# Slack

> Connect an agent to a Slack workspace. Mentions, DMs, and channel-scoped behavior.

import Screenshot from "../../../components/docs/Screenshot.astro";

Slack is the second most common channel after the web widget — usually for internal use cases (IT helpdesk, HR Q&A, engineering on-call). The same agent that runs on your website can run in Slack with no separate configuration.

## Connect to Slack

On the agent's page, **Channels → Slack → Connect**. Owlish redirects you to Slack's OAuth flow; pick the workspace you want to install into and approve. You'll come back to the channel page with a connected status.

<Screenshot src="/screenshots/channels-slack-config.webp" alt="Slack channel configuration panel with connect-to-Slack action and source citation controls." label="Console · Slack channel" description="Slack connection panel showing the connected workspace, scope summary, and channel access list." />

## Where the agent answers

After install, the agent answers in three places:

- **Direct messages** — anyone in the workspace can DM the bot. The conversation is private to that user.
- **Mentions** — `@AcmeBot what's the refund policy?` in any channel the bot is invited to. Threaded replies stay in the same thread.
- **Subscribed threads** — once the agent has replied in a thread, it watches for follow-ups without needing another mention.

## Adding the bot to channels

In Slack, type `/invite @AcmeBot` in any channel you want it active. The bot honors Slack's channel permissions — it can only read messages in channels it's been invited to.

## Disconnecting

**Channels → Slack → Disconnect** removes the bot from the workspace and deletes the OAuth credentials. Conversation history in Owlish is preserved (visible in the [Helpdesk inbox](/docs/helpdesk/conversations)) but no new messages flow.

## Next steps

- **[Microsoft Teams](/docs/deploy/teams)** for the Microsoft-shop equivalent.
- **[Human handoff](/docs/helpdesk/human-handoff)** so a Slack thread can pull in a human operator.

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Source: https://owlish.bot/docs/deploy/slack