Add Shadow to Slack
Bring Shadow directly into your team's Slack — mention @Shadow in any connected channel to pull data, run skills and get answers without leaving Slack.
Bring Shadow directly into your team's Slack — mention @Shadow in any connected channel to pull data, run skills, and get answers without leaving Slack.
Requirements
A Shadow account — with an active workspace.
Permission to install Slack apps — most Slack workspaces restrict this to admins or owners. If that isn't you, have your Slack admin ready to click Allow on the authorization screen.
The right Slack workspace — log into it in your browser before you start, and double-check the workspace shown on Slack's authorization screen if you belong to several.
Setup
Step 1 — Connect Slack from Shadow
In Shadow, go to Settings → Integrations.
Find Slack and click Connect.
You'll be redirected to Slack's authorization screen.
Review the permissions Shadow is requesting — see What Shadow can access below — and click Allow.
You'll be redirected back into Shadow to choose channels.
This installs one shared Shadow app into your workspace. It isn't listed in Slack's App Directory, so this Connect button is the only way to install it.
Step 2 — Choose which channels Shadow can see
Public channels — select any from the list. Shadow joins them automatically.
Private channels — Shadow can't auto-join a private channel. Invite it manually first, from inside Slack:
/invite @Shadow
Once invited, the channel appears in Shadow's channel picker for you to select.
Step 3 — Start using Shadow in Slack
Mention @Shadow in any connected channel:
@Shadow what was our Meta spend last week?
Today, Shadow responds to explicit @Shadow mentions in a channel. It doesn't yet pick up direct messages, or continue a thread without being re-mentioned each time.
What Shadow can access
Shadow's Slack app requests the following permissions when you click Allow.
What it can do
Read messages and threads — in public channels, and in private channels it's invited to.
Read Slack profiles and email addresses — to match Slack users to people in your Shadow workspace.
Post messages and reactions — so it can answer you in the channel.
Read files — shared in connected channels.
Join public channels — the ones you select in the channel picker.
What it doesn't do
Reach channels it wasn't added to — access stops at the channels you select or invite it to.
Reach other Slack workspaces — the install covers one workspace.
Create, rename or archive channels — or manage private-channel membership. Slack grants the app these permissions, but the product doesn't use them today.
Troubleshooting
Shadow doesn't appear when I try to select a private channel — Invite it first, from inside the channel in Slack, with /invite @Shadow. It will then show up in Shadow's channel picker.
The Connect or Allow button is greyed out — Your Slack workspace likely restricts app installs to admins and owners. Ask a workspace admin to complete the connection from Settings → Integrations.
@Shadow doesn't respond when mentioned — Confirm Slack still shows as connected in Shadow under Settings → Integrations. If the app was removed or the connection revoked in Slack, reconnect it. If it persists, contact support@shadow.co.