit and publish. An example prompt: "Every Thursday at 10 a.m., summarize the last 7 days in #proj-feedback and send it to #feedback-summary." Open Agents & tools, go to Workflows, click New, then Build workflow. AI-built workflows can't start from a webhook or a list item update, and AI workflow building is on Business+ and Enterprise+.
Canvas: Your New Collaboration Hub
6. Canvas Tabs in Channels and DMs
Canvases in a channel or DM live in tabs in the header, next to Messages. Add any canvas as a tab for meeting notes, a project brief or a team overview that won't get lost in message threads. Right-click the tab and choose Show canvas by default to open it the first time someone visits the channel. Paid plans get canvases, and the free plan gets one canvas per channel or DM.
7. Co-Editing, Comments and Version History
Create standalone canvases for project planning, meeting agendas, or knowledge sharing, and co-edit them with stakeholders: the owner and anyone with edit access can change a canvas and add comments, and comments work like messages in threads. You can react with an emoji instead of commenting, and anyone who can edit a canvas can open its revision history and restore an earlier version, unless an admin has turned version history off.
8. Canvas Templates for Quick Setup
Start a canvas from a template instead of a blank page. On desktop, go to Files, click New, choose Canvas templates, pick one and click Use Template. You can also convert a canvas of your own into a template and share it with your workspace. Canvas templates are on paid plans and are not available in the Slack mobile apps.
9. Embed Workflows in Canvases
Slack lets you embed workflows inside a canvas, which makes an automation easier to find and gives it more context around how to use it. Workflow Builder is a paid feature on the Pro, Business+ and Enterprise plans.
Enhanced Workflow Automation
10. Workflow Templates
Workflow templates give you a ready-made sequence of steps for common tasks, such as welcoming a new channel member with a form. Open Agents & tools, go to Workflows, click Templates, pick one and click Set Up, then fill in the blue text to choose the channels, messages and forms. Templates labeled Advanced open in Workflow Builder, where you can reorder and add steps.
11. Workflows That Start Outside Slack
A workflow can start from a webhook: when a third-party service sends a web request to the URL Slack generates for the workflow, the workflow runs. One use is a message to an engineering channel when there is a problem with your website. The service has to be able to send an HTTP POST, so you may need a developer's help. Workflows can also start on a schedule, from a link, or from Slack actions such as an emoji reaction or someone joining a channel.
12. Advanced Connector Steps
Connect workflows to Salesforce and 70+ apps with connector steps. You authenticate your own account with the third-party service first, and an admin may need to approve the connector. Workflows with connector steps or custom steps carry no extra charge.
Improved Organization and Productivity
13. Folders for Channel Organization
Put the links and files people keep asking for, like onboarding materials or project plans, in one place by adding a folder to the header of a channel or DM: click the plus sign at the top of the conversation and choose Folder. You can add up to 100 items or folders per channel, and up to 15 tabs.
14. Enhanced Lists with Task Tracking
Lists include four task-tracking fields by default (Completion, Name, Assignee and Due Date), you can add fields such as priority and status, and you can nest subtasks under any item. Due date notifications remind assignees about upcoming and overdue tasks, or post a summary of tasks and their status to a channel. Lists are on paid plans.
15. Scheduled Messages in Threads
Schedule a message to send later in a channel, a DM or a thread: write it, then click the arrow next to the paper plane icon and pick a time. That helps you reply at a sensible hour across time zones. Find your scheduled messages under Drafts & sent, on the Scheduled tab.
Or ask the agent: say "every Friday, summarize this week's decisions in #product" and Kipwise Agent runs that request on schedule, in your Slack time zone, and posts the result in the channel. You approve a scheduled task once, when you create it.
16. VIP Notifications
Add the people, apps and workflows you can't afford to miss to your VIP list (up to 300). Their DMs and mentions show up in a VIP unreads section at the top of your sidebar, and a checkbox lets VIP notifications through Do Not Disturb and focus mode. VIP lists are on paid plans.
17. Simplified Layout Mode
Simplified layout mode in the desktop app shows one section of Slack at a time, which minimizes distractions and may help single-taskers and people using assistive technology. Turn it on under Preferences, then Accessibility.
Classic Hidden Features (Still Valuable)
18. Channel Prefix Guidelines
Workspace Owners and Admins can create channel prefixes: Slack offers #help, #proj and #team by default, and you can add your own. Members then pick from that list when they create a channel on desktop, which keeps names consistent. Channel prefixes are available on all plans.
19. Default Channels for New Members
Workspace Owners and Admins can set default channels that new members join automatically, such as channels about company culture, policies or benefits. Only public channels can be defaults, and existing members and guests are not added automatically.
