Add files to Slack
To help you collaborate, add files to Slack and share them with your teammates. Uploaded files are stored, searchable, and shareable across your workspace. 🗃
How files work in Slack
- You can add files to your messages in channels and direct messages.
- You can share files across your workspace or externally.
- You can comment on files by using threads.
- Audio and video files play inline within your workspace, wherever shared.
Note: Files added to Slack may not exceed 1GB in size. Please note that images cannot be edited from Slack.
Add a file to your workspace
To add files to Slack, choose one from your computer or from your preferred file management app.
Add a file from your computer
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
- Drag and drop a file into Slack, or click the plus icon next to the message field.
- Add a message about the file if you'd like.
- To change the file's name, click edit next to the current title.
- Below Share with, choose where to share the file. To share a file later, or to keep it private, uncheck the box next to Share with.
- Click Upload when you're ready.
An uploaded file will include a preview of it. If it's an image file, the preview will display inline as long as it's smaller than 11,000 px on the longest side, or less than 32 million px total.
Anyone in the conversation can click the file to open it. To see more options, hover over the file:
Download a copy to your computer
Share the file without replies (if any)
More actions, like star file or create external link
Tip: You can skip the steps above to upload a file instantly: hold the Shift key as you drop the file into Slack, or paste an image file directly into the message field.
- Tap the message field.
- Tap the file with clip icon to upload a file or the image gallery icon to upload a photo. You can choose a photo from your phone or take a new one.
- You can give the file a title and add a message if you’d like.
- Tap the check mark in the top right to send.
An uploaded file will include a preview of it. If it's an image file, the preview will display inline as long as it's smaller than 11,000 px on the longest side, or less than 32 million px total.
Anyone in the conversation can tap the file to open it and can select from these options:
Start or reply to the file thread
Star the file
Share the file without replies (if any)
More actions, like Save Image or Copy Link
- Tap the file with clip icon in the input bar to bring up your available files.
- To upload a file, tap the
files icon, or tap the image gallery icon to upload a photo. You can choose a photo from your device or take a new one by tapping the camera icon.
- You can give the file a title and add a message if you’d like.
- Tap the paper plane icon in the input bar.
Slack will include a preview of the file as part of your message to the channel or direct message. The image will display inline unless it's larger than 11,000 px on the longest side or over 32 million px total.
Anyone in the conversation can tap the file to open and find more options:
Start or reply to the file thread
Star the file
Share the file without replies (if any)
More actions, like Save Image or Copy Link
- Tap the plus icon next to the message box.
- Choose a file from your recent photos, your OneDrive account, or from elsewhere on your device.
Add files from Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive
You can also share files from a file management tool. To get started with one of these apps, visit an article below:
- Share Box files in Slack
- Share Dropbox files in Slack
- Share Google Drive files in Slack
- Share OneDrive files in Slack
Share a file with your workspace
There are three ways to share a file with your workspace:
- Share a file along with its replies
- Share a stand-alone file without replies
- Copy and share a link to a file (this won't include replies)
Note: Any member with access to a file you’ve uploaded to Slack can also share it with others.
Share a file with replies
To preserve context or to keep a discussion going, you can share a file along with its original message and threaded replies.
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
- Hover over the message with the file you’d like to share.
- Click the Share message icon.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
- Click Share.
To share the file in more than one location, repeat these same steps.
- Press and hold the message containing the file you’d like to share.
- Tap Share message.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
- Click Send.
- Select the file you’d like to share.
- Tap the Overflow menu in the top right.
- Tap Share file.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
Share a stand-alone file
If you don't want to include an internal discussion, you can share a stand-alone file without its replies. This is particularly helpful when you need to send a file to a shared channel or maybe to a guest.
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
- Hover over the file you’d like to share.
- Click the Share file icon.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
- Click Share. You can share the file in more than one location by repeating these same steps.
- Tap the file you’d like to share.
- Tap the Share icon.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
- Click Send.
- Select the file you’d like to share.
- Tap the Overflow menu in the top right.
- Tap Share file.
- Choose where to share the file and add a message, if you'd like.
Copy a link to a file
When you copy a link to a file and share it, only members of your workspace will be able to open it.
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
- Hover over the file.
- Click the More actions icon.
- Click Copy link to file.
- Share the file link in a channel or direct message.
- Tap on the file or image.
- Tap the More actions icon.
- Select Copy Link.
- Share the file link in a channel or direct message.
- Select the file or image.
- Tap the Overflow menu in the top right.
- Select Copy Link.
- Share the file link in a channel or direct message.
Share a file externally
To share a file outside of your workspace, you can create an external link. If you've uploaded the file, you can also revoke its external link at any time. If you didn’t upload the file, reach out to the member who did to have the link revoked.
Note: If you're a Workspace Owner or Admin, you can disable the option to create external links from your workspace's Settings & Permissions page.
Create an external link
- From your desktop, hover over the file you'd like to create a link for.
- Click the More actions icon.
- Select Create external link.
- Copy the link to your clipboard, then click Done.
Revoke an external link
- From your desktop, hover over the file you'd like to revoke a link for.
- Click the More actions icon.
- Select View external link.
- Click Revoke, then click Revoke It.
Access shared files
You can view and download files that you or other members have added to Slack.
View shared files
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
- From your desktop, click the three vertical dots in the top right.
- Select Your Files to view the ones you've added to Slack. Or choose All Files to see what others have uploaded.
- Use the first filter to choose the file type you're looking for.
- Use the second filter narrow your search by who uploaded a file.
- Swipe from right to left to open the right sidebar.
- Select Your Files.
- Tap Everyone to view all files uploaded by members.
- Or tap Just You to view files uploaded by you.
It's not possible to view all shared files from the Slack app for Android at this time.
It's not possible to view all shared files from the Slack app for Windows Phone at this time.
Download shared files
Desktop
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
From your desktop, you can download any type of file that's been shared to your workspace:
- Hover over the file you'd like to download.
- Click the download icon. That's it!
From your iOS device, you can download and save an image file that's been shared to your workspace:
- Tap the image you'd like to save.
- Tap the three dots icon.
- Tap Save Image.
From your Android device, you can download and save an image file that's been shared to your workspace:
- Tap the image you'd like to save.
- Tap the three dots icon.
- Tap Save Image.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to download files from the Windows Phone app.
Note: You can change your default download location on desktop by clicking your workspace name in the top left. Select Preferences and choose Advanced to set your location.
File storage
When you upload a file, it will be stored in Slack. The amount of space available for a workspace varies by plan:
Plan | File storage |
Free plan | 5GB total for the entire workspace |
Standard plan | 10GB per member |
Plus plan | 20GB per member |
Enterprise Grid plan | 1TB (1,000 GB) per member |
Slack will let you know once you've reached your storage limit. For more space, you can delete older files or upgrade your plan.