This server provides a comprehensive interface for interacting with the Slack API, enabling AI assistants and agents to manage channels, messages, reactions, direct messages, search, and users within a Slack workspace.
Channel Management: List channels, get details, create/archive channels, join/leave, set topics, and fetch message history.
Messaging: Post messages, reply to threads, get thread replies, update/delete messages, and add/remove/get emoji reactions.
Direct Messages (DMs): Send DMs, list DM/group DM conversations, fetch DM history, and open new DM conversations.
Search (requires User Token): Search messages, files, or both across the workspace with advanced filters (channel, user, date, reactions).
User & Workspace Management: List users, get detailed user info, check presence, look up users by email, get user profiles, and retrieve bot/team information.
Enables comprehensive interaction with Slack workspaces, including channel management (create, archive, join, list), messaging operations (post, reply, update, delete, reactions), direct messaging, searching messages and files, and user management (list users, check presence, lookup by email).
Click on "Deploy Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@Slack MCP Server list all channels in the workspace"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
A CLI and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Slack API integration. Use slack from the terminal for scripting and agent workflows, or slack mcp for AI assistant integration via stdio MCP.
AI agents: See AGENTS.md for install, auth, all commands, MCP tool names, and workflow examples.
List all accessible channels (public/private)
Get channel information and details
Create new channels
Archive channels
Join/leave channels
Set channel topics
Fetch channel message history
Post messages to channels
Reply to message threads
Update and delete messages
Add and remove emoji reactions
Get message reactions
Send direct messages to users
List DM and group DM conversations
Fetch DM conversation history
Open new DM conversations
Search messages across the workspace
Search files
Combined search for messages and files
List workspace users
Get user profile information
Check user presence/online status
Look up users by email
Get bot and team information
Related MCP server: Slack MCP Server
Python 3.10 or higher
A Slack workspace with admin access to create apps
Slack Bot Token (xoxb-...) for most operations
Slack User Token (xoxp-...) for search functionality
Requires Node.js 18+ and Python 3.10+.
npm install -g slack-agent-cli
slack --versionMCP via global install:
slack mcpgit clone https://github.com/bcharleson/slack-agent-cli.git
cd slack-agent-clipython3.12 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activatepip install -e .Or install from requirements:
pip install -r requirements.txtGo to Slack API Apps
Click "Create New App" → "From scratch"
Name your app and select your workspace
Navigate to OAuth & Permissions and add these Bot Token Scopes:
channels:read - View basic channel info
channels:write - Manage public channels
channels:history - View messages in public channels
groups:read - View private channels
groups:write - Manage private channels
groups:history - View messages in private channels
chat:write - Send messages
reactions:read - View reactions
reactions:write - Add reactions
im:read - View DM info
im:write - Start DMs
im:history - View DM history
mpim:read - View group DM info
mpim:write - Start group DMs
mpim:history - View group DM history
users:read - View users
users:read.email - View user emails
If you need search functionality, add these User Token Scopes:
search:read - Search messages and files
Click "Install to Workspace"
Authorize the app
Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (starts with xoxb-)
If using search, also copy the User OAuth Token (starts with xoxp-)
Create a .env file in the project root:
# Required: Bot Token for most operations
SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=xoxb-your-bot-token-here
# Optional: User Token for search functionality
SLACK_USER_TOKEN=xoxp-your-user-token-hereYou can copy the example file:
cp .env.example .env
# Then edit .env with your tokensAfter installation, the slack command exposes grouped subcommands that mirror the MCP tools:
# Channels
slack channels list
slack channels info C01234567
slack channels history C01234567 --limit 10
# Messages
slack messages post C01234567 "Hello from the CLI"
slack messages reply C01234567 1710000000.000100 "Thread reply"
# DMs
slack dms send U01234567 "Quick note from CLI"
slack dms list
# Search (requires SLACK_USER_TOKEN)
slack search messages "project update in:#general"
# Users / workspace
slack users list
slack users lookup brandon@example.com
slack workspace team
# Output formatting
slack --pretty channels list
slack --output json --quiet channels listGlobal options:
--bot-token / SLACK_BOT_TOKEN
--user-token / SLACK_USER_TOKEN
--output json|pretty (default: json)
--pretty shorthand
--quiet for exit-code-only automation
Start the stdio MCP server:
slack mcp
# or
slack-agent-cli mcpsource venv/bin/activate
python -m slack_agent_cli.cli mcpAdd to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"slack": {
"command": "/path/to/slack-agent-cli/venv/bin/python",
"args": ["-m", "slack_agent_cli"],
"cwd": "/path/to/slack-agent-cli",
"env": {
"SLACK_BOT_TOKEN": "xoxb-your-bot-token",
"SLACK_USER_TOKEN": "xoxp-your-user-token"
}
}
}
}Replace /path/to/slack-agent-cli with the actual path to your installation.
