1. Slack
  2. Using Slack
  3. Work in channels

Create a channel

Whether you're kicking off a new project or your team needs a place to discuss ongoing topics, channels are where collaboration happens. When you need to create a new one, use the steps below.

Who can create channels?

  • Public channels: All members of a workspace, except guests (default)
  • Private channels: All members, including multi-channel guests (default)
  • Workspace owners can change default permissions and limit channel creation

New to Slack? Learn all about channels before getting started.


Create channels

Desktop

iOS

Android 

  1. Click the  plus icon next to Channels in the left sidebar.
  2. Enter a channel name. If you see the option to choose a channel prefix, you can select one from the drop-down menu. Channel names must be lowercase, without spaces or full stops and shorter than 80 characters.
  3. Add a purpose to let others know what the channel is about. 
  4. Add others to the channel: start typing a name, then select it from the dropdown menu to add that person. You can also add members later on.
  5. Use the toggle to make the channel public or private.
  6. Once you’re ready, click Create channel.
  1. Swipe to the right to open the channel list.
  2. Tap the  plus icon next to CHANNELS in the left sidebar.
  3. Tap Create in the top right.
  4. Use the toggle make the channel public or private.
  5. Enter a channel name. Names must be lowercase, without spaces or full stops and shorter than 80 characters. 
  6. Add a purpose to let others know what the channel is about.
  7. Tap Create to finish.
  1. Swipe to the right to open the channel list.
  2. Tap the  plus icon next to the CHANNELS header.
  3. Tap the  plus icon in the bottom right corner.
  4. Use the toggle make the channel public or private.
  5. Enter a channel name. Names must be lowercase, without spaces or full stops and shorter than 80 characters. 
  6. Add a purpose to let others know what the channel is about.
  7. Tap Create to finish.

Note: every channel must have a unique name. If a name is already taken, Slack will let you know.


Reserved channel names

Some words in Slack are reserved and can't be used as channel names, regardless of the locale you're using. See the list, by language, below.

  • Brazilian Portuguese: aquí, canais, canal, eu, general, geral, grupo, mí, todos
  • English: archive, archived, archives, all, channel, channels, create, delete, deleted-channel, edit, everyone, general, group, groups, here, me, ms, slack, slackbot, today, you
  • French: chaîne/chaine, général/general, groupe, ici, moi, tous
  • German: alle, allgemein, Channel/channel, hier, Gruppe/gruppe, mir
  • Japanese: チャンネル, ここ, 全員, 自分, グループ, general
  • Spanish: aquí, canal, general, grupo, mí, todos
Who can use this feature?
  • Members and sometimes guests (default) 
  • Free, Standard, Plus and Enterprise Grid subscriptions

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