Slack

Overview

The Slack connection allows Qontext to read messages and threads from channels in a connected Slack workspace and ingest their text content into your context repository.

Only channels and content that the connected Slack app can access will be ingested into your context repository.

Slack can also work in the other direction. With Qontext Tag, you mention @Qontext in a channel or thread and get answers from your context repository inside Slack. See Qontext Tag in Slack.

Supported data types:

Object	Description
`Channel messages`	Messages posted in channels the app is invited to
`Threads`	Replies and thread conversations linked to channel messages

Setting up the connection

You can connect Slack from your Qontext workspace, authorize access in Slack, then choose how often to sync. The steps below walk you through the full flow.

Open Sources in your workspace

In the Qontext app, open your workspace and go to the Sources tab, then click + Connect data source.

Select Slack as the data source

Choose Slack from the list of available data sources. This starts the Slack connection flow.

Select Slack from the list of integrations

Connect your Slack workspace

You can reuse existing credentials (if you’ve already connected this Slack workspace to Qontext) or create a new connection.

Choose an existing connection or create a new one

If you create a new credential, sign in to Slack when prompted and select the workspace you want to connect. On the Slack consent screen, review the requested permissions and click Allow. At this step the Qontext app is added to your Slack workspace so it can read the channels you authorize in the next step.

Configure what to sync (filters)

Select the channels you want Qontext to ingest. Only channels in which the Qontext app is a member can be ingested.

Public channels are automatically joined by the Qontext app when you select them.For private channels, the Qontext app must be added as a member first. In Slack, open the channel and type /invite @Qontext.

You can add a time filter to limit how far back messages are synced. The time filter is only available after a channel has been selected: click All at the top next to the selected channel to open the date range option.

Set sync frequency

Choose how often Qontext should refresh data from Slack (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly). More frequent syncs keep the context repository up to date but use more resources.

Review and create connection

Review your choices (workspace, channels, time filter, frequency), then confirm to create the connection. Qontext will start the initial sync shortly after.

Review summary and create Slack connection

Use your own OAuth client

By default, Qontext connects to Slack through its own Slack app. If your organization needs the data source connection to go through a Slack app you own, you can use your own OAuth client instead. This applies to the Slack data source only: Qontext Tag keeps using the Qontext Slack app. You create the app in your Slack workspace and manage its approval and access yourself.

Using your own OAuth client is off by default. To turn it on for your workspace, reach out at support@qontext.ai.

Adding your own OAuth client requires the Owner or Admin role in your Qontext workspace (see Member settings), and permission to create apps in your Slack workspace.

Copy the Redirect URI from Qontext

In the Qontext app, open your workspace and go to the Sources tab, then click + Connect data source. Select Slack, create a new connection, then expand Advanced and open Custom OAuth client. Copy the Redirect URI shown there. The manifest in the next step already uses https://app.qontext.ai/oauth/callback/slack. If the form shows a different value, use that one instead.

Custom OAuth client section with the Redirect URI, Client ID, and Client secret fields

Create the Slack app from a manifest

Go to api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App. Choose From a manifest and click Continue.In the JSON tab, replace the contents with the manifest below. Its redirect_urls entry is the Redirect URI from Qontext. Select the Slack workspace for the app, click Next, review the app, and click Create.

{
  "display_information": {
    "name": "Qontext"
  },
  "features": {
    "bot_user": {
      "display_name": "Qontext",
      "always_online": false
    }
  },
  "oauth_config": {
    "redirect_urls": ["https://app.qontext.ai/oauth/callback/slack"],
    "scopes": {
      "bot": [
        "app_mentions:read",
        "channels:history",
        "channels:join",
        "channels:read",
        "chat:write",
        "groups:history",
        "groups:read",
        "reactions:write",
        "team:read",
        "users:read",
        "users:read.email"
      ]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "token_rotation_enabled": true
  }
}

The manifest declares these scopes for your app. Qontext requires all of them. If any is missing, the connection is not created. The manifest also turns on token rotation, so Qontext can refresh access to Slack automatically.

Slack Create from a manifest dialog with the JSON manifest

Copy the Client ID and Client Secret

In your new app, open Basic Information and scroll to App Credentials. Copy the Client ID and the Client Secret.

Treat the Client secret like a password. Qontext stores it encrypted and never shows it again after you save it.

App Credentials section in the Slack app's Basic Information page

Add the client to Qontext

Back in the Custom OAuth client section of the connect form, paste the Client ID and Client secret, then continue. Sign in to Slack, select your workspace, and click Allow to approve the scopes. From here, the setup continues as described in Setting up the connection.