Add to your Cursor MCP settings (~/.cursor/mcp.json):
{
"mcpServers": {
"slack-agent-cli": {
"command": "slack",
"args": ["mcp"],
"env": {
"SLACK_BOT_TOKEN": "xoxb-your-bot-token",
"SLACK_USER_TOKEN": "xoxp-your-user-token"
}
}
}
}Or with a global install:
{
"mcpServers": {
"slack-agent-cli": {
"command": "slack",
"args": ["mcp"],
"env": {
"SLACK_BOT_TOKEN": "xoxb-your-bot-token",
"SLACK_USER_TOKEN": "xoxp-your-user-token"
}
}
}
}Tool | Description |
| List all accessible channels |
| Get details about a specific channel |
| Create a new channel |
| Archive a channel |
| Fetch message history |
| Join a channel |
| Leave a channel |
| Set channel topic |
Tool | Description |
| Post a message to a channel |
| Reply in a thread |
| Get all replies in a thread |
| Add emoji reaction |
| Remove emoji reaction |
| Get reactions on a message |
| Update an existing message |
| Delete a message |
Tool | Description |
| Send a direct message |
| List DM conversations |
| Fetch DM history |
| Open a DM conversation |
Tool | Description |
| Search messages |
| Search files |
| Search both messages and files |
Tool | Description |
| List workspace users |
| Get user details |
| Check if user is online |
| Find user by email |
| Get detailed profile |
| Get bot identity |
| Get workspace info |
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector python -m slack_agent_cliThis opens a web interface to test all available tools interactively.
Start the server
Use Claude Desktop or another MCP client
Try basic commands:
"List all channels in the workspace"
"Get the history of #general channel"
"Send a message to #test-channel saying Hello!"
Ensure your .env file exists and contains the token, or set it in your MCP client configuration.
Search operations require a User Token (SLACK_USER_TOKEN). Add User Token scopes to your Slack app and include the token.
The bot may not have access to the channel. Ensure:
The channel exists
The bot is a member of private channels
The channel ID is correct (use list_channels to find IDs)
Your Slack app is missing required permissions. Check the OAuth scopes section above and add the missing scopes in your Slack app settings.
slack-agent-cli/
├── src/
│ └── slack_agent_cli/
│ ├── cli/
│ │ └── main.py # Click CLI + `slack mcp`
│ ├── core/
│ │ └── output.py # JSON/pretty output helpers
│ ├── operations/ # Shared handlers for CLI + MCP
│ │ ├── channels.py
│ │ ├── messages.py
│ │ ├── search.py
│ │ └── users.py
│ ├── tools/ # MCP tool registration
│ ├── utils/
│ │ └── slack_client.py
│ └── server.py # FastMCP stdio server
├── pyproject.toml
├── package.json
├── AGENTS.md # AI agent guide (commands, MCP, workflows)
├── requirements.txt
├── .env.example
└── README.mdCreate or edit a file in src/slack_agent_cli/tools/
Define tools using the @mcp.tool() decorator
Register the tools in the server by calling the registration function
MIT License
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
Add an emoji reaction to a message.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the message (e.g., "C01234567")
timestamp: The timestamp of the message to react to
emoji: The emoji name without colons (e.g., "thumbsup", "heart", "rocket")
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error
Inputs: channel_id (required), timestamp (required), emoji (required). Returns: object
Archive a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel to archive (e.g., "C01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error
Inputs: channel_id (required). Returns: object
Create a new Slack channel.
Args:
name: Name for the new channel (max 80 chars, lowercase,
no spaces, use hyphens instead)
is_private: Whether to create a private channel. Default: False
Returns:
Dictionary containing the created channel's details
Inputs: name (required), is_private. Returns: object
Delete a message from a channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the message (e.g., "C01234567")
timestamp: The timestamp of the message to delete
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error
Inputs: channel_id (required), timestamp (required). Returns: object
Get information about the authenticated bot user.