20. Custom Keywords for Notifications
Add keyword notifications for words or phrases like client names or project codes. When someone uses one in a channel you've joined, you get a notification and the keyword is highlighted in yellow. Set them under Preferences, then Notifications, then Channel keywords.
21. Advanced Search Modifiers
Add modifiers to your search to find exactly what you need:
from:@nameto find messages from specific peoplein:#channelto search within specific channelsbefore:,after:oron:with a date, orduring:with a month or year, for time-based searchesis:threadto search within threads, orwith:@nameto search threads and DMs with one personhas:pinoris:savedto find pinned and saved items
22. Message Reminders
Hover over any message or file, click the three dots, choose Remind me about this and pick a time. You get a notification when it is due and can manage your reminders in the To-dos tab. In a channel, /remind #channel what when posts a reminder message in that channel at the time you choose. Reminders are available on all plans.
Or ask the agent: say "remind me on Monday to send the invoice" and Kipwise Agent runs the request then and posts the result in the channel.
23. Compact Theme
Switch to the Compact theme to see more messages at once: it uses less white space between messages and hides profile photos. On desktop, choose it under Preferences, then Messages & media.
24. Collapse Media Previews
Use /collapse to collapse all inline images and video in the current channel for a cleaner chat experience, or /expand to bring them back.
Enterprise and Security Features
25. Enterprise Search (Enterprise+)
On the Enterprise+ plan, an Org Owner or Org Admin can turn on enterprise search, which adds content from the apps your organization uses, like Google Drive and GitHub, to your Slack search results and AI answers, instead of opening each app separately. Each member connects their own account to a data source first.
26. Agentforce Integration
If your company has a Salesforce Agentforce license, agents built in Salesforce can be added to Slack. Members message an agent in the Agents tab or mention it in a channel like a teammate, and the agent uses their Slack and Salesforce permissions, so it never replies with information they cannot access.
27. Data Residency Controls
Data residency lets an organization choose the region where certain types of data at rest, such as messages, canvases and files, are stored. All Slack data must be stored in a single region, it is available on Business+ and Enterprise plans, and the Primary Owner sets it up through Slack's sales team. Without it, data is stored in the US.
Pro Tips for Using These Slack Features
- Combine features: Use a canvas to document a process, then embed its workflow in the canvas so people can start it from the same page
- Match the AI to your plan: Recaps and search answers are Business+, so on Pro lean on thread summaries and huddle notes
- Start from templates: Use workflow templates and canvas templates, or convert your own canvas into a template, for recurring processes
- Stay organized: Use folders, custom sidebar sections and VIP notifications so the channels and people that matter stay in view
Frequently Asked Questions
AI-Powered Features
Q: How does Slack AI search actually work and what can I ask it?
A: Slack AI search lets you ask a question in your own words and returns a short answer at the top of your search results, with citations to the source messages or files. It only uses information you can already see: public channels plus the private channels and DMs you belong to. You can ask questions like "What's our Q1 sales strategy?" or "Show me decisions made about the product launch". It works best with specific, contextual questions rather than broad searches. Search answers are on the Business+ and Enterprise+ plans.
Q: Can Slack AI automatically summarize my missed messages?
A: Yes. Recaps give you a new summary every morning of what you missed the previous day in the channels you choose (Business+ and Enterprise+). You can also click Summarize on any thread, channel or DM to get a summary on demand, with its sources (Pro, Business+ and Enterprise+).
Q: Does Slack AI take notes during meetings automatically?A: Slack AI can take notes in a huddle, but someone in the huddle has to turn AI notes on, unless a channel member sets that channel to start them automatically. After the huddle, Slack shares a canvas in the huddle thread with the attendees, topics discussed and action items, and the transcript is embedded in it. AI notes do not work in huddles with external people or guests.
Canvas and Collaboration
Q: What exactly is Slack Canvas and how is it different from regular messages?
A: A canvas is a surface built into Slack for fully formatted content that won't fit in a simple message, like a project plan or meeting notes. Unlike messages that can get buried in chat history, a canvas can be added as a tab in the header of a channel or DM, so it stays easy to find, and you can embed workflows in it.
Q: Can several people work on a Canvas together?
A: Yes. The owner and anyone with edit access can change a canvas and add comments, and the owner controls who can edit it. Comments work like messages in threads, you can react with an emoji, and anyone who can edit can open the revision history and restore an earlier version, unless an admin has turned version history off. You can also create standalone canvases for project planning, meeting agendas, or knowledge sharing.
Q: Are there templates available for Canvas?
A: Yes. On desktop, go to Files, click New, choose Canvas templates and pick one. You can also convert a canvas of your own into a template and share it with your workspace. Canvas templates are on paid plans and are not available in the Slack mobile apps.
Workflow Automation
Q: Can I create Slack workflows without knowing how to code?
