Slack MCP server
Slack is the leading business communication platform used by millions of teams worldwide. An AI agent with access to Slack can post messages and notifications, manage channels and memberships, search conversation history, and automate routine communication tasks without requiring manual intervention in the application.
Setting up an MCP server
This article covers the standard steps for creating an MCP server in AI Gateway and connecting it to an AI client. The steps are the same for every integration — application-specific details (API credentials, OAuth endpoints, and scopes) are covered in the Authentication section on this page.
Before you begin
You'll need:
- Access to AI Gateway with permission to create MCP servers.
- API credentials for the application you're connecting (see the Authentication section on this page for what to collect).
Create an MCP server
Find the app in the catalog
- Sign in to AI Gateway and select App Catalog from the left navigation.
- Search for the application you want to connect, then select it from the catalog.
- Select Create MCP Server to start the wizard.
App Configuration
Confirm the Base URL for the API, then, under Tools, select the endpoints you want to expose. Select Next.
MCP Server Setup
- Enter a Name for your server — something descriptive that identifies both the application and its purpose.
- Enter a Description so your team knows what the server is for.
- Set the log level: choose Production Mode for terser logs, or Non-Production Mode for more verbose logs that can help with debugging.
- Select Next.
Authentication
Enter the authentication details for the application. This varies by service — see the Authentication section on this page for the specific credentials, OAuth URLs, and scopes to use.
Review
Look over the summary of your MCP server configuration, then select Create & Deploy. AI Gateway provisions the server and provides a server URL you'll use when configuring your AI client.
Connect to an AI client
Once your server is deployed, you'll need to add it to the AI client your team uses. Select your client for setup instructions:
Tips
- You can create multiple MCP servers for the same application — for example, a read-only server for reporting agents and a read-write server for automation workflows.
- If you're unsure which OAuth scopes to request, start with the minimum read-only set and add write scopes only when needed. Most application pages include scope recommendations.
Authentication
Slack uses OAuth 2.0 authentication. Create a Slack app at api.slack.com and configure OAuth with your AI Gateway's redirect URI. In Slack, go to api.slack.com/apps, click Create New App, choose From scratch, and configure the OAuth settings to get your credentials.
| Value | Setting |
|---|---|
| Auth endpoint | https://slack.com/oauth/v2/authorize |
| Token endpoint | https://slack.com/api/oauth.v2.access |
| Base URL | https://slack.com/api |
| Scopes | channels:read, channels:write, chat:write, users:read, files:read, files:write |
Available tools
This MCP server enables messaging, channel management, user operations, file sharing, and workspace automation for Slack.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Send message | Post a message to a channel, direct message, or thread |
| Update message | Edit the text or formatting of a previously sent message |
| Delete message | Remove a message from a channel |
| Get message | Retrieve a specific message with full context and replies |
| List messages | Retrieve messages from a channel with time range filtering |
| Create channel | Create a new public or private channel |
| Get channel | Retrieve channel details including topic, purpose, and membership |
| Update channel | Modify channel name, topic, or description |
| Archive channel | Close a channel while preserving history |
| Add member | Invite a user to a channel |
| Remove member | Remove a user from a channel |
| Get user | Retrieve user profile information and status |
| List users | Retrieve all workspace members with details |
| Upload file | Share a file to a channel or direct message |
| Get file | Retrieve file information and download links |
| Search messages | Query messages and files across channels using keywords |
| Create reminder | Set up a reminder notification for a user |
| React to message | Add an emoji reaction to a message |
Tips
Use threads instead of posting to the channel when responding to existing messages. This reduces noise and keeps conversations focused.
Use @mentions sparingly to notify specific people. Overusing mentions reduces their effectiveness and can overwhelm users with notifications.
Space message sends by at least 1 second per channel — Slack rate-limits message posting. This helps you avoid hitting limits and degrading the experience.
Structure search queries with keyword combinations and use from: and in: filters to narrow results. Slack's search function doesn't use filters the way some APIs do.
Check user status before sending direct messages with urgent requests. If a user is in "away" or "do not disturb" mode, consider waiting or using a channel instead.
Cequence AI Gateway