How to Customize Your Slack Workspace on Windows

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

SlackCustomizationWorkspaceWindowsSettingsThemesPreferencesPersonalizationInterfaceUser Experience

Slack is a powerful collaboration tool that has become an indispensable part of the working lives of many teams around the world. It allows you to organize your team conversations into channels, send instant messages, share files, and keep each other updated with information. However, what makes Slack different is its ability to be customized to your unique needs. This extends far beyond simply using it; it includes making your workspace look, feel, and function in a way that aligns with your workflow and team dynamics.

Whether you want to improve productivity, promote better communication, or simply make the platform more aesthetic, you can customize Slack in a number of ways. This guide will introduce you to various ways to make the most of your Slack workspace on the Windows operating system.

1. Customizing your Slack theme

Slack allows you to make your workspace even better by changing the theme according to your style or preference. You can switch between different pre-defined themes or even create your own custom theme.

Change a default theme

1. Open the Slack desktop app on your Windows computer.
2. In the upper left corner, click your workspace name to open the workspace menu.
3. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
4. In the Preferences menu, select Themes from the left-hand sidebar.
5. Scroll through the list of available themes and click on one to apply it to your Slack.

Creating custom themes

If none of the pre-defined themes suit your style, you can create your own theme by mixing and matching colors that will be completely your own.

1. Follow the same steps to open the Themes page in the Preferences menu.
2. Under pre-set themes you will see the option to Create a custom theme. Click on this option.
3. You'll now be able to choose colors for different elements of the Slack interface, such as the top bar, side bar, and more. Use the color picker tool to choose a color, or enter your own hex code if you have a specific color in mind.
4. Once you're satisfied with your choices, close the theme editor. Your custom theme will be applied to your Slack workspace.

2. Customizing notification settings

Notifications are essential to stay updated, but if not managed properly, they can be disruptive. Therefore, it is important to customize your notification settings to ensure better productivity.

Setting up notifications

1. Open Slack and click on your workspace name in the top left corner.
2. Go to Preferences and then select Notifications from the sidebar.
3. Choose your sound settings and the types of notifications you want to receive (e.g., all new messages, mentions only).
4. Decide on the look of your notification and whether to enable desktop notifications.
5. Scroll further to customize the notification schedule (when you want to receive notifications).

3. Integrating apps and services

Your Slack workspace can be significantly improved by integrating third-party applications and services. These apps add important functionalities for many teams, from setting up meetings to tracking tasks.

Adding apps to Slack

1. Go to your Slack workspace and click on the Apps option in the left-hand sidebar.
2. Click Browse Slack's App Directory.
3. Search for the app you need or browse through categories to discover new tools.
4. Once you find the app, click on it, then click Add to Slack. Follow the prompts to authorize and configure the app as needed.

4. Customizing the sidebar

The sidebar is one of the most used elements in Slack because it organizes all of your conversations. Customizing it can help keep your workspace tidy and more closely aligned with your most used areas.

Reordering and iterating channels

1. Click and hold on a channel or direct message in your sidebar.
2. Drag it up or down to reorder it according to your preference. You can use it to prioritize the channels you watch most often.

Creating sections

You can also create sections to group channels or direct messages based on certain criteria, such as projects or teams.

1. Hover over the Channel section header until you see the + button.
2. Click the + button to create a new section.
3. Name your new section and press Enter.
4. Drag channels and messages to this new section as desired.

5. Message customization

Messages are the primary communication channel on Slack. Therefore, customizing the message settings can greatly improve clarity and understanding within your team.

Message formatting

Slack offers various formatting options that you can use to enhance your messages.

• Use *text* to make text bold.
• Use _text_ to italicize text.
• Use ~text~ to cut text.
• Use backticks ` to highlight code or code snippets.
• Use a block quote by placing a greater-than sign > in front of the quote.
• Create bullet points by starting a line with a dash or asterisk followed by a space.

6. Using keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase your speed and efficiency when using Slack.

Some useful shortcuts are:

• Ctrl + K: Open the quick switcher to move between channels or direct messages.
• Ctrl + /: See all keyboard shortcuts in Slack.
• Page Up/Page Down: Scroll through conversations.
• Ctrl + Shift + A: Go to all unread messages.
• Ctrl+Shift+Y: Set yourself to away or active.

7. Creating custom emojis

Emojis are frequently used in Slack to quickly express emotions or reactions. Creating custom emojis can add a personal touch to your communications.

Steps to create a custom emoji

1. Open Slack and click the emoji icon in the message box.
2. Click Add Emoji at the bottom of the emoji picker menu.
3. Select Custom emoji, then click Upload image to choose a file for your emoji.
4. Choose a name for your emoji, which will be used in channels and messages.
5. Click Save to add your custom emoji to your Slack workspace.

8. Configuring advanced settings

For power users, Slack offers advanced settings that allow even more customization.

Tuning advanced preferences

1. Go to Preferences from the workspace menu.
2. Explore other sections like Keyboard & Language, Accessibility, and Advanced to further personalize your experience.
3. Decide whether to opt for beta features for cutting-edge Slack functionality.

By following these steps and using Slack's customization features, you can create a workspace that not only looks unique but also supports your team's productivity and efficiency. These changes can help you manage tasks more effectively, maintain focus, and make Slack an even more integral tool for your team's daily communications.

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