1. Slack Help Center
  2. Using Slack
  3. Keyboard shortcuts & accessibility

Use simplified layout mode in Slack

Simplified layout mode for the Slack desktop app helps you focus by showing one section of Slack at a time. This mode provides simplified layouts and minimizes distractions, which may benefit single-taskers and people using assistive technology.


Navigate Slack in simplified layout

Workspace landing page

The first place you’ll land in simplified layout mode is a workspace landing page, which includes the same access points as your sidebar in Slack. You can return to this landing page anytime by selecting your workspace name in the navigation toolbar.

The workspace landing page in Slack in simplified layout mode. At the top is a navigation toolbar. The main workspace view contains a button for switching workspaces, then a list that is identical to the contents of the tab list n standard Slack.

  •   Home is where you can access channels you’ve joined.
  •   DMs is a list of all your direct messages.
  •   Activity is a single view of everything that might need your attention: your mentions, threads you’re part of, and reactions to your messages.
  • Select   More to access additional options.

Navigation bar

A single navigation bar at the top of the app makes it easier to orient where you are in Slack, plus see a numbered badge for any unread items.

The navigation toolbar and breadcrumb toolbar in action while viewing a channel. The navigation toolbar contains controls for history navigation, search, the user menu, create, and help. The breadcrumb toolbar shows buttons to jump back to the workspace landing page and the Home tab, as well as which of these views have notifications that need attention.


Turn simplified layout mode on or off

  1. Click your profile picture in the sidebar to open the user menu.
    The user menu can be found by pressing F6 to the Create New button, then pressing down. Or, you can open Preferences directly by pressing Control and Comma on Windows, or Command and Comma on Mac.
  2. Select Preferences from the menu.
  3. Select Accessibility from the list.
  4. Under Simplified layout mode, select Turn on or Turn off.

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