Use a canvas in Slack

When you need to share information that won’t fit in a simple message (like a project plan or meeting notes), create a canvas. A canvas is a surface built into Slack where you can create and share fully-formatted content. You can use a canvas in two ways:

• In a channel or direct message (DM)
• On its own

Tip: Canvases are included in most templates, pre-configured bundles of tools designed to help you get to work faster. If you aren’t using templates, you can browse ways to use canvases in Slack.

Create a canvas

A channel or DM canvas

Every channel and DM has a built-in canvas where you can store details about the conversation and the work happening there. Channel canvases can be viewed by anyone with access to the channel, while DM canvases are visible only to members of the DM.

Desktop

Mobile

1. Click the   add canvas tab in any conversation header to open the canvas.
   
2. If you have permission to post in the conversation and edit access to the canvas, start typing to add content to the canvas.

1. Tap the blank   add canvas icon in any conversation header to open the canvas.
2. If you have permission to post in the conversation and edit access to the canvas, start typing to add content to the canvas.

A standalone canvas

You can create a canvas for anything you’re working on — think meeting notes, project briefs, or research findings — then share it in any conversation. You can also keep canvases private, for select eyes only.

Desktop

Mobile

1. Hover over   More, then select   Canvases.
   
2. Click New Canvas or Start From a Template in the top-right corner.

1. From the   Home tab, tap the search bar at the top of your screen.
2. Tap Canvases, then tap   Create a canvas.
3. The canvas will open. Start typing to add content.

Find and manage an existing canvas

A channel or DM canvas

Desktop

Mobile

1. From your desktop, open a channel or DM.
2. Click the   canvas tab in the conversation header to view the canvas in the conversation.
3. Click the   three dots icon to manage the canvas. 

1. From your mobile device, open the channel or DM that the canvas is in.
2. Tap the   canvas icon to view the canvas in the conversation.
3. Tap the  three dots icon to copy a link to the canvas.

A standalone canvas

Desktop

Mobile

To browse canvases you’ve created or that you have View or Edit access to, click  Canvases in your sidebar.

1. Hover over   More, then click   Canvases.
   
2. Use the   Filter and   Sort drop-down menu to sort by Recently viewed or Last updated, or search for a specific canvas.
3. Choose a canvas from the list to open it, or click the   three dots icon to manage it.

1. From your mobile device, tap the   More tab.
2. Tap Canvases.
3. Tap a canvas in the list to open it, or press and hold to either Share in Slack, Copy link, Save for later or Delete the canvas.

Tip: Add a canvas tab in any conversation to access standalone canvases in the conversation header.

Edit a canvas

To edit a canvas, you'll need Editor access. Anyone with Editor access will be able to apply formatting, mention people, and add comments to the canvas.

A channel or DM canvas

The ability to edit a channel or DM canvas is determined by the following:

• Whether you're a member of the conversation
• Whether a Channel Manager has set edit permissions to Anyone who can post in the channel or Channel Managers only

If you belong to a channel and can't edit its canvas, ask the Channel Manager for permission to edit.

Tip: Review our guide on canvas sharing, security, and access to learn how to share and assign permissions.

A standalone canvas

If you need to edit a View Only canvas, you can request editor access from your desktop using the steps below.

1. From your desktop, click   View only in the top-right corner of a canvas, then click Request Edit Access.
2. Your request will be sent to the canvas’ owner for review, and you’ll be notified once the request is approved.

You can send the canvas’ owner a reminder of your outstanding request by repeating step 1.

Note: It's not currently possible to request edit access on mobile.

Apply formatting

You can apply a variety of formatting options to the text in a canvas; like headers, block quotes, and bulleted lists. You can also insert audio and video into a canvas to have it play inline, and inserting a file or another canvas will include a preview.

Desktop

Mobile

Add a cover image

Choose a cover image from our library, or customize it further by uploading your own.

1. From the canvas, click the   three dot icon, then click Add cover image.
2. To customize the cover, hover over the image, then click Edit.
3. Choose an image from the library, or click Upload to add your own.
4. Click Save.

Format your text

Use the formatting bar at the bottom of the canvas to format your text, organize your content into lists, or insert media like clips and files.

1. From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
2. Click on the   formatting icon to reveal text formatting options. Select an option from the list to format your text.

To change the formatting, highlight the text to reveal the formatting bar and apply options like Bold, Italic, and Strikethrough.

Add a callout

If there's a section of your canvas that you'd like to highlight, you can add a callout to add a colored background to the content.

1. Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
2. Click the  plus button, then select   Callout.
3. To change the background color, click the   six dots icon, then hover over Background color and select an option.

Embed media and files

1. Place your cursor anywhere in the canvas.
2. Click the  plus button and select from the list to add media.

To rearrange content in a canvas, click and hold the   six dots icon, then drag the content to a new location.

Tip: Click the   six dots icon to copy a link to the section, add a comment, or to access additional formatting options.

Format your text

1. From the canvas, start typing your content to reveal the formatting toolbar.
2. Tap on the   formatting icon to reveal text formatting options. Swipe left on the toolbar to scroll through the options.
3. Select an option, then tap to apply the changes.

Note: It's not currently possible to add objects or a cover image to a canvas on mobile.

Use the toolbar

You can access the following common actions from the toolbar. Select an option to add it to the canvas:

  Upload a file

  Create a table

  Format text as a checklist

  Open the emoji browser and add an emoji to your text

Tip: To access formatting options, insert objects, or embed files inline with a shortcut, press / on your keyboard.

Mention people in a canvas

To notify someone directly in a canvas, mention them by using the @ symbol followed by their name. As long as the canvas has been shared with the person you mention, they'll receive a badge notification next to the   Activity tab in their sidebar. Members who don't have access permissions to the canvas won't be notified.

Comment on a canvas

Use comments to leave feedback or start a discussion. Comments on a canvas behave like messages in threads, and new replies will appear in both your Threads view and the   Activity tab.

Add comments

Desktop

Mobile

1. Open a canvas.
2. Find the text you’d like to comment on, then click the   six dots icon and choose   Add a comment.
3. Type your comment, then press Enter to add it.

1. Open a canvas.
2. Highlight the text you’d like to comment on, then tap the   Add comment icon. If you don’t highlight specific text, your comment will apply to the whole section.
3. Type your comment, then tap   Send.

Tip: Instead of commenting, click the   Add reaction icon to use an emoji reaction.

View comments

Desktop

Mobile

1. Open a canvas.
2. Click the   three dots icon in the canvas header, then choose Show all threads.
3. To sort your comments by Most recent, Unread or Resolved, click the   Filter icon.

1. Open a canvas.
2. Text that has been commented on will appear highlighted. Tap the highlighted text to view and reply to comments.

Tip: To resolve comments, click the   resolve icon at the top of the comment thread.

Delete a canvas

You can delete canvases that you created, and restore them if you deleted them within the last 24 hours.

Delete a canvas

Restore a deleted canvas

1. From the canvas, click the   three dots icon, then select Delete canvas.
2. Click Delete canvas.

Tip: Channel and DM canvases can’t be deleted, but you can delete all of the content if you’d like to start fresh.

1. From your desktop, hover over   More, then select   Canvases.
   
2. Click Deleted in the sidebar.
3. Find the canvas you'd like to restore, then click the   restore canvas icon. 
4. Click Restore canvas.

Note: The option to delete and restore canvases is only available on desktop.

Who can use this feature?

• All members and guests
• Channel and DM canvases are available on all plans
• Standalone canvases are available on paid plans