Have you ever needed to discuss confidential business matters or share sensitive documents with a select group in your company Slack workspace? Private Slack channels allow you to do exactly that.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about making Slack channels private––from what private channels are to step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile. I‘ll also cover managing permissions, best practices, troubleshooting, and more.
By the end, you‘ll be a Slack privacy pro!
What Are Private Slack Channels and When Should You Use Them?
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s briefly go over what private Slack channels are.
Private Slack channels ensure messages, files, and other information shared in the channel are not visible or searchable to anyone else in the workspace outside that channel.
Here are some examples of when to use a private channel:
- Discussing confidential legal, financial, or HR matters
- Sharing proprietary information like unpublished financial reports
- Brainstorming new product offerings away from public visibility
- Giving updates on sensitive issues like security breaches
The key benefit of private channels is controlling access to information that you don‘t want exposed globally across your company.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step instructions…
Making an Existing Public Channel Private
The first thing to know is that once a channel is made private, it cannot ever be made public again. So before you flip that switch, confirm the channel should stay private indefinitely.
Here is the process to convert an existing public channel to private:
On Desktop
Follow these steps to make a channel private on Slack desktop:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Slack and navigate to the channel on the left sidebar |
| 2 | Click on the channel name at the top of the conversation section |
| 3 | In the menu that pops up, click Settings |
| 4 | Click Change to a private channel |
| 5 | Confirm changing the channel to private |
Let‘s go through each of those with more detail:
Step 1: Navigate to the Channel
First, open Slack on your desktop and find the channel you want to make private in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Access Channel Settings
At the top of the conversation section, you will see the channel name. Click directly on the channel name to open a dropdown menu.
Step 3: Click Settings
In the menu, select Settings which is the last options towards the right. This will open the channel settings modal.
Step 4: Make Channel Private
In settings, click the Change to a private channel button.
Step 5: Confirm
A popup will ask you to confirm converting the channel to private. Click Change to Private to complete this action.
And that‘s it! The channel is now private. Only members you invite can access it going forward.
Warning: You cannot undo making a channel private once you complete the steps above!
On Mobile
Unfortunately, Slack does not allow converting public channels to private on mobile devices currently.
You will need to use the desktop instructions above for making any existing public channels private.
However, you can create new private channels on mobile. We‘ll cover that next…
Creating Brand New Private Slack Channels
Rather than start with a public channel and try to make it private, best practice is to make any channels private from the start if you know their purpose will be discussing confidential information.
Here is how to create a new private channel on both desktop and mobile Slack:
Desktop Instructions
On your desktop Slack app, follow these steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click Add channels in the left sidebar |
| 2 | Click Create a new channel |
| 3 | Toggle on the switch for Make private |
| 4 | Give the channel a name and optional description |
| 5 | Click Create to finish |
Step 1: Access Channel Creation Screen
Click on Add channels in the left sidebar menu to open the channel creation modal.
Step 2: Create New Channel
In the menu that appears, select Create a new channel to open the customization screen.
Step 3: Make It Private
Make sure the switch for Make private is toggled on. This ensures only members you invite can access it.
Step 4: Name Your Channel
Add a descriptive name and optional description. Names help members identify the purpose of channels.
Step 5: Complete Setup
Finally, click the Create button in the bottom right to finish setting up your new private channel!
And that‘s all it takes to create a new private channel on desktop Slack. Pretty straightforward, right?
Now let me show you how simple it is on mobile too…
Mobile Instructions
Here is the process for making a new private channel on the Slack mobile app:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tap + Add channel |
| 2 | Select Create channel (iOS) or tap the + icon (Android) |
| 3 | Toggle Make private switch on |
| 4 | Give the channel a name and optional description |
| 5 | Tap Create to finish |
Step 1: Access Channel Creation
From the Channels tab, tap + Add channel to open the create channel screen.
Step 2: Start Channel Creation Process
- iOS: A popup will appear at the bottom. Tap Create channel.
- Android: Tap the + icon at the bottom right.
Step 3: Make It Private
On the next screen, turn on the Make private toggle switch.
Step 4: Name Your Channel
Give your private channel a name and optional description.
Step 5: Complete Setup
Finally, tap Create in the top right to finish creating your private Slack channel on mobile!
And that covers how to generate new private Slack channels on both desktop and mobile. Nice and easy!
Now let‘s talk about managing private channel permissions…
Managing Private Channel Permissions
By default, private channels can only be created by workspace owners and admins. But what if you want to allow another team member to make private channels?
You can customize permissions to give (or revoke) someone‘s ability to make private channels.
Here‘s how:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click workspace name in top left |
| 2 | Select Settings & Administration |
| 3 | Click Manage members |
| 4 | Click the ⋮ icon next to a member‘s name |
| 5 | Select Change account type |
| 6 | Update their permission level |
Steps 1 & 2: Access Admin Settings
Click on your workspace name in the top left corner, then select Settings & Administration.
Steps 3 & 4: Manage Member Permissions
Next, choose Manage members and click the ⋮ icon next to the member you want to update.
Steps 5 & 6: Change Permission Level
Select Change account type in the menu. Then choose a new permission level:
- Workspace Owners & Admins: Can create private channels
- Full Members: Cannot create private channels
And that‘s how you can customize who has private channel privileges!
A few other private channel permissions tips:
- Only owners can promote other members to owner/admin
- Remove all privileges by deactivating a member‘s account
- Audit logs record permission changes for security
Now let‘s wrap things up with answers to some common questions…
FAQs About Private Slack Channels
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making Slack channels private:
Can anyone make a channel private?
No, you must be a workspace owner or admin to change channel privacy settings.
Can I convert an existing private channel back to public?
Unfortunately, no. Once made private, a channel cannot ever be made public again per Slack‘s functionality.
How do I know if a channel is private or public?
Private channels are indicated by a 🔒 lock icon next to the channel name at the top of the conversation pane. Public channels show a hashtag # instead.
What happens if I get removed from a private channel?
You will no longer be able to view any messages, files, or other information in the channel. Private channel content is restricted only to active members.
Can private channels be discovered via search?
No, private channel content does not show up in searches by non-members, keeping conversations secure.
I hope this guide covered everything you need to know about making Slack channels private! Let me know if you have any other questions.
