conversations.list

Lists all channels in a Slack team.

This Conversations API method's required scopes depend on the type of channel-like object you're working with. To use the method, you'll need at least one of the channels:, groups:, im: or mpim: scopes corresponding to the conversation type you're working with.

This Conversations API method returns a list of all channel-like conversations in a workspace. The "channels" returned depend on what the calling token has access to and the directives placed in the types parameter.

Arguments

tokenRequired

Authentication token bearing required scopes.

Examplexxxx-xxxxxxxxx-xxxx

cursorOptional

Paginate through collections of data by setting the cursor parameter to a next_cursor attribute returned by a previous request's response_metadata. Default value fetches the first "page" of the collection. See pagination for more detail.

ExampledXNlcjpVMDYxTkZUVDI=

exclude_archivedOptional

Set to true to exclude archived channels from the list

Default: false

Exampletrue

limitOptional

The maximum number of items to return. Fewer than the requested number of items may be returned, even if the end of the list hasn't been reached. Must be an integer no larger than 1000.

Default: 100

Example20

typesOptional

Mix and match channel types by providing a comma-separated list of any combination of public_channel, private_channel, mpim, im

Default: public_channel

Examplepublic_channel,private_channel

Present arguments as parameters in application/x-www-form-urlencoded querystring or POST body. This method does not currently accept application/json.

Response

Returns a list of limited channel-like conversation objects.

Typical success response with only public channels

{
    "ok": true,
    "channels": [
        {
            "id": "C012AB3CD",
            "name": "general",
            "is_channel": true,
            "is_group": false,
            "is_im": false,
            "created": 1449252889,
            "creator": "U012A3CDE",
            "is_archived": false,
            "is_general": true,
            "unlinked": 0,
            "name_normalized": "general",
            "is_shared": false,
            "is_ext_shared": false,
            "is_org_shared": false,
            "pending_shared": [],
            "is_pending_ext_shared": false,
            "is_member": true,
            "is_private": false,
            "is_mpim": false,
            "topic": {
                "value": "Company-wide announcements and work-based matters",
                "creator": "",
                "last_set": 0
            },
            "purpose": {
                "value": "This channel is for team-wide communication and announcements. All team members are in this channel.",
                "creator": "",
                "last_set": 0
            },
            "previous_names": [],
            "num_members": 4
        },
        {
            "id": "C061EG9T2",
            "name": "random",
            "is_channel": true,
            "is_group": false,
            "is_im": false,
            "created": 1449252889,
            "creator": "U061F7AUR",
            "is_archived": false,
            "is_general": false,
            "unlinked": 0,
            "name_normalized": "random",
            "is_shared": false,
            "is_ext_shared": false,
            "is_org_shared": false,
            "pending_shared": [],
            "is_pending_ext_shared": false,
            "is_member": true,
            "is_private": false,
            "is_mpim": false,
            "topic": {
                "value": "Non-work banter and water cooler conversation",
                "creator": "",
                "last_set": 0
            },
            "purpose": {
                "value": "A place for non-work-related flimflam, faffing, hodge-podge or jibber-jabber you'd prefer to keep out of more focused work-related channels.",
                "creator": "",
                "last_set": 0
            },
            "previous_names": [],
            "num_members": 4
        }
    ],
    "response_metadata": {
        "next_cursor": "dGVhbTpDMDYxRkE1UEI="
    }
}

Example response when mixing different conversation types together, like im and mpim

{
    "ok": true,
    "channels": [
        {
            "id": "G0AKFJBEU",
            "name": "mpdm-mr.banks--slactions-jackson--beforebot-1",
            "is_channel": false,
            "is_group": true,
            "is_im": false,
            "created": 1493657761,
            "creator": "U061F7AUR",
            "is_archived": false,
            "is_general": false,
            "unlinked": 0,
            "name_normalized": "mpdm-mr.banks--slactions-jackson--beforebot-1",
            "is_shared": false,
            "is_ext_shared": false,
            "is_org_shared": false,
            "pending_shared": [],
            "is_pending_ext_shared": false,
            "is_member": true,
            "is_private": true,
            "is_mpim": true,
            "is_open": true,
            "topic": {
                "value": "Group messaging",
                "creator": "U061F7AUR",
                "last_set": 1493657761
            },
            "purpose": {
                "value": "Group messaging with: @mr.banks @slactions-jackson @beforebot",
                "creator": "U061F7AUR",
                "last_set": 1493657761
            },
            "priority": 0
        },
        {
            "id": "D0C0F7S8Y",
            "created": 1498500348,
            "is_im": true,
            "is_org_shared": false,
            "user": "U0BS9U4SV",
            "is_user_deleted": false,
            "priority": 0
        },
        {
            "id": "D0BSHH4AD",
            "created": 1498511030,
            "is_im": true,
            "is_org_shared": false,
            "user": "U0C0NS9HN",
            "is_user_deleted": false,
            "priority": 0
        }
    ],
    "response_metadata": {
        "next_cursor": "aW1faWQ6RDBCSDk1RExI"
    }
}

Typical error response

{
    "ok": false,
    "error": "invalid_auth"
}

To get a full conversation object, call the conversations.info method.

Use conversations.members to retrieve and traverse membership.

See conversation object for more detail on returned fields.

Some fields in the response, like unread_count and unread_count_display, are included for DM conversations only.

Pagination

This method uses cursor-based pagination to make it easier to incrementally collect information. To begin pagination, specify a limit value under 1000. We recommend no more than 200 results at a time.

