Streams

Connect a Slack stream

Authorise Numa to read your Slack workspace and start filtering channel conversations so only what matters reaches you.

Last updated — May 2026

Prerequisites

Before connecting Slack, make sure you have:

  • The Numa app installed on your iOS or Android device.
  • Signed in to Numa with your Google account — Slack always connects on top of an existing Numa account.
  • Access to a Slack workspace you want to monitor. You do not need to be an admin; a standard member account is enough.
Note: Numa connects to Slack as you, using your personal Slack token. Messages from channels you are not a member of will not be visible.

First-time setup

If you have just installed Numa and have not yet connected any streams, the app will take you through the welcome flow automatically.

1

Open the welcome screen

After signing in for the first time, Numa shows a Welcome to numa screen listing the three things it does: unified inbox, AI filtering, and daily insights.

2

Tap "Connect your first stream"

This opens the Add a stream screen listing your options: Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and (on Android) monitored apps.

3

Tap Slack

Numa opens your device browser (or the Slack app if it is installed) and navigates to the Slack OAuth authorisation page.

4

Authorise in Slack

Review the permissions Numa is requesting (see The Slack permission dialog below), choose the correct workspace from the dropdown in the top-right corner, and tap Allow.

5

Return to Numa

Slack redirects back to the Numa app automatically. The browser closes and your Slack workspace appears in the stream list with a green Active indicator. This usually takes under five seconds.

Adding another Slack stream

You can connect multiple Slack workspaces. To add a second workspace (or re-connect an existing one):

  1. Open the Numa app and go to Streams from the bottom navigation.
  2. Tap the + icon or Add a stream button in the top-right corner.
  3. Select Slack and follow steps 4–5 from the first-time flow above.
Tip: Each Slack workspace you connect creates a separate stream. You can pause or disconnect individual streams at any time from the Streams screen without affecting your other connected accounts.

The Slack permission dialog

When Slack shows the authorisation screen, it lists the permissions Numa is requesting on your behalf. Here is what each one means:

Reading messages

  • channels:history Read messages in public channels you are a member of.
  • channels:read View the list of public channels in your workspace.
  • groups:history Read messages in private channels you are a member of.
  • groups:read View the list of private channels you belong to.
  • im:history Read direct messages sent to you.
  • im:read View your direct message conversations.
  • mpim:history Read group direct messages you are part of.
  • mpim:read View your group direct message conversations.

User information

  • users:read Look up basic profile information for message senders (name, avatar).
  • users:read.email Read sender email addresses used to match contacts.

Status sync (optional feature)

  • users.profile:write Update your own Slack custom status when you switch focus modes inside Numa. Numa never writes to anyone else's profile.
What Numa does not do: Numa never sends, edits, or deletes messages. It never reads workspaces you are not a member of, and it never shares your message content with third parties.

After connecting

Once authorised, Numa starts pulling in your Slack messages within a few minutes. Here is what you will see:

  • Your Slack workspace appears in the Streams list with a green Active badge.
  • New messages arrive in your Inbox, automatically prioritised into DO, DECIDE, DELEGATE, or DELETE buckets.
  • High-priority (DO) messages trigger an alert via your chosen notification channel — push, email, or Slack DM.
  • A daily digest summarises everything else so nothing slips through.

Slack extras

Sync your focus mode to your Slack status

When Slack status sync is enabled, Numa automatically updates your Slack custom status whenever you switch focus modes. For example, switching into a deep-work mood can set your Slack status to In focus mode — slow to respond. Enable this in Settings → Slack status sync.

Receive digests via Slack DM

Instead of (or in addition to) push notifications, Numa can deliver your prioritised digest as a direct message from the Numa bot in Slack. Configure this in Settings → Digest delivery → Slack DM. This requires your Slack stream to be connected and active.

Troubleshooting

The browser closes but nothing happens in the app

This usually means the deep link back to Numa was blocked. Try the following:

  1. Make sure the Numa app is still open in the background — do not force-quit it before tapping Allow.
  2. On iOS, check that Allow Numa to open links is enabled in Settings → Numa.
  3. If the issue persists, close the browser manually and try connecting again from the Streams screen.
Heads up: The Slack authorisation flow has a 5-minute timeout. If you do not complete the steps within that window, return to the Streams screen and start again.

I authorised the wrong workspace

Go to Streams, swipe left on (or long-press) the incorrect workspace, and tap Disconnect. Then tap Add a stream → Slack again. On the Slack authorisation page, use the workspace switcher in the top-right to select the correct one before tapping Allow.

The stream shows an error state

A red error indicator usually means your Slack token has expired or was revoked (for example, a workspace admin removed Numa's access). Disconnect the stream and reconnect it to obtain a fresh token.

Still stuck?

Email us at Sven.deconinck@numachange.org and include the workspace name and the approximate time you tried to connect — it helps us trace any server-side issues quickly.