Switch from Slack to Element

Element is a messenger for teams based on the open Matrix standard. You create accounts and a space for your team, rebuild your channels as rooms, keep an export of your Slack data and then delete the workspace.

Steps

1. 1

   Create an Element account

   Open Element and click Create Account. Choose a homeserver, the server your account lives on, then enter username, password and email address and confirm the email. Set up the security passphrase or key when Element asks: it protects access to your encrypted messages.

   Source: Element docs: Creating a Matrix account

2. 2

   Create a space for your team

   Click + Create a space at the bottom of the left menu. For a team, choose Private. Give the space a name, an avatar and a short description.

   Source: Element docs: Getting started, creating a space

3. 3

   Rebuild your channels as rooms

   Inside the space, click the + next to its name and create a room for each Slack channel you still need. Use the chance to drop channels nobody reads.

   Source: Element docs: Getting started, creating a room

4. 4

   Invite your team

   In a private space, invite people by Matrix ID or email address. Agree on a date from which new conversations only happen in Element.

   Source: Element blog: Spaces launch in Element

5. 5

   Export your Slack data

   As owner or admin, click Admin in the Slack sidebar and go to Workspace settings > Security > Import & export data > Export. Choose the date range and click Start Export. Slack emails you a link to a ZIP file with the data in JSON format.

   Source: Slack Help Center: Export your workspace data

6. 6

   Delete the Slack workspace

   When the team has moved, the Primary Owner clicks Admin > Workspace settings, scrolls to Delete Workspace, confirms, enters the Slack password and clicks Yes, delete my workspace. Messages and files cannot be recovered afterwards.

   Source: Slack Help Center: Delete a workspace

All guides