How to Auto-Archive Private Slack Channels

Step 1: Add Chronicle to your private channels

You can invite Chronicle to a private channel in a few different ways. Pick whichever is easiest for you.

Note: You must be a member of a private channel to add Chronicle to it.

Option 1: Use the /invite command (desktop or mobile)

1. Open the private channel you'd like Chronicle to monitor.
2. In the message field, type /invite @Chronicle and send it.
3. Slack will post a confirmation in the channel once Chronicle has been added.

Option 2: Mention Chronicle in the channel

1. Open the private channel you'd like Chronicle to monitor.
2. Type @Chronicle in the message field and send the message.
3. When Slack asks whether you'd like to add Chronicle to the channel, click Add Them.

Option 3: Add Chronicle from the channel settings (desktop)

1. Open the private channel you'd like Chronicle to monitor.
2. Click the channel name at the top of the conversation to open the channel details.
3. Select the Agents and apps tab.
4. Select Add Agent or App.
5. Search for Chronicle and click Add.

Repeat Option 1, 2, or 3 for each private channel you want Chronicle to monitor. Once added, Chronicle will begin monitoring inactivity and events in that channel.

Option 4: Add Chronicle to all your private channels at once

Have a lot of private channels? To automate adding Chronicle to every private channel you're a member of, contact our team for detailed instructions.

Step 2: Let Chronicle find and archive inactive channels

Once Chronicle is in your private channels, it treats them like any other channel in your workspace. From there, you can choose how hands-off you want archiving to be:

• Inactive channel scanner: Chronicle's channel scanner tracks which channels have gone quiet and lets you archive the inactive ones.
• Inactive channel notifications: Chronicle can alert members of an inactive channel and let them decide whether it should be archived. This is especially useful for private channels, where admins may not know the channel's purpose.
• Scheduled inactive channel reports: Get a report delivered to Slack every day, week, or month showing how many channels are inactive.

All of this lives in Chronicle's dashboard, so you can see active, semi-active, and inactive channels in one place.

Tips for archiving private channels

• Let members weigh in. Private channels often hold context admins can't see. Giving members a heads-up before archiving avoids surprises.
• Remember archiving isn't deleting. Archived channels keep their message history and can be unarchived later if someone needs them back.
• Add Chronicle to new private channels as they're created. Channels Chronicle isn't in won't show up in its inactivity checks.

Start auto-archiving your private channels with Chronicle

Chronicle helps Slack admins find and archive inactive channels, public and private, and monitor over 25 workspace events from one dashboard. Setup takes less than a minute, just sign in with your Slack account!

Every plan includes a 30-day free trial with no annual commitment. Add Chronicle to Slack and start clearing out stale private channels today.