> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://exa.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Exa in Slack

Bring Exa into your team's Slack. Tag **@Exa** in any channel or thread with a research question, list-building task, or enrichment request. Exa searches the web, reads sources, and replies in-thread with cited answers.

## Get started

### Installation

1. Go to [Dashboard > Management > Exa in Slack](https://dashboard.exa.ai/integrations/slack), then click **Install**.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/exa-52/oFgYnBpTtY32V-5o/images/exa-slack-dashboard-install.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=oFgYnBpTtY32V-5o&q=85&s=2fa137b4ab73d3227e97c77d13b31e35" alt="The Exa in Slack page in the Exa dashboard, with the Install button" width="3414" height="900" data-path="images/exa-slack-dashboard-install.png" />

2. Slack's OAuth flow opens. Pick the workspace you want Exa in, then click **Allow**.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/exa-52/oFgYnBpTtY32V-5o/images/exa-slack-oauth-approval.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=oFgYnBpTtY32V-5o&q=85&s=4e22ceca75532faade12b0db03f93a56" alt="Slack's OAuth approval screen for the Exa app, showing the &#x22;App is not approved by Slack&#x22; notice, a workspace picker, the requested permissions, and the Allow button" width="1820" height="1180" data-path="images/exa-slack-oauth-approval.png" />

<Note>
  The red **"App is not approved by Slack"** notice is expected and safe to ignore. It only means
  Exa isn't in the public Slack Marketplace, not that anything is wrong.
</Note>

3. Once installed, invite @Exa to a channel (or DM it directly) and start asking questions.

## How to use Exa from Slack

In any channel Exa has been added to, mention @Exa with your question:

```text theme={null}
@Exa find all Series A fintech startups in SF
```

Exa replies to your question in-thread.

### Follow-ups

Once Exa has answered in a thread, just reply in that thread to continue the conversation. No need to mention @Exa again. Exa remembers the conversation, so follow-ups build on the previous answer. Anyone in the thread can follow up.

### Direct messages

You can also message Exa directly in a DM. No mention is needed there at all. Each message you send starts a new request, answered in a thread under that message. Reply in the thread to continue that conversation.

### Cancelling a run

While a run is in progress, reply in the thread and ask Exa to stop the run. No mention needed.

```text theme={null}
Stop the current run
```

### Exa Connect providers

Exa automatically includes [Exa Connect](/docs/reference/agent-api/connect/overview) data providers when they are relevant to your question. To use a specific provider, mention it in your message:

```text theme={null}
@Exa find me all AI infrastructure startups that raised funding this quarter using Fiber.ai
```

For a list of all available data providers, just ask Exa.

## Examples

### News and current events

Learn about the latest info on anything.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/exa-52/Xyx0qjmrbVe7j6_n/images/exa-slack-thread-answer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Xyx0qjmrbVe7j6_n&q=85&s=5dbfa8a3a8627950a5c8972bbe050e3c" alt="Exa answering a question about the latest news on a topic in a Slack thread, with dated results in a table" width="2594" height="944" data-path="images/exa-slack-thread-answer.png" />

### Large list building

Prefix the request with `!max` for exhaustive list building.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/exa-52/Xyx0qjmrbVe7j6_n/images/exa-slack-max-list-building.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Xyx0qjmrbVe7j6_n&q=85&s=e046d0181a7577eb36a29a39a0088131" alt="Exa running a !max list-building request in a Slack thread and returning a table of results" width="1998" height="971" data-path="images/exa-slack-max-list-building.png" />

## Keywords

Use these in a thread Exa is in. Commands can follow an `@Exa` mention or start the message
directly:

| Keyword           | Function                                                                                             |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `!max <message>`  | Runs this request at max effort, designed for building very large lists.                             |
| `mute`            | Stops Exa from responding to un-mentioned replies in the thread. Explicit @Exa mentions still work.  |
| `unmute`          | Resumes thread follow-ups after a `mute`.                                                            |
| `sleep`           | Stops Exa from working in the thread entirely. Mention @Exa to wake it up.                           |
| `aside <message>` | Posts a side comment that Exa ignores, useful for talking to teammates in a thread Exa is following. |
| `help`            | Shows usage instructions.                                                                            |

## Permissions

The Exa app for Slack requests the following scopes:

| Permission             | Slack access                                                        | Why Exa needs it                                                                                   |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `app_mentions:read`    | View messages that directly mention @Exa                            | Start a request when someone mentions Exa in a channel or thread                                   |
| `assistant:write`      | Act as an App Agent in Slack                                        | Use Slack's agent experience and stream answers into DMs and channel threads                       |
| `channels:history`     | View messages in public channels Exa has been added to              | Receive public-channel thread replies so follow-ups work without another mention                   |
| `channels:read`        | View basic information about public channels                        | Find public channels that already contain Exa when choosing where to sync a web session            |
| `chat:write`           | Send messages as the Exa app                                        | Post thread roots, answers, progress updates, confirmations, and web-synced messages               |
| `chat:write.customize` | Customize an app-authored message's name and avatar                 | Show the web participant's name and profile image on messages synchronized from the web app        |
| `files:read`           | View files shared in conversations Exa has been added to            | Read files attached to questions                                                                   |
| `files:write`          | Upload, edit, and delete files as the Exa app                       | Attach result files, such as exported tables, to answers                                           |
| `groups:history`       | View messages in private channels Exa has been added to             | Receive private-channel thread replies so follow-ups work without another mention                  |
| `groups:read`          | View basic information about private channels Exa has been added to | Find eligible private channels and verify membership when choosing a web-session sync destination  |
| `im:history`           | View messages in direct messages with Exa                           | Receive DM requests and follow-up replies                                                          |
| `im:write`             | Start direct messages                                               | Open a verified user's Exa DM when they choose it as a web-session sync destination                |
| `users:read`           | View people and their basic Slack profiles                          | Resolve mentions to names and use a web participant's Slack profile image on synchronized messages |
| `users:read.email`     | View workspace members' email addresses                             | Match Slack and Exa accounts for team attribution and customized web-message profile images        |

<Note>
  `channels:read`, `groups:read`, and `im:write` enable destination discovery for web-to-Slack sync.
  Existing installations can continue using their current Slack threads without these scopes, but
  must reconnect before using the corresponding destination. `chat:write.customize` is optional at
  runtime: without it, web-synced messages keep the standard Exa app identity and include the
  participant's name in the message body.
</Note>

Exa only receives messages from channels it has been explicitly invited to and from its own DMs.

## Pricing

Runs started from Slack are billed to your Exa team. See [pricing](https://exa.ai/pricing) for details.

## Privacy

For details on how Exa handles your data, see the [Exa privacy policy](https://exa.ai/privacy-policy).
