Set it up
- 1
Turn on Slack in your AI
In Claude: open Settings → Connectors and add Slack. In ChatGPT: Settings → Apps & Connectors.
- 2
Add it to your app once
Copy the short config below into your app. It just tells your AI where to find Slack.
- 3
Just ask
Tell it what you want in plain words — no special commands.
For example, say
“Summarize the last 20 messages in #general and list any action items”
Need the exact config? Show it +
Add to your client
{
"mcpServers": {
"slack": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "slack-mcp-server@latest", "--transport", "stdio"],
"env": {
"SLACK_MCP_XOXP_TOKEN": "xoxp-<your-user-oauth-token>"
}
}
}
}Paste into your client's MCP configuration file.
Get the skill
A ready-made skill that teaches your AI agent to use Slack well. Slack's official Claude Code plugin wiring the Slack MCP (search, send, canvases).
clone slackapi/slack-mcp-plugin, then: claude --plugin-dir ./ Quick skills
Copy one, paste it to your AI, watch it work.
Channel Catch-Up
“Summarize the last 50 messages in #product-launch and list any open questions”
Find Past Decisions
“Search #engineering for where we decided on the authentication library”
Post Updates from Context
“Post a summary of today's deploy results to #eng-updates”
Good to know
- · Auth uses a user OAuth token (xoxp-...) or browser session tokens (xoxc-... + xoxd-... cookie) — no admin-approved Slack app or bot install is required
- · Message posting is disabled by default for safety — set SLACK_MCP_ADD_MESSAGE_TOOL=true (or a channel allowlist) to enable conversations_add_message
- · Posting uses your identity — review before enabling automated posts
- · Rate limits apply per workspace; heavy channel scraping will hit throttling
When to use
- ✓ You need to catch up on a channel after being away for hours or days
- ✓ You want to post status updates or announcements from conversation context
- ✓ You're searching message history for a specific decision or link
- ✓ You want your AI to monitor mentions and summarize them periodically
When not to use
- × You need to react with emoji or manage complex workflows (limited)
- × You use Microsoft Teams, Discord, or another chat platform
- × You need to handle voice huddles, clips, or Slack Canvas editing
About
Imagine asking your AI: 'What did the team discuss in #product yesterday?' or 'Post a status update in #eng with the deploy summary' — and it handles Slack for you without tab-switching. This server lets your AI read channel history, search messages, and post updates on your behalf.
An actively maintained community Slack MCP server (korotovsky/slack-mcp-server). Read channel messages, post updates, search conversation history, and work threads and DMs — all through natural language.
Not an official Slack product. Authenticates with a user OAuth token (xoxp) or browser session tokens (xoxc/xoxd), so it works without admin-approved bot installs. A key integration for teams that live in Slack.
Workflows That Use Slack MCP
Replace 30 minutes of scrolling email and Slack with one written brief that tells you what actually needs you today.
Let Claude read the right channels, draft replies, and turn noise into one clear digest.
Works With
Also Consider
FAQ
What does Slack MCP do? +
Imagine asking your AI: 'What did the team discuss in #product yesterday?' or 'Post a status update in #eng with the deploy summary' — and it handles Slack for you without tab-switching. This server lets your AI read channel history, search messages, and post updates on your behalf.
Do I need to know how to code? +
No. Turn it on in your AI's settings and ask in plain English — no terminal, no coding.
When should I use Slack MCP? +
Reach for it when you need to: You need to catch up on a channel after being away for hours or days; You want to post status updates or announcements from conversation context; You're searching message history for a specific decision or link; You want your AI to monitor mentions and summarize them periodically.
When should I avoid Slack MCP? +
Skip it when: You need to react with emoji or manage complex workflows (limited); You use Microsoft Teams, Discord, or another chat platform; You need to handle voice huddles, clips, or Slack Canvas editing.
How do I install Slack MCP? +
In Claude Code, run: claude mcp add slack -e SLACK_MCP_XOXP_TOKEN=xoxp-<your-user-oauth-token> -- npx -y slack-mcp-server@latest --transport stdio. Copy-paste configs for Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf are at the top of this page.
