---
title: "Send and read Slack messages from your bot"
description: "Let your bot post messages to Slack channels and threads, and read channel history to answer questions like \"What happened in"
canonical_url: "https://chatthing.ai/docs/power-ups/slack"
last_updated: "2026-09-25"
---

# Send and read Slack messages from your bot

**Available on:** Basic, Standard, Pro, Enterprise plans.

The Slack power-ups let your bot do more in your Slack workspace than reply to messages. It can post to channels and threads, and read what's been said in them.

| Power-up | What the bot can do |
| --- | --- |
| **Slack Send Message** | Post a message to a channel, or reply in a thread. |
| **Slack Get History** | Read recent messages from a channel or thread, optionally between two dates. |

Example uses: post a summary of each escalated chat to your #support channel, or answer "What did the team decide in #product this week?"

> **Connect the Slack channel first**
>
> The Slack power-ups use your bot's Slack connection. Set up the [Slack channel](https://chatthing.ai/docs/channels/slack) before adding them. Until you do, the power-up's settings page shows **Slack channel not setup**.

## Before you start

- **Who can do this:** [team owners and admins](https://chatthing.ai/docs/account/teams#what-each-role-can-do).
- Your bot is connected to your Slack workspace through the [Slack channel](https://chatthing.ai/docs/channels/slack).
- The bot has been added to every Slack channel you want it to post to or read. To add it, mention it in the channel (type `@` followed by your bot's name) and accept Slack's prompt to add it.

## Steps

1. Open your bot, go to the **Power-ups** tab and click **New power-up**.
2. Choose **Slack Send Message** or **Slack Get History** and click **Create power-up**.
3. Edit the **Power-up name** and **Description**. For example: "Post a short summary to Slack when a user reports a bug."
4. Optionally choose a **Channel** under **Channel settings**. If you do, the bot can only use that channel. Leave it blank to let the bot choose a channel by name or ID.
   ![Slack send message settings with the power-up name, description and an optional Channel dropdown](https://res.cloudinary.com/djyjvrw5u/image/upload/v1733244560/slack_send_message_power_up_settings_1502104f63.webp)
5. Click **Save**.

## Check it works

1. Chat with your bot and ask it to post a test message, or to summarise a channel.
2. Check the message in Slack, or open **View details** on the power-up call in the dashboard to see the result.

## Troubleshooting

### The bot says it can't post to or read a channel

The bot hasn't been added to that channel in Slack. Mention it in the channel to add it, then try again.

### The bot posts to the wrong channel

Choose a fixed **Channel** in the power-up settings, or name the channel in the **Description**.

## Related

- [Add your bot to Slack](https://chatthing.ai/docs/channels/slack): Create a Slack app for your bot so your team can ask it questions with @mentions, direct messages or the Slack assistant sidebar.
- [Read Discord channel history from your bot](https://chatthing.ai/docs/power-ups/discord): Let your bot pull message history from any Discord channel it can access, for cross-channel summaries or messages older than its usual context.