How to set up a Slack account

Now that we're spending more time indoors, we're finding new platforms – and new ways to use old platforms – to stay connected, whether for work or with friends. Such is the case with Slack, an instant messaging platform that operates somewhere in the space between email and texting. Designed for fast communication, Slack became an important tool for many workplaces long before everyone started working from home. But you can use it for just about anything:friends, group activities, clubs, or online communities.

Slack has a free version and offers several paid plans. You start by setting up a workspace (which is your main area of operations and contains your network of contacts) on Slack. In your workspace, you create channels, which are like chat rooms or group chats. In these channels, you and your friends/family/team members can text chat, exchange files, integrate with other apps like Google Docs and Office 365, and even have audio or video chats (although if you are using the free version, you can only do one-to-one video chat).

If you're not already familiar with Slack, it takes some getting used to. Here we've put together a step-by-step guide to get you started – we're using the web version, but using the desktop app is a similar experience. Be aware that the instructions below may differ depending on whether you are using a free or paid version.

Create a new account and workspace

As we just said, when you use Slack, you start with a main workspace and then create a variety of subspaces (called channels) for your conversations. You can belong to multiple workspaces, but for each workspace you must create a separate account.

We'll see how to join an existing workspace a bit later. Let's start by seeing how to create a new workspace.

Go to slack.com and select "Try for free".
Enter your Email. (If you use a personal email address, you may be asked to use a work email address. Don't worry, just enter your usual email address.)

Slack will ask you to verify your email address with a code. Go to your email account, retrieve the code, return to the Slack sign-up page and enter it.
You will then be prompted to create a workspace. Slack can also suggest an existing workspace you can join (assuming someone has already invited you).

Click "Create Workspace". Slack will ask you for the name of your company or team; what it really asks for is a name for your workspace. Type a name and click "Next".

Slack will ask you to enter a name for a project you're working on. Enter it and click "Next".

On the next screen, you can enter the names and email addresses of people you want to add to your Slack workspace, and Slack will send them invitations. You can also use a shareable invitation link. If you're not ready to invite someone yet, you can skip this page. (If you click "Skip this step", you may get a pop-up prompting you to add members now. Don't worry; you'll have the option to add people later.
You may have noticed that your Slack workspace is built on the left. Your channels will be listed here, while "Direct Messages" will list anyone you've privately messaged.

That's it! You can now open Slack in your browser. If you use Slack regularly, it might be a good idea to download the desktop app for Mac or Windows so you can use the app separately from any online work you do. Apps are also available for iOS and Android.

The first time you open Slack in a browser or as an app, you'll likely get an automated walkthrough showcasing some of the features. It's worth taking a minute or two to see what it's all about. A few things to start with:

Select "Add Teammates" in the sidebar to invite people to your workspace.
Hover your cursor over the word "Channels" on the left side until you see the plus sign, then click it to add a new channel.

Join an existing workspace

To join an existing Slack workspace, you must obtain permission from the person who administers that workspace. Usually they'll send you an email invitation that you can use to sign up, but there may be other options. Some workplaces allow anyone with an email address from a specific domain to join, and in some cases you can authenticate your account using your organization's single sign-on program (such as G Suite or Okta).

If you received an email invitation:

Click "Register Now" in the email.
You can sign in with an existing Google or Apple account or enter your email address. If you choose the email route, then you will be asked to enter a name and create a password.
Once you have created the account, you will be redirected to this Slack workspace.

To join without email invitation:

Go to slack.com/get-started
Type your email address and click "Continue".
Go to the email Slack sent you to get the confirmation code and enter it in the appropriate spaces.

Slack will open a window that allows you to create a new workspace and shows you which workspaces you are a part of and which ones you have been invited to.

Although most Slack workspaces are restricted to people who have been invited there, there are public workspaces. You can find lists of them by following interest groups or by checking out resources like r/SlackHangouts and Slofile.

Updated Jan 28, 2022 9:30am PT: This article was originally published on March 30, 2020 and has been updated to reflect changes to the Slack interface.