Archive or delete a channel
When a channel is no longer needed, it can be archived or deleted (except for the #general channel or #all-companyname channel). Archived channels are closed to new activity, but the message history is retained and searchable on paid subscriptions. Deleted channels are permanently removed from a workspace, message history included.
Note: If you can’t archive or delete a channel, find a workspace owner or admin to ask for help.
Archive a channel
By default, all members (except guests) can archive channels that they're a member of, but workspace owners and org owners can restrict this permission to certain role types. Channel managers can always archive channels that they’re assigned to.
Archive a channel
Desktop
Mobile
- Open the channel you'd like to archive.
- Click the channel name in the conversation header.
- Click on Settings, then Archive channel for everyone.
- Click Archive channel to confirm.
- If you set up your channel with a template, the canvases and lists will remain accessible in Slack, while the workflows will be unpublished. To delete a canvas, list or workflow added as part of a template, tick the box next to its name and click onDelete.
- Open the channel you'd like to archive.
- Tap the channel name in the conversation header.
- Tap Archive channel. Scroll down if you don't see the option.
- Tap Archive to confirm.
Tip: On the Business+ and Enterprise subscriptions, people with permission to use channel management tools can also archive and delete channels from a central dashboard.
Unarchive a channel
If you change your mind, you can unarchive a channel. If the channel is private, the channel members will be retained, but if it's public, the former members will not be restored.
- From Home, click Directories.
- Click the Channels tab.
- Search for the channel by name or description, or click the Channel type filter and select Archived channels.
- Select the channel that you’d like to unarchive from the list.
- Click on the channel name in the conversation header.
- Click on Settings, then click on Unarchive this channel.
Note: If you don’t see Directories, look for the Channels tab in the sidebar instead. You may need to click More to find it.
Tip: Channel names can't be repeated. To reuse the name of an archived channel, you'll need to unarchive it and rename the channel.
Delete a channel
On the Free, Pro and Business+ subscriptions, only workspace owners and workspace admins can delete channels. In an Enterprise organisation, org owners can restrict channel deletion to certain role types or assign channel deletion to a custom role.
Note: Deleting a channel is permanent, so make sure that you proceed with care.
Delete an active channel
- From your desktop, open the channel you'd like to delete.
- Click the channel name in the conversation header.
- Click on Settings, then Delete channel.
- Select Delete this channel.
- Tick the box next to Yes, permanently delete the channel, then click on Delete channel.
Delete an archived channel
- From Home, click on Directories.
- Click the Channels tab.
- Search for the channel by name or description, or click the Channel type filter and select Archived channels.
- Select the channel that you’d like to delete from the list.
- Click on the channel name in the conversation header.
- Click on Settings, then Delete this channel.
- Tick the box next to Yes, permanently delete the channel, then click on Delete channel.
Note: Retention settings do not apply to messages in deleted channels. If you delete a channel, any messages sent in the channel will be permanently deleted as well.
