How to Cancel Slack: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Your Subscription and Account

Slack has become an integral part of many organizations’ communication strategies. However, there may come a time when you need to cancel your subscription, deactivate your account, or transfer ownership of a workspace. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various processes involved in managing your Slack presence, from canceling subscriptions to backing up important data.

Canceling Your Slack Subscription

If you’ve decided to end your paid Slack subscription, follow these steps:

1. Log into Your Slack Account: Use your registered credentials to access your account.
2. Navigate to Subscription Settings:
3. Click on your workspace name in the top left corner
4. Select ‘Administration’
5. Choose ‘Billing details’
6. Manage Your Subscription:
7. Within the billing details, locate and click on the ‘Cancel Your Subscription’ option
8. Confirm Cancellation:
9. Follow the guided steps to confirm the cancellation
10. Provide a reason for canceling and any additional feedback if prompted
11. Review and Confirm:
12. Carefully read through the implications of cancellation, such as losing access to premium features
13. Confirm the cancellation if you’re sure about your decision

Deactivating Your Slack Account

If you want to deactivate your personal Slack account, here’s what you need to do:

1. Access Account Settings:
2. Click on your name in the bottom-left corner
3. Select ‘Profile’
4. Choose ‘Account Settings’ from the three dots icon
5. Initiate Deactivation:
6. Scroll down to find ‘Deactivate account’ and click on it
7. Read the provided information to understand the implications of deactivation
8. Confirm Deactivation:
9. Enter your password
10. Select ‘Confirm Password’
11. Click ‘Yes, deactivate my account’

Removing a Workspace

To remove a workspace you no longer use:

1. Open Workspace Switcher:
2. Click the “Show Workspace Switcher” icon, typically located at the top of your sidebar
3. Select the Workspace:
4. Right-click on the workspace you want to remove
5. You may need to use specific keyboard shortcuts:
   • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + S
   • Mac: Command + Shift + S
6. Remove the Workspace:
7. Choose the ‘Remove Workspace’ option from the context menu

Deleting a Workspace

Only the Primary Owner can delete a workspace permanently:

1. Access Workspace Settings:
2. Click your workspace name in the sidebar
3. Select ‘Tools & settings’
4. Choose ‘Workspace settings’
5. Initiate Deletion:
6. Scroll down to find the ‘Delete Workspace’ option at the bottom
7. Confirm Deletion:
8. Check the box to confirm your decision
9. Enter your Slack account password
10. Click ‘Yes, delete my workspace’

Backing Up Important Data Before Cancellation

Before you cancel your Slack subscription, it’s crucial to back up important conversations and files. Here’s how:

Exporting Conversations and Data

1. Use Slack’s Export Tool:
2. Go to your workspace settings
3. Navigate to the “Export data” section
4. Choose your preferred export format (JSON or CSV) and date range
5. Archive Important Channels:
6. Click on the channel name
7. Go to the Settings tab
8. Select “Archive channel for everyone”

Saving Files and Documents

1. Download Files:
2. Manually download important files from channels and direct messages

Additional Backup Measures

1. Consider Third-Party Backup Tools:
2. Tools like SysCloud offer more comprehensive backup options

Notifying Your Team

1. Inform Team Members:
2. Advise them to save necessary information
3. Explain the process for exporting conversations and downloading files

Understanding Data Retention After Cancellation

When you cancel your Slack subscription, data retention depends on your previous subscription type and settings:

• Free Workspaces: Starting August 26, 2024, messages and files older than one year may be deleted on a rolling basis. You’ll have full access to the past 90 days of history.
• Paid Subscriptions: Retention policies vary based on your settings. You can choose to keep all messages and files, or set specific retention periods.

Actions to Retain Access

1. Export Data: Use Slack’s built-in import/export tool before downgrading or canceling.
2. Review Retention Settings: Configure your workspace retention settings to keep messages and files for the desired period.
3. Consider Downgrading: Instead of canceling, downgrade to the free plan to retain access to the past 90 days of history.

Transferring Ownership of a Slack Workspace

If you’re the primary owner and plan to leave the workspace, you can transfer ownership:

1. Access Workspace Settings:
2. Click on the workspace name in the top left corner
3. Select “Settings & administration” > “Workspace settings”
4. Navigate to Transfer Ownership:
5. Find the “Transfer ownership” option in the account settings or administration section
6. Select the New Owner:
7. Choose a member to be the new Workspace Primary Owner
8. Ensure they are already a member with admin privileges
9. Confirm the Transfer:
10. Enter your Slack password
11. Click “Transfer Workspace Ownership”

Implications for Other Members

• The transfer occurs immediately
• Other members’ access remains unaffected
• The new owner gains full administrative rights

By following this comprehensive guide, you can effectively manage your Slack presence, whether you’re canceling a subscription, deactivating an account, or transferring ownership. Remember to always back up important data and communicate changes to your team to ensure a smooth transition.