How to private message and make calls in Slack

While Slack started out as an instant messaging tool in the workplace, over the past few years it’s become popular as a way for anyone to stay in touch with a group of friends, colleagues, or family. It even now offers groups a way to create instant “huddles”, in which two or more people can switch from text to audio – if you have a paid plan.

Although Slack is primarily for group collaboration, it also has tools if you just want to chat one-on-one with someone. Here, we’ll go over some of the ways you can have a private text, audio, or video chat with another person through the free version of Slack.

Text conversations

Using the Slack desktop app:

• If you’ve recently sent someone a personal message, you’ll find their name in the left sidebar under ‘Direct Messages’. Click on their name, type your message in the box at the bottom, and press enter/return to send.
• If the name isn’t in the sidebar, click the + next to “Direct Messages.” Enter the name of the person you want to send a message to. As you type, the person’s name will appear in the results (assuming they’re in that Slack workspace) and you can click on them. Type your message in the box at the bottom and press enter/return to send.
• You can also start a message by clicking the pencil icon in the upper left corner of the screen next to your workspace and username. Enter the name of the person you want to send a message to in the bar at the top. Write the message in the box at the bottom of the screen and press Enter or Return to send.

Using the mobile app:

If you want to continue a previous conversation or find someone you’ve already conversed with, tap “DM” at the bottom of the screen to find a history of your direct messages.

You can also tap the pencil symbol at the bottom of the home screen. This will bring up the “New Message” screen with a list of people you’ve messaged before; select one or type the name of a person you want to send a direct message to.

Voice chats

Slack also has a built-in calling feature. On the free version, you can make voice and video calls, but only with another person. If you’re on one of Slack’s paid plans, you can also make group calls with up to 15 people and share your screen in a video call.

Using the Slack desktop app:

• Open a direct message or channel
• In the upper right corner, click the phone icon

• Click the camera icon to start the video. If you have a paid plan, you can also use the “Share screen” icon.

Using a mobile app:

• Start a direct message with the person you want to chat with
• If you’re using an Android device, tap the information icon in the top right. If you’re using an iPhone, tap the person’s name at the top of the page.
• Tap the call icon to start a call (the person will get a notification that someone is trying to call them)
• If you want to make it a video call, tap the camera icon

Huddle

Last spring, Slack introduced Huddles, which are meant to be audio conversations you can immediately jump into during a text conversation with one or more people (as opposed to audio calls, which are just a bit more formal). . Unfortunately, they are only available if you have a paid account.

If you do, it’s very simple to start a Huddle. (Note: you can create a clique with a single person, a group of people, or a channel; for this particular article, we’ll focus on one-on-one conversations.)

Using the desktop app:

• Make sure you are in a text conversation with the person you want to snuggle with
• At the bottom of the left column, there will be the Huddle icon to the left of the person’s name (it will look like a broadcast mic) and a toggle to the right. Use it to activate the Huddle function and you should immediately be able to converse.

If you’re using the desktop app, you can add captions during a meeting.

• While you’re talking, just above the Huddle icon you’ll see text telling you who’s talking, and below that text telling you how many people are in the Huddle. Click on this second line.
• A pop-up window will show you who is in the Huddle; the person speaking will be highlighted. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.

• Click on “Enable subtitles”

• You will get a bigger popup window which will show the conversation captions.

While there was the occasional hiccup when two people spoke simultaneously, we found the captions to be largely accurate.

Finally, you can share your screen during a Huddle by clicking the monitor icon to the left of the toggle.

Using the mobile app:

• Make sure you are in a text conversation with the person you want to hang out with
• Tap the Huddle icon on the top row, to the right of the person’s name

And that’s all! Unfortunately, closed captioning and screen sharing features are not available on the mobile app.