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How to Remove a User from Slack in 5 Easy Steps

Paulina
Content Writer
September 15, 2024

Has somebody within your organization recently left? Are you concerned about their access to your Slack Workspace? Managing user access on Slack can be complex, especially when it involves ensuring security and compliance.

In this blog post, we give you step-by-step instructions on how to remove a user from Slack to keep your workspace tidy and accessible to the right people.

Before we proceed, let’s discuss scenarios when it’s appropriate to delete users from your Slack workspace.

When is it appropriate to remove a Slack user from your workspace?

There are many different scenarios when it makes sense to delete a Slack user. Here’s a list of the most common ones:

Employee termination

When an employee leaves the company, either through resignation or termination, you should delete their Slack account to protect sensitive company information and ensure that only current employees have access to internal communications.

Contract completion

Similarly, if a contractor or freelancer has completed their project or their contract period has ended, their Slack user should also be removed to maintain security and privacy, especially if they won’t be engaged in future projects immediately.

Role change

In cases where an employee's role changes significantly and no longer requires access to certain Slack channels or information, their access should be adjusted or removed, particularly if they move to a position with less data sensitivity.

Customer relationship termination

If you're using Slack Connect channels for B2B customer support and the business relationship with a particular customer ends, it would be appropriate to delete their Slack access. This action is crucial to protect sensitive information and maintain a clear boundary between current and past business relationships.

5 steps for removing a user on Slack

Removing a Slack account is a straightforward process. Follow these simple instructions:

Step 1: Open Slack and sign in

Start by opening Slack and signing in to your account. Make sure you have administrative or relevant permissions to manage users.

Step 2: Access the workspace directory

Click on the workspace name at the top left corner of your Slack window. From the dropdown menu, select 'Tools & settings'. Then, choose 'Manage members' or a similar option depending on your Slack version.

Step 3: Locate the user

In the 'Manage members' section, you'll see a list of all the users in your workspace. Browse through the list or use the search bar to find the specific user you want to remove.

Step 4: Remove the user

Once you've found the user, click on their name to open their profile. Look for a 'Remove' or 'Deactivate' button.

Step 5: Confirm the removal

Slack will usually ask for confirmation before removing a user. This step is important because removing a user may impact their access to messages and files in the workspace. Confirm the removal to complete the process.

Note: When a Slack account is deactivated, the individual will lose access and won't be able to log into the workspace anymore. However, the messages and files that the member shared will remain available on Slack.

Top Reasons to Remove a User from Slack in a B2B SaaS Business

ReasonDescriptionImpact on BusinessAction to Consider
Employee TerminationAn employee's departure from the company.Data security risk, access to sensitive information.Deactivate account immediately. Ensure knowledge transfer before deactivation.
End of ContractA client or partner contract termination.Continued access could lead to security breaches or confusion.Revoke guest access upon contract expiration. Consider offering extended access for data migration (with limitations).
Suspicious ActivityUnusual login attempts or potential security breaches.High risk of data compromise or misuse of company resources.Immediately suspend account and investigate. Implement stronger security protocols.
Policy ViolationsRepeated violations of the company's Slack usage policy (e.g., harassment, discrimination).Negative impact on company culture and potential legal issues.Issue warnings first. If violations persist, remove user and consider further disciplinary action.
Inactive AccountsUsers who haven't logged in for a significant period.Unnecessary licenses and potential security vulnerabilities.Set a policy for removing inactive accounts. Communicate the policy to users and offer options to retain access if necessary.
Mergers & AcquisitionsIntegration with another company's Slack workspace.Potential data security concerns and access management issues.Plan migration strategy beforehand. Deactivate or merge accounts according to the integration plan.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, removing someone from your Slack workspace is pretty simple and something you might need to do now and then. Stick to the steps we’ve mentioned to keep your Slack space organized and secure.

Also, don’t forget to regularly check and update your Slack user list. This helps to ensure that everyone who's there is supposed to be there.

Now, to further enhance your Slack workspace, why not check out Thena? Thena is a Slack-based B2B customer management tool designed for ticketing and workflow automation.

Thena uses AI to quickly identify and address customer issues in Slack, creating support tickets automatically. This means less manual effort and faster responses to your customers. It organizes tickets efficiently, integrates with your existing business tools for quicker problem resolution, and prioritizes urgent matters. Thena is an ideal choice for businesses looking to streamline customer support and improve response times.

Ready to see the difference it can make? Book a free demo to discover Thena’s capabilities and wide use cases for forward-thinking organizations.

Customers first, growth always.
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