A: Yes. Describe the workflow in plain words, for example "Every Thursday at 10 a.m., summarize the last 7 days in #proj-feedback and send it to #feedback-summary", and Slack builds it for you to review, edit and publish. You can also start from a workflow template. Workflow Builder is a paid feature.
Q: Can a Slack workflow start from another app or service?
A: Yes, through a webhook. When a third-party service sends a web request to the URL Slack generates for your workflow, the workflow runs. The service has to be able to send an HTTP POST, so you may need a developer's help. Connector steps are different: they let a workflow take an action in another tool, such as Jira or Salesforce.
Q: How many apps can I connect to Slack workflows?
A: Workflow Builder connects to Salesforce and 70+ apps. You authenticate your own account with each service, and an admin may need to approve the connector. Workflows with connector steps or custom steps carry no extra charge.
Organization and Productivity
Q: How can I better organize my Slack channels and reduce clutter?
A: Use several organization features: add a folder to a channel's header to keep links and files together (up to 100 items or folders per channel); add people, apps and workflows to your VIP list so their DMs and mentions stand out; use simplified layout mode on desktop for less distraction; and set keyword notifications for important terms like client names or project codes.
Q: What's the best way to search for old messages in Slack?
A: Add modifiers to your search for precise results:
from:@usernameto find messages from specific peoplein:#channelto search within specific channelsbefore:,after:oron:with a date, orduring:with a month or year, for time-based searchesis:threadto search within threads- Combine modifiers like
marketing report in:#team-marketing from:@Sara
Q: Can I schedule messages to send later in Slack?
A: Yes. Write your message in a channel, DM or thread, then click the arrow next to the paper plane icon and pick a time. You can find it again under Drafts & sent, on the Scheduled tab. This is particularly useful for communicating across different time zones.
Getting Started
Q: Which Slack features should I start with as a new user?
A: Start with what your plan includes. On any plan, set keyword notifications for your name and project terms, learn the search modifiers, and add a canvas tab with team resources to your main channel. On Pro, add thread summaries and huddle notes. Recaps and AI search answers need Business+ or Enterprise+, so set those up only if you are on one of them.
Q: Can I customize how Slack looks and feels?
A: Yes, several customization options are available: switch to the Compact theme for denser message display (Preferences, then Messages & media), collapse inline images and video with /collapse for a cleaner experience (and bring them back with /expand), and use simplified layout mode to minimize distractions.
Enterprise Features
Q: How does Enterprise Search work across multiple apps?
A: On the Enterprise+ plan, an Org Owner or Org Admin can turn on enterprise search, which adds content from other apps, like Google Drive and GitHub, to your Slack search results, instead of switching between them to look something up. Each member connects their own account to a data source first.
Q: Can I control where my Slack data is stored?
A: Yes, with data residency: an organization can choose the region where certain types of data at rest, such as messages, canvases and files, are stored. All Slack data must be in one region, it is available on Business+ and Enterprise plans, and the Primary Owner sets it up through Slack's sales team. Without it, data is stored in the US.
Q: What is Agentforce integration in Slack?
A: Agentforce lets a company add agents built in Salesforce to Slack. Members message an agent in the Agents tab or mention it in a channel like a teammate, and the agent uses their Slack and Salesforce permissions, so it never replies with information they cannot access. It needs a Salesforce Agentforce license and is available on all Slack plans.
What Changed in Slack in 2026
Slackbot is Slack's personal AI agent for work (the updates page lists each release). It uses the knowledge in your workspace, follows skills for complex or recurring requests, and runs scheduled tasks, such as creating a meeting agenda canvas on a recurring basis. Slackbot is on Business+ and Enterprise+, with a limited preview on the free and Pro plans, and the cap matters: each Business+ member can send 15 messages to Slackbot per week, while Enterprise+ has no weekly limit. We recommend spending those messages on requests that would take you real time by hand, and leaving quick lookups to search. Slack's Slackbot guide covers how it works.
If you do only one thing from this list, put decisions where everyone can find them: a canvas tab in a public channel, not a thread. Search, summaries and AI answers only show people what they can already open.
An AI agent that works inside your Slack threads
Kipwise Agent works in the thread, as you. Mention it once and every plain reply in that thread continues the conversation.
- “Do we have a doc about this?” It searches your knowledge base, reads the page, and answers with the relevant part and a link to the source
- “Can someone write this up?” It drafts a page from what was said in the thread, files it in the folder you name, publishes it and posts the link
- “Move this deal to Negotiation” It updates the deal or the ticket in your CRM and logs the note, as you
- “Remind me on Monday” It runs a request later or on a schedule and posts the result in the channel
It only ever sees the pages you can see, and everything it writes in Kipwise is attributed to you.
