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Threads help you organize conversations by grouping related messages together. Instead of cluttering the main channel, detailed discussions can happen in their own thread.

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What Are Threads?

A thread is a focused conversation attached to a specific message. When a topic needs deeper discussion, moving to a thread keeps the main channel clean while preserving the conversation in context.

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Thread Benefits

  • Organization: Related messages stay together
  • Focus: Discuss one topic without distracting others
  • Context: Thread stays connected to the original message
  • Notifications: Control who gets notified

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Creating a Thread

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Starting a Thread

1

Find the message

Locate the message you want to discuss further.
2

Click Reply in thread

Hover over the message and click the thread/reply icon.
3

Write your reply

Type your message in the thread view.
4

Send

Press Enter to add your reply to the thread.

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When to Use Threads

Use threads for:
  • Detailed follow-up discussions
  • Questions that need back-and-forth
  • Side conversations that branch from main topic
  • Technical discussions with lots of detail
  • Feedback and review conversations

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Viewing Threads

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Thread Indicator

Messages with threads show:
  • Reply count (“3 replies”)
  • Participant avatars
  • “View thread” link

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Opening a Thread

Click on:
  • The “X replies” link
  • The thread icon
  • Any part of the thread indicator
The thread opens in a side panel.

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Thread Panel

The thread view shows:
  • Original message at the top
  • All replies below
  • Message input at the bottom
  • Option to close and return

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Participating in Threads

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Adding Replies

  1. Open the thread
  2. Type your message
  3. Press Enter to send
Your reply is added to the thread conversation.

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Using All Features

Thread messages support:
  • Rich text formatting
  • File attachments
  • Reactions
  • Mentions
  • Code blocks
Everything you can do in the main channel works in threads.

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Following Threads

When you participate in a thread, you automatically follow it and receive notifications for new replies.

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Thread Notifications

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Who Gets Notified

By default:
  • Thread participants receive notifications
  • The original message author is notified
  • Mentioned users are notified

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Notification Behavior

Thread notifications are separate from channel notifications:
  • You might mute a channel but still get thread notifications
  • Unfollow specific threads you’re no longer interested in

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Managing Thread Notifications

To unfollow a thread:
  1. Open the thread
  2. Click the settings icon
  3. Select “Unfollow thread”

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Threads vs. Main Channel

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When to Reply in Channel

  • Brief acknowledgments (“Thanks!”)
  • Messages relevant to everyone
  • New topics unrelated to existing messages
  • Quick reactions

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When to Start a Thread

  • Detailed responses to a specific message
  • Questions that might generate discussion
  • Technical deep-dives
  • Feedback on specific items
  • Anything that needs back-and-forth

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Thread Best Practices

Each thread should be about one topic. If the conversation shifts, consider starting a new thread or moving to the main channel.
If you’re responding to something specific, use a thread. Don’t clutter the channel with follow-up messages.
After a long thread discussion, post a summary in the main channel so everyone knows the outcome.
Before starting a new discussion, check if there’s an existing thread on the topic.
Mention someone in a thread if they specifically need to see it. Not everyone in the channel needs every thread notification.

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Thread Examples

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Question and Answer

Main channel: 
Sarah: Has anyone used the new API for authentication?
Thread: 
Mike: Yes, I integrated it last week. What do you need to know?
Sarah: How do you handle token refresh?
Mike: You need to catch the 401 error and call /refresh endpoint...
[continued discussion]

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Code Review

Main channel: 
Alex: Here's the PR for the login feature #142
Thread: 
Jordan: Line 45 has a potential memory leak
Alex: Good catch! I'll fix that
Jordan: Also consider using async/await on line 78
Alex: Updated. Can you take another look?
Jordan: Looks good now! Approved.

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Decision Making

Main channel: 
Project Lead: We need to decide on the database - PostgreSQL or MySQL?
Thread: 
Dev 1: PostgreSQL has better JSON support
Dev 2: But MySQL might be easier to manage
Dev 1: True, but we have complex queries...
[vote and decision]
Project Lead: Decision: PostgreSQL. Updating the main channel.

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Finding Threads

Threads are included in search results:
  • Search terms find thread content
  • Results show thread context
  • Click to jump to the thread

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Browsing

Look for thread indicators:
  • “X replies” under messages
  • Participant avatars showing activity
  • Bold indicators for unread threads

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Thread Permissions

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Creating Threads

Anyone who can post in a channel can start threads.

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Replying to Threads

If you can see the original message, you can reply in its thread.

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Deleting in Threads

  • Delete your own thread messages
  • Admins can delete any thread message
  • Deleting the original message may affect the thread

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Troubleshooting

  • Search for keywords from the thread
  • Look for the original message it was attached to
  • Check if the original message was deleted
  • Make sure you’re following the thread
  • Check notification settings
  • Verify you haven’t muted the thread or channel
  • Try clicking the reply count directly
  • Refresh the page
  • Check for browser extensions that might interfere

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Next Steps

Voice & Video Calls

Take conversations to real-time calls.

Project Channels

Learn more about channel communication.