If you prefer to create the app manually, add the same scopes under OAuth & Permissions > Bot Token Scopes, add the Redirect URI under Redirect URLs, and opt in to token rotation with the Opt In button on the same page.

Troubleshooting a custom OAuth client

If the connection fails, Qontext shows a message with the error. Find it in the table below.

Error	What it means	How to fix it
`invalid_client`	Slack rejected the Client ID or Client secret.	Copy both again from Basic Information > App Credentials, without extra spaces. If you regenerated the secret, use the new one.
`redirect_uri_mismatch`	The Redirect URI is not registered in your Slack app.	Copy the Redirect URI from the Custom OAuth client section in Qontext and add it under OAuth & Permissions > Redirect URLs. Click Save URLs. It has to match exactly.
`access_denied`	Access was not granted.	Connect again and click Allow. If your Slack workspace requires admin approval for apps, ask a workspace admin to approve your app.
`invalid_grant`	Slack rejected the authorization.	Connect again. This happens when the app was uninstalled, its tokens were revoked, or the authorization expired.
`scopes`	Not all required scopes were granted.	Compare the scopes under OAuth & Permissions > Bot Token Scopes with the list above and add the missing ones. Reinstall the app to your workspace, then connect again.
`provider_error`	Slack rejected the request from your OAuth app for another reason.	Check the app against the steps above: the scopes, the Redirect URL, and the credentials. Then connect again.

If the error persists, contact support@qontext.ai.

Managing permissions

Slack OAuth scopes

When you connect Slack, you’ll see a consent screen titled Allow the ‘Qontext’ app to access Slack. It lists the permissions (scopes) Qontext needs; they are read-only. You’ll see categories such as:

- Content and info about channels & conversations — Messages, files, and other content in public and private channels, direct messages, and group conversations.
- Content and info about your workspace — User lists, channel lists, workspace settings, and other workspace-level metadata.

Granting these scopes is required for the connection to work. Qontext only reads data from Slack to ingest it into your context repository; it does not post messages or change anything in your workspace.

Sync latency

The initial sync time depends on how many channels and messages are in scope. Large workspaces with many active channels can take up to 12 hours to fully index.

Subsequent syncs process incremental changes and typically complete much faster than the initial sync.

FAQ

Who can set up the Slack connection?

Any Slack workspace Admin or member with permission to install apps can set up the Slack connection. Ensure the account can invite the Qontext app to the channels you want to ingest.

Can I connect multiple Slack workspaces to one Qontext workspace?

Yes. You can connect multiple Slack workspaces from the Sources tab in your Qontext workspace. Add each workspace as a separate data source.

How do I manually refresh Slack data?

Manual refresh for Slack connections is available via the Sources tab. Navigate to the respective Slack connection and open the Syncs tab. In the Sync settings, select Sync latest data to pull recent changes, or Resync all data to rebuild the source from scratch.

What happens if I disconnect Slack?

Disconnecting stops further syncs. Content already ingested from Slack remains in your context repository. For data removal, contact support@qontext.ai.

How long does the first Slack sync take?

Initial sync time varies: small or lightly used workspaces may finish in under an hour; very active workspaces with many channels and messages can take up to 12 hours. Subsequent syncs are incremental and faster.

What should I do if my Slack sync fails?

Reconnect the integration and validate that the Qontext app is still invited to the relevant channels and has the required scopes. If you connected with your own OAuth client, see Troubleshooting a custom OAuth client. If the issue persists, contact support@qontext.ai.

Can I use my own Slack app?

Yes, for the Slack data source. Qontext Tag keeps using the Qontext Slack app. If your organization wants the connection to go through a Slack app you own, expand Advanced when you add a new connection and use Custom OAuth client. The setup is described in Use your own OAuth client. Qontext requires the same scopes as with its own app. This option is off by default. Reach out at support@qontext.ai to turn it on.

Is my Slack data secure?

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest. Qontext only accesses channels and messages you explicitly authorize via the Slack OAuth flow.

How can I connect to personal Slack channels?

For private channels, the Qontext app must be added as a member first. In Slack, open the channel and type /invite @Qontext.

Get started

Context repository

Interfaces

Features

Sources

Clients

Overview

Setting up the connection

Use your own OAuth client

Troubleshooting a custom OAuth client

Managing permissions

Slack OAuth scopes

Sync latency

FAQ

​Overview

​Setting up the connection

​Use your own OAuth client

​Troubleshooting a custom OAuth client

​Managing permissions

​Slack OAuth scopes

​Sync latency

​FAQ

Overview

Setting up the connection

Use your own OAuth client

Troubleshooting a custom OAuth client

Managing permissions

Slack OAuth scopes

Sync latency

FAQ