Chat from Slack

Connect a Slack app to an agent so people can talk to it in Slack. A mention or a direct message to the app starts a run, the answer is posted back in the thread, and the thread keeps the conversation. Approvals you require still happen in the console.

Each agent gets its own Slack app. You need permission to manage the agent and to create and install apps in your Slack workspace.

Slack

@mention in a channel

Or a direct message

Slack app (Socket Mode)

Bot token xoxb-

App-level token xapp-

Workflow agent

Runs as the asker or as you

Tools through the MCP Gateway

Back in Slack

Answer in the thread

Follow-ups keep the context

QuilrAI

1. Create the Slack app

The quickest way is from a manifest.

1. Open the Slack app dashboard, select Create New App, then From a manifest.
2. Choose the workspace, paste the manifest below (change the names to your agent's), and create the app.

display_information:
  name: Support Triage
features:
  app_home:
    messages_tab_enabled: true
    messages_tab_read_only_enabled: false
  bot_user:
    display_name: Support Triage
    always_online: true
oauth_config:
  scopes:
    bot:
      - app_mentions:read
      - chat:write
      - reactions:write
      - im:history
      - files:write
      - channels:history
      - groups:history
      - users:read
      - users:read.email
settings:
  event_subscriptions:
    bot_events:
      - app_mention
      - message.im
      - message.channels
      - message.groups
  socket_mode_enabled: true

To set it up by hand instead, create the app From scratch and:

Where in Slack	Set
Socket Mode	On
OAuth & Permissions > Bot Token Scopes	app_mentions:read, chat:write, reactions:write, im:history, files:write, channels:history, groups:history, users:read, users:read.email
Event Subscriptions > Subscribe to bot events	app_mention, message.im, message.channels, message.groups
App Home > Messages Tab	On, and allow users to send messages, so people can DM the agent

2. Copy the two tokens

1. Basic Information > App-Level Tokens: select Generate Token and Scopes, add the connections:write scope, and generate. Copy the token; it starts with xapp-.
2. Install App: install the app to your workspace, then copy the Bot User OAuth Token; it starts with xoxb-.

3. Connect the app to the agent

Open the agent's Manage drawer, go to Chat connectors and select Connect a Slack app.

Field	What to enter
Connector name	A name to recognize this connection by, for example the Slack workspace or channel.
Bot token	The xoxb- Bot User OAuth Token.
App-level token	The xapp- app-level token.
Channel IDs (optional)	Comma-separated channel IDs, such as C0123ABCDEF, C0456GHIJKL. Leave empty to answer in every channel the app is invited to.

Tokens are stored encrypted and never shown again.

4. Choose how it behaves

Option	What it does
Only respond when mentioned	On by default. Direct messages always start a run. Switch it off to answer every message in the chosen channels.
Who the agent acts as	The person who asks (default): each person uses their own connections, memories and access, and must be able to run the agent. If a tool is not connected yet, the bot sends them a private link to connect it and carries on once they have. Me, for everyone: everyone's messages run with your connections and access.
Answer follow-ups in its threads without a mention	On by default. Replies in a thread the bot already answered get an answer without mentioning it, unless they mention someone else.
Run tool actions without waiting for approval	Off by default. While it is off, tool actions wait for approval in the console, so a Slack run that uses tools pauses until someone approves it there. Turn it on only for agents whose tools just read data. Tools your MCP Gateway marks as needing confirmation still wait.

Select Connect Slack.

warning

Me, for everyone lets anyone who can message the bot use your connections and access. Pair it with a narrow Channel IDs list and read-only tools.

5. Invite the bot and test

1. In Slack, invite the app to each channel it should answer in (/invite @Support Triage).
2. Mention it with a question, or send it a direct message.
3. The answer arrives in the thread. Check the run on the Usage tab.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Check
The bot never answers	Socket Mode is on, the app-level token has connections:write, and both tokens were pasted into the right fields.
It answers DMs but not in a channel	The app is invited to the channel, the channel is in Channel IDs (or the list is empty), and you mentioned it if Only respond when mentioned is on.
It cannot read the thread or channel	The channels:history (public) or groups:history (private) scope and the matching message.channels or message.groups event are added, and the app was reinstalled after adding them.
A person gets a link to connect a tool	Who the agent acts as is The person who asks and they have not connected that tool yet. They connect it from the link and the run carries on.
The run stops waiting for approval	Run tool actions without waiting for approval is off, or the MCP Gateway requires confirmation for that tool.
Someone cannot use the bot	With The person who asks, they must be able to run the agent. Check Sharing.

Related

• Slack options
• Slack as a tool
• Share and manage