A Step-by-Step Guide to Export Slack Direct Messages

Slack is a powerful messaging platform for individuals and teams. It simplifies communication with Direct Messages, channels, and file sharing. Whether for personal use or working in an organization, Slack keeps everyone connected.

With the Slack platform, you can chat with known or unknown people simultaneously and send them messages, attachments, stickers, GIFs, and many more. Occasionally, users need to export Slack Direct messages for multiple reasons, including backing up Slack Direct messages, archiving professional chats, and many more.

Now, let’s explore all the prominent reasons why users need to initiate a Slack Direct Messages export process.

Why Export Slack Direct Messages?

Slack direct messages (DMs) contain valuable conversations and attachments that you may need to save for different reasons. Let's discuss why exporting Slack Direct messages matters:

• Personal Backup: To save Slack Direct messages for future work or backups to safeguard conversations.
• Legal Compliance: When a business needs to export Slack Direct Messages for audits or legal disputes.
• Knowledge Retention: Export Slack direct messages of an employee before leaving the organization.
• Project Reference: Keep a track of the organization’s users’ Direct Messages conversations.
• Client Communication: Export Slack direct messages of clients, like agreements, policies, and meetings, for future use.
• Training Material: Use previous direct message records to provide training to new members or trainees.

Things to Know Before Initiating Slack Direct Messages Export Process

Before you export your Slack DMs, go through this checklist to make sure a smooth Slack direct message export:

• Assign Admin Permissions: Communicate with your IT admin and take all the permissions required for the DMs export process.
• Review company policies: Ensure the company policies and data retention periods for compliance.
• Check Slack Plan Limitations: Check out your Slack plan, whether it's Free or Paid. Free plan or paid plans offer different export options.
• Prepare Slack account: Login and prepare your Slack account for hassle-free direct messages export.
• Select specific Slack users' data: Review all the Slack users' data and select only the essential data for export.
• Remove unnecessary data: Delete all the unwanted chats, attachments, threads, and other data from Slack.
• Make small Slack patches: create multiple small data patches for a seamless Slack direct messages export process.
• Prepare saving destination: Check the saving location, including local, network, and external hard drive, to save exported data.
• Backup Slack data: Before starting the Slack direct messages export process, take a backup of your Slack data.
• Test export process: Now test your Slack direct message export process with a small patch of data.
• Opt for third-party tools: As there is no guarantee that manual methods will offer 100% reliable results. Thus, using third-party solutions, like the Kernel Slack Chat Export tool, to export entire users' direct messages at once.

Stepwise Guide to Manually Export Slack Direct Messages

Now, let's explore the manual way to export Slack direct messages to your local computer.

Use Slack's built-in Import/Export tool

As Slack is an advanced tool, it offers a robust Import/Export tool to export Slack data into a local computer. With this, you can easily download all the Slack data in a JSON file.

Step 1: Go to the official Slack website or desktop tool.

Step 2: Enter valid Slack credentials and log in to your account.

Step 3: Click on your Workspace Name > Tool & Settings > Workspace Settings.

Step 4: You will be redirected to Settings & Permissions wizard, select Import/Export data option.

Step 5: In the following wizard, select Export, and Export Date Range to backup data according to a specific date. Click Start Export.

Step 6: Slack will start exporting data and creating a zip file in its platform.

Step 7: Once the data export is done, click on the Ready for Download option and save the exported file on your local computer.

Using the manual method, you can export Slack data. You just need to follow all the steps accurately. However, this method comes with certain limitations, including:

• The manual method will export only the Public Channels of Slack.
• There is no selection option to export specific data.
• Only the admin has the special permissions to export Slack data.
• This tool offers a limited export format, such as a JSON file.
• It cannot export media files and hyperlinks from Slack.
• Takes much time to export large workspace data.
• You need to be a technical expert to export Slack data.

As you can see, manual method has lots of limitations and cannot export your Slack DMs with complete accuracy. So, relying on a third-party tool is the best option. Now, let’s discuss a top-rated Slack chat export tool to export Slack direct messages.

An Automated Tool to Export Slack Direct Messages (Recommended Solution)

Kernel Slack Chat Export is an automated tool that exports your Slack chats, files, and other data. Save Direct Messages, channels, MPDMs, and user details locally in PDF/HTML formats.

The software exports all the Slack Direct conversations along with threads, hyperlinks, and timestamps in the original hierarchy. You will get all your attachments, like images, docs, and PDFs, in raw format as they were present in Slack.

Advanced features of this Slack Chat Export tool

• Export Slack Direct Messages and Channels with ease.
• Facilitates bulk users' data export using CSV authentication.
• Export Public and Private channels with all user mail addresses.
• Export Slack data in HTML and PDF file formats.
• Offers a specific feature to export Messages and Files accordingly.
• Advanced Date Filter to export specific data according to date.
• Save exported data in the local or network drive of the system.
• Generate and download a detailed export report in a CSV file.

How to Export Slack Direct Messages?

Go through this step-by-step guide to initiate an instant and hassle-free Slack direct messages export process:

• Download Now

Step 1: Download and install Kernel Slack Chat Export software.

Step 2: Launch the tool and click on Next on the tool’s homepage.

Step 3: Click on Export CSV to download a sample CSV file.

Step 4: Select CSV file from your local computer and click Open.

Step 5: The software will easily import the CSV file and pop up a “CSV is imported and validated successfully” message. Click OK.

Step 6: Again, in the Slack connection window, select necessary Slack users. Use Search feature to find specific Slack users from multiple ones. Click Next to initiate the Slack Direct Messages export process.

Step 7: In the Source Entities for Backup window, select Direct Messages. Check Files and Messages to export Direct messages conversations along with attachments.

After that, apply Date Filter to export data based on selected dates. Click on Browse to select saving location.

Step 8: Select a specific drive or folder on your system and click OK.

Step 9: Again, in the Source Entities for Backup wizard, click Next to start the export process.

Step 10: The software will export Slack Direct messages and pop up a “Backup is completed” message. Click OK.

Step 11: Click on Save Report to CSV to download a detailed backup report.

Step 12: Select a saving location and click on Save to export the CSV file.

Step 13: After exporting the CSV file, the software will pop up a “Saved Successfully” message and click OK.

Step 14: After a successful Slack direct messages export process, click Open Backup Folder to access exported files directly.

Step 15: The software will redirect you to the exported folders.

Conclusion

Exporting Slack direct messages is a crucial process for preserving important conversations, whether for compliance, record-keeping, or knowledge management. At the same time, Slack’s inbuilt tools have many limitations, as we discussed in the blog.

Thus, utilizing Kernel Slack Chat Export software is one of the best methods to export Slack Direct messages in PDF and HTML format. It has a user-friendly interface that allows users to initiate a secure direct messages export process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export Slack DMs without admin access?

No, only workspace admins/owners can export messages. Regular members must request exports through their IT team.

What file formats are available for Slack exports?

Slack's built-in Export/Import tool saves exported data in JSON (raw data) by default.

Does the free Slack plan allow full DM exports?

No, there are no plans for Slack's DMs export feature. You can only export channels using Slack's built-in Export/Import wizard.

Can I export private channels along with DMs?

No, Slack’s manual tool excludes both DMs and private channels. Users need a reliable third-party software, like Slack Chat Backup tool, to save Direct Messages.

Are shared files and media included in the export?

No, you cannot export shared files and media using Import/Export tool.

How long does a Slack export take?

It depends on data size; small teams export data quickly, while large workspaces may take hours.

Is there a way to automate Slack DM exports?

Not natively. For regular backups, use third-party software like Slack Chat Backup tool.