Slack has fast become a leading platform for team messaging, serving over 12 million daily active users at last count. With large enterprises like IBM along with tiny startups relying on Slack for remote work, it‘s a communication hub for businesses of every size.
But as your organization‘s membership evolves, you may find it necessary to revoke access to former employees, contractors, or team members who have moved on to new projects. Removing people fully from Slack or specific channels requires admin privileges and following some careful steps.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll equip you with everything you need to know to successfully delete Slack members on both desktop and mobile.
Why You Might Need to Remove Someone from Slack
First, let‘s explore some common reasons you‘d want to eject someone from your Slack workspace or channels:
- Former employees – Whether due to resignation or termination, ex-employees should no longer access internal communications.
- Contractors/Temporary Members – Remove contingent workers after projects wrap up to maintain privacy.
- Switching Teams – Delete access for those moving internally if they shouldn‘t view certain channels.
- Security Concerns – Bad actors and security risks may need quick deletion.
Properly scoping access helps ensure organizational integrity as your members come and go. Now let‘s dive into how to remove members using Slack‘s robust access controls.
Prerequisites: Verifying Your Admin Permissions
Slack implements a precise permission system to delegate administrative capabilities while limiting access to sensitive controls. As such, you must verify you have proper authority before attempting to remove members.
Here‘s a breakdown of the main Slack user roles:
| Role | Capabilities | Can Remove Members |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full administrative access | Yes |
| Owner | Provision workspaces, limited config access | Yes |
| Single Channel Admin | Admin powers for assigned channels only | From their channel |
| Standard | Basic messaging, file sharing | No |
To confirm your admin status for removing users, head to the workspace Dropdown Menu > Administration > Manage Members. If you have an Admin or Owner role, you‘ll find removal actions under each member‘s name.
Now that you‘ve validated appropriate rights, let‘s get to the member deletion details…
Removing Someone from Specific Slack Channels
If the member only requires access revocation from certain teams or projects, you can selectively take them out of specific Slack channels rather than disabling their entire account. Here‘s how channel removal works on desktop vs. mobile:
Desktop Removal
- Click into the channel name to open the member list sidebar
- Hover over the member‘s name
- Choose Remove from [channel]
- Confirm removal action
Mobile App Removal
- Tap the target channel to open it
- Tap the message field and type
/remove @member - Select the auto-populated member name
- Hit send to remove them
| Platform | Method | Speed | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | More clicks but easier to confirm action | Slower | Best for bulk removals |
| Mobile | Quick slash command to remove | Faster | Great for on-the-go access revocation |
So whether you‘re at your desk or on your phone, removing channel access takes just seconds.
Deactivating Accounts to Fully Delete Someone from Slack
Whereas channel removal specifically locks people out of certain teams and conversations, deactivating a Slack account cuts off access more permanently and comprehensively.
If someone leaves your company or you need to block them entirely from your workspace, account deactivation does the trick. Warning: this is irreversible, so only delete when confident (unlike channel removal which is easily undone).
Follow these steps to deactivate a Slack member:
- Open workspace menu > Administration > Manage members
- Click the ⋮ icon next to the member‘s name
- Select Deactivate account
- Confirm deactivation
Once disabled, the user can no longer:
- Message or view any channels in your Slack
- Access stored conversation history and files
- Reactivate their old account (they‘d have to be re-invited as if new)
This gives admins a "nuclear option" when heightened security measures become necessary. While deletion may seem extreme, maintaining control over your organization‘s communications integrity often warrants such decisions.
Best Practices for Access Management
Granting, revoking and monitoring member permissions represents a crucial element of information security policy. Industry guidelines around access controls advise a few key standards:
- Regular Access Reviews – Audit permissions quarterly and determine if roles still align with responsibilities. Adjust as needed.
- Least Privilege Access – Don‘t give people more access than their role requires. This limits exposure.
- Fast Revocation – Delete former members immediately upon departure from the company.
- Monitor Admin Actions – Log admin control panel activity for accountability.
While removing long-time coworkers from Slack can feel awkward, establishing these controls defends your systems and data. Think of it as necessary virtual housekeeping.
Slack Access Removal: Summary
Managing Shift teams calls for coordinating many moving parts. As members transition on and off projects, properly modulating their access proves vital. Slack simplifies managing these transitions by enabling instant channel revocation and full account deactivation.
We‘ve shown how both desktop and mobile take just seconds to restrict member reach. Now you can conduct removal confidently, judiciously, and quickly.
Here are some key tips in review as you manage your workspace users:
⚬ Verify admin status before attempting removal
⚬ Eliminate channel access for transitioning members
⚬ Deactivate accounts completely for permanent deletions
⚬ Follow access governance best practices
With Slack‘s capable tools and these insights, you can keep your communication flows running smoothly. Now get back to connecting your teams and pushing projects forward!
