Slack is a widely used business communication tool, but how long does it keep messages? Knowing the answer to this question is important for those who use Slack for business communication, as expired messages can have serious implications for businesses.
In this article, we will explore what Slack is, the different plans and their message storage duration, what happens to expired messages, and best practices for message retention.
Read on to learn all you need to know about how long Slack keeps messages.
Short Answer
Slack keeps messages indefinitely unless they are deleted.
Users can manually delete messages and files that they have sent.
Administrators can also set automatic message and file deletion policies that delete messages and files after a certain period of time.
Slack also has an archive feature that allows users to store messages in an easily searchable format.
What is Slack?
Slack is a popular communication platform and collaboration tool used by businesses and individuals alike to keep in touch.
It enables users to stay connected with colleagues, partners, and customers through instant messaging and file sharing.
Slack also offers a range of integrations with other popular apps, making it a great way to stay connected and organized.
Slack is designed to help users collaborate in real-time.
It allows users to create channels for specific topics, upload and share files, and send direct messages to individuals or groups.
It also has a search function which makes it easy to find specific conversations and quickly catch up on whats been discussed.
In addition to its messaging capabilities, Slack also offers a range of other features.
These include the ability to create and join Slack teams, host video and audio calls, as well as access third-party app integrations.
All of these features make Slack a great tool for groups and organizations to stay connected, organized, and productive.
Different Plans and Message Storage Duration
When it comes to how long Slack keeps messages, it depends on the plan that has been chosen.
For example, the Free plan stores messages for the last 10,000 messages while the Plus plan stores messages for the last 25,000 messages.
For those who want even more message storage, Slack Enterprise Grid customers have the option to store messages for an indefinite period of time.
The amount of message storage that you have access to also depends on the type of Slack plan that you have.
For example, the Free plan gives you access to the 10,000 messages and the Plus plan gives you access to the 25,000 messages.
The Enterprise Grid plan, however, gives you access to an unlimited amount of message storage.
Its important to note that the message storage limit is based on the number of messages that are sent or received, not the amount of time that has passed since the message was sent or received.
This means that even if you have the Free plan, you can still access messages that were sent more than 10,000 messages ago.
In addition to the message storage limit, there are also other features that are available depending on the type of plan that you have.
For example, the Free plan only allows you to have up to 10 integrations while the Plus plan allows you to have up to 20 integrations.
The Enterprise Grid plan allows you to have up to 200 integrations.
Overall, depending on the plan that you choose, the amount of message storage that you have access to will vary.
The Free plan gives you access to the last 10,000 messages, the Plus plan gives you access to the last 25,000 messages, and the Enterprise Grid plan gives you access to an unlimited amount of message storage.
Its important to note that the message storage limit is based on the number of messages that are sent or received, not the amount of time that has passed since the message was sent or received.
Free Plan Message Storage Duration
When it comes to keeping messages on the free Slack plan, the amount of time a message is stored for is limited.
Messages on the free plan are stored for the last 10,000 messages, making it ideal for teams who dont need to store a large amount of messages for an extended period of time.
For teams who are constantly communicating and collaborating, the 10,000 message limit might not be enough and they may need to upgrade to the Plus plan.
The 10,000 message limit on the free Slack plan is reset periodically, so messages older than 10,000 will be automatically deleted.
This means that teams using the free plan need to be aware of the reset and make sure they save any important messages they need to keep before the reset occurs.
Its also important to note that when a user leaves the team, their messages are deleted as well.
This means that if a team member leaves the team and they had important messages they need to keep, the team needs to make sure those messages are saved before the user leaves the team.
Plus Plan Message Storage Duration
The Plus plan from Slack is one of the most popular plans and provides businesses with an extensive range of message storage options.
This plan allows users to store up to 25,000 messages, making it an ideal solution for larger organizations who need to keep track of numerous conversations.
The Plus plan also offers additional features such as unlimited app integrations, unlimited searchable message history, and up to 10 GB of file storage.
With this plan, messages remain stored on the platform forever, unless they are manually deleted by the user.
