Slack Search

Reference for Slack search features and modifiers.

Important: GUI vs API Syntax Differences

When using Slack search through different interfaces, the syntax differs:

Channel References (`in:`)

GUI (Slack app):

•Channels (public/private): in:#team-marketing (with # prefix)
•DMs: in:@username

API/MCP:

•Channels (public/private): in:team-marketing or in:channel_id (without # prefix)
•DMs: in:<@UserID> (User ID wrapped in <@>)

User References (`from:`, `with:`)

•GUI (Slack app): Use from:@username or from:@display_name
•API/MCP: Usually from:@username works, but if it doesn't, use from:<@UserID> (User ID wrapped in <@>)

How to Get Channel ID

Via GUI (Browser):

•Open Slack in your web browser
•Select the channel from the left-hand menu
•Click "View channel details"
•The channel ID is at the bottom
•Click "Copy channel ID"

Via API: Use the conversations.list API method to retrieve all channels in the workspace, then search for the Channel ID by channel name.

How to Get User ID

Via GUI:

•Click on the member's profile icon
•Click "More" (three dots ...)
•Click "Copy member ID"

Via API: Use the users.list API method to retrieve all users in the workspace, then search for the User ID by display name or username.

Search Modifiers List

Modifier	Description	Example (GUI)	Example (API/MCP)
`"phrase"`	Search for a specific phrase	`"marketing report"`	`"marketing report"`
`-word`	Exclude a specific word	`marketing -report`	`marketing -report`
`in:`	Search within a specific channel/DM	`in:#team-marketing`	`in:team-marketing`
`from:`	Search for messages from a specific member	`from:@username`	`from:@username`
`has:`	Messages with a specific emoji reaction	`has::eyes:`	`has::eyes:`
`hasmy:`	Messages you reacted to	`hasmy::thumbsup:`	`hasmy::thumbsup:`
`is:saved`	Items added to bookmarks	`is:saved`	`is:saved`
`has:pin`	Pinned items	`has:pin`	`has:pin`
`before:`	Before a specified date	`before:2024-01-01`	`before:2024-01-01`
`after:`	After a specified date	`after:2024-01-01`	`after:2024-01-01`
`on:`	On a specified date	`on:2024-01-15`	`on:2024-01-15`
`during:`	During a specified month/year	`during:January` or `during:2024`	`during:January` or `during:2024`
`is:thread`	Search within threads	`is:thread`	`is:thread`
`with:`	Search within threads/DMs with a specific member	`with:@username`	`with:@username`
`creator:`	Search for canvases created by a specific user	`creator:@username`	`creator:@username`
`-in:`	Exclude a specific channel	`-in:#random`	`-in:random`
`-from:`	Exclude a specific member	`-from:@bot`	`-from:@bot`
`word*`	Wildcard - See results that begin with a partial word. Add an asterisk to a partial word with at least three characters to see results that begin with those specific letters.	`rep*` → reply, report	`rep*` → reply, report

Combination Examples

GUI Examples

code

# Search for messages from a specific member in a channel
marketing report in:#team-marketing from:@tanaka

# Search for threads within a specific time period
project is:thread after:2024-01-01 before:2024-03-01

# Bookmarked items you reacted to
is:saved hasmy::star:

# Search excluding specific channels
API specification -in:#general -in:#random

API/MCP Examples