Returns:
Dictionary containing bot identity information
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
Fetch message history from a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel (e.g., "C01234567")
limit: Maximum number of messages to return (1-1000). Default: 20
oldest: Unix timestamp of oldest message to include (optional)
latest: Unix timestamp of latest message to include (optional)
Returns:
Dictionary containing list of messages with sender, text,
timestamp, and thread info
Inputs: channel_id (required), limit, oldest, latest. Returns: object
Get detailed information about a specific Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel (e.g., "C01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary containing channel details including name, topic,
purpose, member count, and creation date
Inputs: channel_id (required). Returns: object
Fetch message history from a DM or group DM conversation.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the DM conversation (e.g., "D01234567")
limit: Maximum number of messages to return (1-1000). Default: 20
oldest: Unix timestamp of oldest message to include (optional)
latest: Unix timestamp of latest message to include (optional)
Returns:
Dictionary containing list of messages
Inputs: channel_id (required), limit, oldest, latest. Returns: object
Get all reactions on a specific message.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the message (e.g., "C01234567")
timestamp: The timestamp of the message
Returns:
Dictionary containing the message and its reactions
Inputs: channel_id (required), timestamp (required). Returns: object
Get information about the Slack workspace/team.
Returns:
Dictionary containing workspace information
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
Get all replies in a message thread.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the thread (e.g., "C01234567")
thread_ts: The timestamp of the parent message
limit: Maximum number of replies to return (1-1000). Default: 20
Returns:
Dictionary containing the thread messages
Inputs: channel_id (required), thread_ts (required), limit. Returns: object
Get detailed information about a specific user.
Args:
user_id: The ID of the user (e.g., "U01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary containing detailed user profile information
Inputs: user_id (required). Returns: object
Get the presence/online status of a user.
Args:
user_id: The ID of the user (e.g., "U01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary containing user presence information
Inputs: user_id (required). Returns: object
Get the profile information for a user.
Args:
user_id: The ID of the user (e.g., "U01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary containing detailed profile fields
Inputs: user_id (required). Returns: object
Join a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel to join (e.g., "C01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error with channel info
Inputs: channel_id (required). Returns: object
Leave a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel to leave (e.g., "C01234567")
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error
Inputs: channel_id (required). Returns: object
List all accessible Slack channels in the workspace.
Args:
types: Comma-separated channel types to include.
Options: public_channel, private_channel, mpim, im
Default: "public_channel,private_channel"
exclude_archived: Whether to exclude archived channels. Default: True
limit: Maximum number of channels to return (1-1000). Default: 100
Returns:
Dictionary containing list of channels with their details
Inputs: types, exclude_archived, limit. Returns: object
List direct message and group DM conversations.
Args:
types: Comma-separated conversation types. Default: "im,mpim"
Options: im (1:1 DMs), mpim (group DMs)
limit: Maximum number of conversations to return. Default: 50
Returns:
Dictionary containing list of DM conversations
Inputs: types, limit. Returns: object
List all users in the Slack workspace.
Args:
limit: Maximum number of users to return (1-1000). Default: 100
include_locale: Include locale information for users. Default: False
Returns:
Dictionary containing list of users with their profiles
Inputs: limit, include_locale. Returns: object
Find a user by their email address.
Args:
email: The email address to look up
Returns:
Dictionary containing the user's profile if found
Inputs: email (required). Returns: object
Open a direct message or group DM conversation.
Args:
user_ids: Comma-separated user IDs to open a conversation with
(e.g., "U01234567" for DM, "U01234567,U07654321" for group DM)
Returns:
Dictionary containing the conversation channel details
Inputs: user_ids (required). Returns: object
Post a message to a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel to post to (e.g., "C01234567")
text: The message text to post (supports Slack markdown)
thread_ts: Optional thread timestamp to reply in a thread
unfurl_links: Whether to unfurl text-based URLs. Default: True
unfurl_media: Whether to unfurl media URLs. Default: True
Returns:
Dictionary containing the posted message details including timestamp
Inputs: channel_id (required), text (required), thread_ts, unfurl_links, +1 more. Returns: object
Remove an emoji reaction from a message.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the message (e.g., "C01234567")
timestamp: The timestamp of the message
emoji: The emoji name without colons (e.g., "thumbsup", "heart", "rocket")
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success or error
Inputs: channel_id (required), timestamp (required), emoji (required). Returns: object
Reply to a message thread in Slack.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the thread (e.g., "C01234567")
thread_ts: The timestamp of the parent message to reply to
text: The reply message text (supports Slack markdown)
broadcast: Whether to also post the reply to the channel. Default: False
Returns:
Dictionary containing the posted reply details
Inputs: channel_id (required), thread_ts (required), text (required), broadcast. Returns: object
Search both messages and files across the Slack workspace.
