> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getthread.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install the Slack Companion App

> Connect the Thread Companion App to your own Slack workspace so technicians can work threads from Slack, with the /thread commands, Actions, and time entries.

The **Slack Companion App** connects your service threads to your own Slack workspace. Route new
threads to the channels you choose, see updates in-line as they happen, and act on a thread
without leaving Slack.

<Note>
  This guide connects the Companion App to **your own** Slack workspace, for your service team.
  To deploy a Slack app to a **customer's** workspace, that's the Slack Service App — a different
  app for a different audience.
</Note>

<Warning>
  You can install **either** the Slack Companion App **or** the Slack Service App in a given Slack
  workspace — not both in the same workspace.
</Warning>

## What you get

* **Custom Flows** that route newly created threads to the channels you pick — useful for urgent incidents, or for sending new requests to the right team.
* **In-line updates**, notes included, posted back to the originating channel so the team stays current without the channel turning noisy.
* **Actions** — change status, priority, board or contact on a thread and it syncs straight to your ticketing system.
* **Time entries**, added directly from Slack.
* **Assign To**, for managers and dispatchers.
* **Slash commands** — `/thread ticket` creates a service thread, `/thread help` gets help.

## Before you start

<Tip>
  Deploy using a **generic Slack admin account**, not your personal one. If a personal account is
  ever decommissioned or has its permissions reduced, the app stops working and needs redeploying.
</Tip>

## Connect Slack

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Slack integration">
    In the Thread Admin Panel, go to **Integrations → Slack** and click **Connect**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/thread/lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA/images/625bf9f8-2023-10-03-09-26-00.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA&q=85&s=30c67090cf2aa997fcab31d18de8aa82" alt="Slack tile on the Integrations page of the Thread Admin Panel with a Connect button" width="485" height="238" data-path="images/625bf9f8-2023-10-03-09-26-00.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Connect with Slack">
    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/thread/NJfDJnwFcUQr-x-h/images/dbd28f0f-2023-10-03-09-26-46.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NJfDJnwFcUQr-x-h&q=85&s=795c8af62af63f0b5b51c2ecec42a287" alt="Connect with Slack option in the Thread Admin Panel" width="1113" height="652" data-path="images/dbd28f0f-2023-10-03-09-26-46.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in and pick the workspace">
    Sign in to Slack and select the workspace you want to connect.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/thread/lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA/images/6f2c0f32-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA&q=85&s=7534d74426df76ba4841e3763d11299e" alt="Slack sign-in screen with a workspace selector" width="789" height="447" data-path="images/6f2c0f32-image.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Allow the requested permissions">
    Slack shows what access the Thread app will have. Click **Allow**. The full breakdown is in the [Slack permissions guide](/security-billing/slack-permissions-guide).

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/thread/lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA/images/73a07016-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA&q=85&s=a92aae2035fb68f09e5e74fb53eb30c2" alt="Slack permission screen listing the access requested by the Thread app" width="800" height="802" data-path="images/73a07016-image.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check for the welcome message">
    You should now see a welcome message from the Thread app in Slack.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/thread/lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA/images/93f7731c-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=lk7VGePXuM-aMlwA&q=85&s=07bed2350356864aa9f232de0fbec9ab" alt="Welcome message from the Thread app in a Slack workspace" width="881" height="377" data-path="images/93f7731c-image.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Replying so the customer sees it

By default a message you send in Slack is recorded as an **internal note**. To send it as an
**external note** the customer can see, add `!send` to the end:

* Internal note — `Checking on this issue now.`
* External note — `We're looking into this for you. !send`

## Next step

Set up [which ticket updates post to a channel](/companion-apps/choose-which-ticket-updates-post-to-channel), then see [how to use the Slack Companion App day to day](/companion-apps/how-to-use-the-slack-companion-app-for-service-teams).


## Related topics

- [Install the Teams Companion App](/companion-apps/install-the-teams-companion-app.md)
- [How Notifications Work for your Team](/notifications/how-will-notifications-work-internally.md)
- [How to Use the Slack Companion App for Service Teams](/companion-apps/how-to-use-the-slack-companion-app-for-service-teams.md)