slack-search

backendslackapi

Use when locating messages, files, channels, or people across Slack, or gathering context before answering, with the search MCP tools (slack_search_public, slack_search_public_and_private, slack_search_channels, slack_search_users). Covers search modifiers (in:, from:, before:), file-type filters, natural-language vs. keyword search, and reading results in context.

Install

npx skills add https://github.com/slackapi/slack-skills-plugin --skill slack-search

SKILL.md

---name: slack-searchdescription: Use when locating messages, files, channels, or people across Slack, or gathering context before answering, with the search MCP tools (slack_search_public, slack_search_public_and_private, slack_search_channels, slack_search_users). Covers search modifiers (in:, from:, before:), file-type filters, natural-language vs. keyword search, and reading results in context.---

Slack Search

This skill provides guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, and information.

When to Use

Apply this skill whenever you need to find information in Slack, including when a user asks you to locate messages, conversations, files, or people, or when you need to gather context before answering a question about what's happening in Slack.

Search Tools Overview

Tool	Use When
`slack_search_public`	Searching public channels only. Does not require user consent.
`slack_search_public_and_private`	Searching all channels including private, DMs, and group DMs. Requires user consent.
`slack_search_channels`	Finding channels by name or description.
`slack_search_users`	Finding people by name, email, or role.

Search Strategy

Start Broad, Then Narrow

Begin with a simple keyword or natural language question.
If too many results, add filters (in:, from:, date ranges).
If too few results, remove filters and try synonyms or related terms.

Choose the Right Search Mode

Natural language questions (e.g., "What is the deadline for project X?"): Best for fuzzy, conceptual searches where you don't know exact keywords.
Keyword search (e.g., project X deadline): Best for finding specific, exact content.

Use Multiple Searches

Don't rely on a single search. Break complex questions into smaller searches:

Search for the topic first
Then search for specific people's contributions
Then search in specific channels

Search Modifiers Reference

Location Filters

in:channel-name: Search within a specific channel
in:<#C123456>: Search in channel by ID
-in:channel-name: Exclude a channel
in:<@U123456> or in:@username: Search in DMs with a user

User Filters

from:<@U123456>: Messages from a specific user (by ID)
from:username: Messages from a user (by Slack username)
to:<@U123456>: Messages sent to a specific user
to:me: Messages sent directly to you
creator:@username: Canvases created by a specific person

Content Filters

is:thread: Only threaded messages
is:saved: Only your saved messages
has:pin: Pinned messages
has:link: Messages containing links
has:file: Messages with file attachments
has::emoji:: Messages with a specific reaction
hasmy::emoji:: Messages you reacted to with a specific reaction

Date Filters

before:YYYY-MM-DD: Messages before a date
after:YYYY-MM-DD: Messages after a date
on:YYYY-MM-DD: Messages on a specific date
during:month: Messages during a specific month (e.g., during:january)

Text Matching

"exact phrase": Match an exact phrase
-word: Exclude messages containing a word
wild*: Wildcard matching (minimum 3 characters before *)

File Search

To search for files, set the content_types="files" parameter and use a type: filter in the query:

type:images, type:documents, type:pdfs, type:spreadsheets, type:presentations
type:canvases, type:lists, type:emails, type:audio, type:videos

Example: content_types="files" type:pdfs budget after:2025-01-01

All the standard modifiers above (in:, from:, dates, etc.) work with file searches too.

Useful Parameters

Beyond the query string, the search tools accept parameters that materially improve results:

sort: score (relevance, default) or timestamp (newest first); pair with sort_dir (asc/desc).
content_types: messages (default) or files.
only_my_channels: restrict to channels you're a member of.
limit: results per page (capped at 20); paginate with the returned cursor.

Following Up on Results

After finding relevant messages:

Use slack_read_thread to get the full thread context for any threaded message.
Use slack_read_channel with oldest/latest timestamps to read surrounding messages for context.
Use slack_read_user_profile to identify who a user is when their ID appears in results.
Use slack_read_file to read the contents of a file surfaced by a file search.
Use slack_list_channel_members to see who is in a channel you found.

Common Pitfalls

Boolean operators don't work. AND, OR, NOT are not supported. Use spaces (implicit AND) and - for exclusion. (Repeating the same modifier, e.g. two from:, ORs those values together.)
Parentheses don't work. Don't try to group search terms with ().
Search is not real-time. Very recent messages (last few seconds) may not appear in search results. Use slack_read_channel for the most recent messages.
Private channel access. Use slack_search_public_and_private when you need to include private channels, but note this requires user consent.

Notes

Scope: this skill owns searching workspace content: messages, files, channels, and people inside Slack. To search and read the official Slack platform documentation at docs.slack.dev (conceptual and how-to questions about Slack features), use the slack:slack-docs skill instead.