Slack import and export tools – Step by Step Guide

As part of any subscription, Slack provides its users with the ability to import and export data. This article will walk you through the process of gaining access to the material that is stored in your Slack workspace or Enterprise Grid organization by utilizing the tools that are available to you. To obtain information that is particular to subscriptions, please refer to the section under “Import and export tools by subscription.”

A summary of exports

As is the case with other applications used in the workplace, users of Slack may be forced to export material, or they may be obliged to do so by law. On the other hand, they are only able to do so under specific conditions. In addition to corporate regulations, employment, privacy, and other laws restrict the use of these exports. There is a possibility that laws and rules may mandate that businesses inform their employees about the use of export tools.

Here are some examples of situations in which a client could want material to be exported:

• An inquiry into the workplace is required if a corporation gets an allegation of harassment or theft of trade secrets and has to investigate the situation.
• Depending on the regulations, a firm that provides financial services is obligated to archive particular communications for a predetermined amount of time.
• An inquiry or a lawsuit requires that information from Slack be released, and a court order compels that this information be provided.
• Under the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union, a former worker has made a request to be given a copy of the information that their previous employer has kept on them.

Customers can fulfill their commitments with the assistance of our export tools. It is because of these tools and the restrictions for using them that Slack can remain a safe and secure environment in which work may be completed.

By subscription, import and export Tools capabilities are available.

Free subscription

Imports: The import tool allows you to grab material from a variety of sources, including another Slack workspace, a CSV or text file, or data that has been exported from third-party applications.

Exports: Owners and administrators of workspaces can export data from public channels. Links to files will be included in data exports; however, the files themselves will not be included.

Under certain conditions, owners of workspaces have the ability to get in touch with Slack and submit an application to export material from all channels and discussions, including private channels and direct messages. We will not accept applications unless the owners of the workspace can demonstrate that they have (a) a legitimate legal procedure, (b) the approval of members, or (c) a requirement or right under relevant legislation in order to export data.

Pro subscription

Imports: The import tool allows you to grab material from a variety of sources, including another Slack workspace, a CSV or text file, or data that has been exported from third-party applications.

Exports: Owners and administrators of workspaces can export data from public channels. Links to files will be included in data exports; however, the files themselves will not be included. When you export data from a workspace that contains Slack Connect channels, the only links to files that will be included in your export are those that come from members of your workspace who have shared them.

Under certain conditions, owners of workspaces can get in touch with Slack and apply to export data from all channels and chats, including private channels and direct messages. We will not accept applications unless the owners of the workspace can demonstrate that they have (a) a legitimate legal procedure, (b) the approval of members, or (c) a requirement or right under relevant legislation to export data.

Business+ subscription

Imports: The import tool allows you to grab material from a variety of sources, including another Slack workspace, a CSV or text file, or data that has been exported from third-party applications.

Exports: Owners and administrators of workspaces have the ability to export data from public channels. A self-service data export tool is also available to workspace owners who submit an application for it. In the event that it is necessary and authorized by law, a workspace owner who has access to this tool is able to export data from all channels and discussions, including private channels and direct messages. It is the responsibility of every workspace owner to ensure that (a) proper employment agreements and corporate policies have been put into place, and (b) that the use of data exports is authorized in accordance with the laws that are in effect.

Links to files will be included in data exports; however, the files themselves will not be included.

Links to files that are located in private shared channels or direct messages between members of an organization will only be included in the exported data from a workspace that has Slack connect channels if they were shared by a member of your workspace.

The subscription to the Enterprise Grid

Exports: One can submit an application to have access to a data export tool that is self-service. When an organization owner has access to this tool, they are able to export content from all channels and conversations, including secret channels, direct messages, and all discussions that a single user is a part of, in accordance with the law and with the organization’s approval. Every owner of an organization is responsible for ensuring that (a) proper employment agreements and corporate policies have been put into place, and (b) that all company exports are authorized in accordance with the laws that they are subject to.

Links to files will be included in data exports; however, the files themselves will not be included. If the export is in the TXT format, the data exports for a single user’s discussions will include relevant files.

When you export data from a workspace that contains channels that are shared with external organizations, the only way for links to files that are in private shared channels or direct communications between members of the organization to be included is if they were shared by a member of your Enterprise Grid organization.

It is also possible for workspace owners and administrators who administer individual workspaces within an Enterprise Grid organization to export data from the public channels associated with their workspace.

Discovery API: At the level of the organization, the Discovery API export method is made available to the owners of the organization. This mechanism enables customers to utilize third-party applications that have been permitted to export, archive, or fulfill other security and compliance duties for any material that is associated with the organization. Each owner of an organization is responsible for ensuring that (a) proper employment agreements and corporate policies have been put into place, and (b) that any implementations of the Discovery APIs are in compliance with the laws that are in effect.

Files will be included in exports that are generated by the Discovery APIs. These files will be available for direct download through links. Files that are in private shared channels or direct messages between members of organizations that are in a Slack Connect channel will be included in the data that is exported from a workspace that uses Slack Connect channels. However, the Discovery API will only be able to edit or delete files that were sent by members of your Enterprise Grid org.

Data loss prevention (DLP) and electronic discovery (eDiscovery) solutions are also supported by the Discovery APIs. Through the use of regular exports and other forms of protected data management, these solutions make it possible for clients who manage sensitive or regulated data to fulfill their commitments successfully.

If the workspaces in your Enterprise Grid organization feature Slack Connect channels, then the content from those shared channels as well as direct messages that are transmitted between members of the organizations will be included in the eDiscovery exports. Messages that are posted to shared channels will be accessible through your DLP provider; however, the Discovery API will only be able to alter or remove messages that were sent by members of your Enterprise Grid org.

Exports and settings for the retention of data in Slack

There may be restrictions on the content that may be exported, depending on the settings for your membership and the amount of data that is retained. To obtain further information, please visit the Customize message and file retention rules homepage.

In Slack Connect channels, the messages and files that messages and files submitted by members of your organization will be the only ones that your retention settings will apply to. In accordance with the retention settings that have been defined for their workspace or Enterprise Grid organization, content that is submitted by members of an external organization will be stored. It is important to note that the settings of each organization will have an effect on the data and material that may be read or exported for that organization.

Additional resources

• To obtain detailed instructions on how to export data from your workspace or Enterprise Grid organization, please visit the page titled “Export your workspace data.”
• Visit the Import data from one workspace to another and our Frequently Asked Questions pages for further information on the process of importing data.
• Visit the page titled “How to read Slack data exports” for a guide that will help you read your data export file.