Responses will include a top-level response_metadata attribute containing a next_cursor value. By using this value as a cursor parameter in a subsequent request, along with limit, you may navigate through the collection page by virtual page.

See pagination for more information.

Errors

This table lists the expected errors that this method could return. However, other errors can be returned in the case where the service is down or other unexpected factors affect processing. Callers should always check the value of the ok params in the response.

Error	Description
`method_not_supported_for_channel_type`	This type of conversation cannot be used with this method.
`missing_scope`	The token used is not granted the specific scope permissions required to complete this request.
`invalid_types`	Value passed for `type` could not be used based on the method's capabilities or the permission scopes granted to the used token.
`invalid_cursor`	Value passed for `cursor` was not valid or is no longer valid.
`invalid_limit`	Value passed for `limit` is not understood.
`not_authed`	No authentication token provided.
`invalid_auth`	Some aspect of authentication cannot be validated. Either the provided token is invalid or the request originates from an IP address disallowed from making the request.
`account_inactive`	Authentication token is for a deleted user or workspace.
`token_revoked`	Authentication token is for a deleted user or workspace or the app has been removed.
`no_permission`	The workspace token used in this request does not have the permissions necessary to complete the request. Make sure your app is a member of the conversation it's attempting to post a message to.
`org_login_required`	The workspace is undergoing an enterprise migration and will not be available until migration is complete.
`ekm_access_denied`	Administrators have suspended the ability to post a message.
`not_allowed_token_type`	The token type used in this request is not allowed.
`invalid_arguments`	The method was either called with invalid arguments or some detail about the arguments passed are invalid, which is more likely when using complex arguments like blocks or attachments.
`invalid_arg_name`	The method was passed an argument whose name falls outside the bounds of accepted or expected values. This includes very long names and names with non-alphanumeric characters other than `_`. If you get this error, it is typically an indication that you have made a very malformed API call.
`invalid_charset`	The method was called via a `POST` request, but the `charset` specified in the `Content-Type` header was invalid. Valid charset names are: `utf-8` `iso-8859-1`.
`invalid_form_data`	The method was called via a `POST` request with `Content-Type` `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` or `multipart/form-data`, but the form data was either missing or syntactically invalid.
`invalid_post_type`	The method was called via a `POST` request, but the specified `Content-Type` was invalid. Valid types are: `application/json` `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` `multipart/form-data` `text/plain`.
`missing_post_type`	The method was called via a `POST` request and included a data payload, but the request did not include a `Content-Type` header.
`team_added_to_org`	The workspace associated with your request is currently undergoing migration to an Enterprise Organization. Web API and other platform operations will be intermittently unavailable until the transition is complete.
`ratelimited`	The request has been ratelimited. Refer to the `Retry-After` header for when to retry the request.
`request_timeout`	The method was called via a `POST` request, but the `POST` data was either missing or truncated.
`service_unavailable`	The service is temporarily unavailable
`fatal_error`	The server could not complete your operation(s) without encountering a catastrophic error. It's possible some aspect of the operation succeeded before the error was raised.
`internal_error`	The server could not complete your operation(s) without encountering an error, likely due to a transient issue on our end. It's possible some aspect of the operation succeeded before the error was raised.

Warnings

This table lists the expected warnings that this method will return. However, other warnings can be returned in the case where the service is experiencing unexpected trouble.

Warning	Description
`missing_charset`	The method was called via a `POST` request, and recommended practice for the specified `Content-Type` is to include a `charset` parameter. However, no `charset` was present. Specifically, non-form-data content types (e.g. `text/plain`) are the ones for which `charset` is recommended.
`superfluous_charset`	The method was called via a `POST` request, and the specified `Content-Type` is not defined to understand the `charset` parameter. However, `charset` was in fact present. Specifically, form-data content types (e.g. `multipart/form-data`) are the ones for which `charset` is superfluous.

Sample code

Bolt for JavaScript is a foundational framework that makes it easier to build Slack apps with the platform's latest features.

Calling conversations.list with Bolt for JavaScript

Hide code to initialize app
// Require the Bolt for JavaScript package (github.com/slackapi/bolt)
const { App, LogLevel } = require("@slack/bolt");

const app = new App({
  token: "xoxb-your-token",
  signingSecret: "your-signing-secret",
  // LogLevel can be imported and used to make debugging simpler
  logLevel: LogLevel.DEBUG
});
Show code to initialize app
// You probably want to use a database to store any conversations information ;)
let conversationsStore = {};

// Fetch conversations using the conversations.list method
async function fetchConversations() {
  try {
    // Call the conversations.list method using the built-in WebClient
    const result = await app.client.conversations.list({
      // The token you used to initialize your app
      token: process.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN
    });

    saveConversations(result.channels);
  }
  catch (error) {
    console.error(error);
  }
}

// Put conversations into the JavaScript object
function saveConversations(conversationsArray) {
  let conversationId = '';
  conversationsArray.forEach(function(conversation){
    // Key conversation info on its unique ID
    conversationId = conversation["id"];
    
    // Store the entire conversation object (you may not need all of the info)
    conversationsStore[conversationId] = conversation;
  });
}
Hide code to run app
(async () => {
  // Start your app
  await app.start(process.env.PORT || 3000);

  console.log("⚡️ Bolt app is running!");
})();
Show code to run app

New to Bolt? Read our guide to Getting Started with Bolt for Javascript.

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