Getting Started With Slack Connect

Overview

Slack Connect allows you to collaborate with other workspaces outside of U-M Slack using shared channels and direct messages (DMs). This document provides information on how to use Slack Connect to connect with external workspaces outside of U-M Slack.

With Slack Connect, you can invite:

• Up to 249 additional organizations to a single channel.
• Both free and paid Slack workspaces.
• An unlimited number of members to each channel.

Channels or DMs using Slack Connect will be marked with a double diamond icon and are automatically sorted into a sidebar section called “Connections.”

Connect With External (Non-UM) Workspaces

Slack Connect allows you to collaborate with other workspaces not within U-M Slack, whether they are a free or paid workspace.

Tip: To DM someone at a different organization, everyone in the conversation must already be in at least one Slack Connect channel together. Just like regular U-M Slack DMs, Slack Connect DMs are not workspace-specific.

To add external users to an existing channel:

Note: You cannot add external users to the #general channel.

1. Open the channel to which you’d like to add the external workspace.
2. Click the cluster of profile pictures in the top right of the channel.
3. Click Add people.
4. Enter the email addresses of the external users you’d like to invite to your channel in the Add people field and click Add.

Tip: You only need to invite one person from each organization to the channel. That individual is then responsible for inviting other colleagues.

5. Select From another company, click Next, and then click Got It.
6. Select the permissions you would like to assign the users and click Next.

Caution: You cannot change these permissions after inviting them.

7. Enter an optional note and click Send Invitations.

To add external users to a new channel:

1. Click Add external people under Connections near the top of your left sidebar in Slack.

Note: If you do not see the Connections section in your sidebar, click Slack Connect from the top of the left sidebar (you may need to click More first) and then click Create a channel.

2. Enter your desired channel name and description into the appropriate fields.
3. Toggle the Make private switch if you want the channel to be private.
4. Ensure that the “Share outside University of Michigan” checkbox is checked and click Next.
5. Enter the email addresses of the external users you’d like to invite to your channel in the Add people field and click Add.
6. Select From another company, click Next, and then click Got It.
7. Select the permissions you would like to assign the users and click Next.

Caution: You cannot change these permissions after inviting them.

8. Enter an optional note and click Send Invitations.

Additional information on inviting free workspaces

Free workspaces can expect the following when they join U-M Slack Connect channels:

• If multiple people from their organization have received an invitation for the same channel, only one person must accept it. (Depending on their settings, the invitation may be sent to an admin for review.)
• Messages won’t count toward their message visibility limit.
• Uploaded files will count toward the file storage limit. (However, all files will be accessible in a Slack Connect channel, even if the storage limit is reached.)
• Channel members can start and join huddles, record audio and video clips, add and use apps, and use published workflows (but cannot create their own).
• Individuals from free workspaces can join unlimited Slack Connect sponsored channels to which they’re invited but cannot send invitations to a U-M Slack workspace themselves.

Visit the Slack Help Center for more information on working with external workspaces using Slack Connect.