Export Slack Channel Messages and Files: Every Plan
Here is how to export slack channel for the whole company. The full workspace export, step by step, including what each plan can and can't include. Do this before you cancel or downgrade.
Workspace Owners and Admins export Slack from Admin, then Workspace settings, Security, Import and export data, Export. Free and Pro plans export public channels only. Business+ and Enterprise Grid can also export private channels and DMs, but the Owner has to apply and get approval first. Exports arrive as a zip of JSON files.
Before you export Slack channel messages
| Plan | Public channels | Private channels and DMs |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes | No (file links limited to the last 90 days) |
| Pro | Yes | No |
| Business+ | Yes | Yes, after the Owner applies and is approved |
| Enterprise Grid | Yes | Yes, after approval, plus exports by member or workspace |
You need to be a Workspace Owner or Admin, or hold the Export Admin role. Private channel and DM exports on Business+ need approval from the Primary Owner, and Slack Support contacts them by email before enabling it, so start early if you're closing.
Step by step
01Open the export page
In Slack, open Admin in the sidebar, then Workspace settings, Security, Import & export data, and choose the Export tab. On Enterprise Grid, start from the organization name, then Tools & settings, Organization settings, Security, Exports.
02Pick the date range
Choose Entire history. A partial range is fine for compliance, but for record value you want every year the workspace has existed.
03Apply for private channels and DMs if you need them
On Business+ or Enterprise, the Owner applies for the extended export types. Expect Slack Support to confirm with the Primary Owner before it's turned on.
04Start the export and wait for the email
Slack prepares the file in the background and emails you when it's ready. Large workspaces can take a while.
05Download and store the zip
The download is a zip with a folder per channel and a JSON file per day. Message exports include links to files rather than the files themselves, so download any files you need before cancelling the workspace.
How to find the size of your Slack data
Buyers and the value calculator both ask for message count. Owners and Admins can see total messages sent in Workspace analytics. Note the number of years the workspace has been active and roughly how many members it has had.
What a full Slack export is worth
AI companies license company records like this to train software agents on real work. Team chat is the most requested source because it shows how decisions get argued out and work gets handed off. Startups selling Slack and email archives while shutting down have reported deals of $10,000 to $100,000 (Forbes, Apr 16, 2026).
Buyers price on depth: years of continuous history with real discussion in it. A partial export or a single report is worth far less than the complete record.
How much is your Slack data worth? · Run the value calculator
Common problems
- Private channels missing. Free and Pro plans can't include them. Business+ needs an approved application first.
- Files missing from the export. Message exports contain file links, not files. Free plans only include links from the last 90 days.
- Export option greyed out. Only Owners, Admins and Export Admins can export. Ask the Primary Owner.
- Workspace already cancelled. A downgraded workspace may still export public channels. A deleted one can't be recovered.
Common questions
Can I export Slack DMs?
On Business+ and Enterprise Grid, yes, after the workspace Owner applies and the Primary Owner approves. Free and Pro plans can't export DMs.
What format is a Slack export?
A zip of JSON files, organized by channel and day. Channel lists and audit reports come as CSV.
How long does a Slack export take?
Small workspaces finish in minutes. Large workspaces with years of history can take hours. Slack emails you when it's ready.
Should I export Slack before closing my business?
Yes. Once the workspace is deleted the history is gone, and that history may be worth real money to AI data buyers.