This gives businesses the flexibility to refer back to past conversations and important decisions that have been made in the past.
It also helps to ensure that no messages are lost or forgotten, as they can be accessed at any time.
The Plus plan also provides users with the ability to set retention policies for specific channels and messages, allowing conversations to be automatically deleted after a chosen period of time.
This is an especially useful feature for companies who need to adhere to specific data retention laws, as it allows them to automatically delete data that is no longer relevant.
Enterprise Grid Message Storage Duration
For businesses that need more flexibility and control over their Slack messages, the Enterprise Grid plan offers the option to store messages for an indefinite period of time.
With this plan, businesses can choose to store up to 25,000 messages for each user in their organization, with no expiration date.
This allows businesses to access important messages, conversations, and files at any time.
In addition, Enterprise Grid users can also control who can access messages, conversations, and files.
This feature allows businesses to protect sensitive information by configuring who can view and manage messages, conversations, and files.
This can be done through various access levels, ranging from full access to read-only access.
The Enterprise Grid plan also offers a range of features that are not available with the Free or Plus plans.
These include advanced analytics, integrations and bots, as well as user management and security.
These features are designed to help businesses better manage their communication and collaboration activities in Slack.
Overall, the Enterprise Grid plan offers businesses the most flexibility and control when it comes to storing messages and conversations in Slack.
With this plan, businesses can store messages and conversations for an indefinite period of time, and can also configure who can access them.
In addition, the Enterprise Grid plan also offers a range of features that are not available with the Free or Plus plans.
What Happens to Expired Messages?
When messages expire on Slack, they are not deleted from the platform, but rather hidden from view.
This means that they can still be accessed if needed, but they are no longer visible in the main channel.
The messages that are hidden are stored in an archival system, where they can be searched and accessed at any time.
It is important to note that messages in the archival system are only available to users on the Plus plan or higher.
The archival system is a great way to ensure that important messages are not lost.
It allows users to go back and refer to past conversations and decisions, which can be vital in certain situations.
However, it is important to note that messages that are archived are not fully secure, as any user with access to the archival system can view them.
Therefore, it is recommended that sensitive information is not shared on Slack, as it can be accessed by anyone with the appropriate permissions.
In addition to archiving messages, Slack also has a feature that allows users to delete messages permanently.
This feature can be used to ensure that no one can access deleted messages, but it is important to note that this is only available to users on the Enterprise Grid plan.
Overall, Slack provides users with a range of options when it comes to storing messages.
Depending on the plan that is chosen, messages can be stored for different periods of time, with the option to delete them permanently if needed.
This ensures that users can access important messages when needed, while also being able to keep sensitive information secure.
Best Practices for Message Retention
When it comes to message retention on Slack, there are a few best practices that can help ensure your teams conversations and data are kept safe and secure.
First and foremost, be sure to familiarize yourself and your team with Slacks message retention policies so that everyone knows what to expect.
Its also important to stay aware of any changes in Slacks policies, as they can change from time to time.
Additionally, make sure youre aware of the different plans Slack offers and the message retention capabilities of each.
For example, the Free plan only stores messages for the last 10,000 messages, while the Plus plan stores messages for the last 25,000 messages.
The Enterprise Grid plan, meanwhile, offers unlimited message retention.
Its also a good idea to periodically review the messages that are stored on Slack to ensure they are still relevant and useful.
This will help keep your Slack data organized and up-to-date.
Finally, consider setting up an archiving system to store and organize messages that are no longer needed on Slack.
This will help keep messages archived in a secure and accessible place, while also helping manage the amount of data stored on Slack.
Final Thoughts
Slack is a hugely popular collaboration and communication platform, and understanding how long Slack keeps messages is key to making the most of it.
Depending on your plan, Slack stores messages for different periods of time, and for Enterprise Grid customers, this period of time can be indefinite.
Its important to note, however, that expired messages are purged from Slack and cant be retrieved.
To ensure youre making the most of Slack and never miss out on important messages, be sure to keep up with best practices for message retention.