How To Unarchive A Slack Channel

This guide shows you the quickest route to bring your archived Slack conversations back to life with the “unarchive Slack channel” method. 

With simple, actionable steps, you’ll have your channel up and running in no time—whether you’re using Slack on desktop or mobile.

Key Takeaways

• Unarchiving a Slack channel restores access to its message history and shared files, allowing team members to reference or reactivate past conversations.
• On desktop, unarchiving involves navigating to the channel settings in the Slack workspace and selecting the ‘Unarchive’ option within the ‘Additional options’ of the dropdown menu.
• The Slack mobile application allows for unarchiving through a long press on the channel name or a swipe left to reveal the ‘Unarchive’ button, catering to users needing to manage channels remotely.

Steps to Unarchive a Slack Channel

The process is surprisingly straightforward and can be accomplished with a few clicks or taps, depending on whether you’re at your desk or on the move.

When a channel is unarchived, it transitions back to your Slack Workspace. All the previous message history, shared files, and past collaborations are restored so that team members can pick up where they left off. 

On Desktop

To unarchive a Slack channel, follow these steps:

1. Search for the channel or click “Filter” and select “Archived channels” from the “Channel type” drop-down menu.

2. Click the channel name in the conversation header.

3. Click “Settings” and select “Unarchive this channel”.

On Mobile

The agility of modern work often means you’re away from your desk, but with the Slack mobile application, you’re never too far from your channels. To unarchive a channel, follow these steps:

1. Tap the menu icon to reveal the left sidebar.
2. Tap the ‘Channels’ option to access the list of archived channels.
3. Locate the channel you want to unarchive and tap on it.

Once you’ve found the channel you’re looking for, there are two ways to unarchive it. A long press on the desired channel name will summon the ‘Unarchive’ option, a simple tap away from reactivation. 

Alternatively, a swift swipe left on the channel name will also reveal the ‘Unarchive’ button. Either method achieves the same end.

The unarchiving process on mobile is a nod to the on-the-go nature of communication and the importance of having all your private or public channels at your fingertips.

FAQs

How do I restore an archived Slack channel?

Yes, you can restore an archived Slack channel by navigating to the channel through the search bar, clicking the channel name, accessing Settings, and selecting the option to unarchive the channel.

Can archived Slack channels be unarchived?

Yes, archived Slack channels can be unarchived by navigating to the channel, clicking the channel name and Settings, and selecting "Unarchive this channel."

What happens to the conversation history and files after unarchiving a Slack channel?

After unarchiving a Slack channel, the conversation history and shared files are restored and can be reaccessed. The channel will reappear in the active channels list for team members to continue using.

Can any member unarchive a Slack channel, or is this restricted to workspace admins?

In most cases, unarchiving a Slack channel is restricted to workspace admins, though certain workspaces may permit other members to do so based on their roles and permissions.

Is there a limit to how often a channel can be archived and unarchived?

There is no specific limit to how often a channel can be archived and unarchived in Slack, allowing you to manage your workspace effectively.