Note: Requires a User Token (SLACK_USER_TOKEN) as search is not
available with bot tokens.
Args:
query: Search query string. Supports Slack search modifiers.
sort: Sort order - "timestamp" or "score". Default: "timestamp"
sort_dir: Sort direction - "asc" or "desc". Default: "desc"
count: Number of results per type (1-100). Default: 10
Returns:
Dictionary containing both message and file search results
Inputs: query (required), sort, sort_dir, count. Returns: object
Search files across the Slack workspace.
Note: Requires a User Token (SLACK_USER_TOKEN) as search is not
available with bot tokens.
Args:
query: Search query string. Supports Slack search modifiers:
- "in:#channel" to search in specific channel
- "from:@user" to search files from a user
- "type:pdf" to filter by file type
Example: "quarterly report type:pdf in:#finance"
sort: Sort order - "timestamp" or "score". Default: "timestamp"
sort_dir: Sort direction - "asc" or "desc". Default: "desc"
count: Number of results to return (1-100). Default: 20
types: Comma-separated file types to filter (optional)
Options: images, videos, pdfs, docs, snippets, etc.
Returns:
Dictionary containing search results with files and metadata
Inputs: query (required), sort, sort_dir, count, +1 more. Returns: object
Search messages across the Slack workspace.
Note: Requires a User Token (SLACK_USER_TOKEN) as search is not
available with bot tokens.
Args:
query: Search query string. Supports Slack search modifiers:
- "in:#channel" to search in specific channel
- "from:@user" to search messages from a user
- "has:reaction" to find messages with reactions
- "before:YYYY-MM-DD" or "after:YYYY-MM-DD" for date filters
Example: "project update in:#general from:@john"
sort: Sort order - "timestamp" or "score". Default: "timestamp"
sort_dir: Sort direction - "asc" or "desc". Default: "desc"
count: Number of results to return (1-100). Default: 20
Returns:
Dictionary containing search results with messages and metadata
Inputs: query (required), sort, sort_dir, count. Returns: object
Send a direct message to a user.
Args:
user_id: The ID of the user to message (e.g., "U01234567")
text: The message text to send (supports Slack markdown)
Returns:
Dictionary containing the sent message details
Inputs: user_id (required), text (required). Returns: object
Set the topic for a Slack channel.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel (e.g., "C01234567")
topic: The new topic text for the channel
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success with the new topic
Inputs: channel_id (required), topic (required). Returns: object
Update an existing message.
Args:
channel_id: The ID of the channel containing the message (e.g., "C01234567")
timestamp: The timestamp of the message to update
text: The new message text
Returns:
Dictionary indicating success with updated message details
Inputs: channel_id (required), timestamp (required), text (required). Returns: object
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
Loading tool schema changelog…
Scored across 30 tools
Each tool has a distinct purpose with clear boundaries, such as add_reaction vs. remove_reaction, or get_channel_history vs. get_thread_replies. The descriptions specify unique actions and resources, preventing confusion or overlap in functionality.
All tools follow a consistent verb_noun naming pattern (e.g., add_reaction, archive_channel, create_channel). The naming is uniform throughout, using snake_case and clear action words, making the tool set predictable and easy to navigate.
With 30 tools, the count is on the higher side for a Slack server, potentially feeling heavy. While it covers many aspects of Slack's API, it might be borderline for typical agent use, as some tools could be consolidated or omitted without losing core functionality.
The tool set provides comprehensive coverage for Slack interactions, including channel management, messaging, user info, reactions, threads, and search. It supports full CRUD operations for messages and channels, with no obvious gaps that would hinder agent workflows in this domain.
Messaging tools for AI agents: send messages, manage chats, groups and channels.
Enable interaction with Slack workspaces. Supports subscribing to Slack events through Resources.
Chat with your AI agents from Slack: each gets a thread in your DM, and your replies there wake it.
Hosted Slack MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, with each action switched per account.