How-to · Slack for Mac
How to view threads in Slack on Mac: the Threads view, shortcut and fixes for 2026
To view threads in Slack on Mac, open the desktop app, click Home, then click Threads. Or press ⌘ Shift T to jump straight to the Threads view, a shortcut Slack lists as desktop app only.
Quick answer
- Click Home, then Threads. Threads with unread replies sit at the top of the list.
- On Mac, press ⌘ Shift T in the Slack desktop app to open the Threads view.
- Slack marks that shortcut as working only in the desktop app. You cannot change it.
- To see every reply from a channel, turn on that channel's all-replies notification setting.
- If Threads is missing, check the navigation tabs and the Home view before anything else.
What you need
- Slack desktop app for Mac installed
- Membership in the workspace that holds the threads you want
- Signed in to Slack with your workspace account
How to View threads in Slack on Mac in Slack on a Mac
Open the Slack desktop app
Open Slack for Mac from the Dock or Applications. Sign in to the workspace that holds the threads you want to see. Slack's Threads shortcut works only in the desktop app, so use the app rather than a browser tab.
Checking team threads at a desk on a Mac · Image by Firmbee from Pixabay Go to Home
Click Home in the navigation bar. Slack's sidebar article lists Home, Activity and To-dos as the navigation bar tabs. Home is the starting point for the Threads view.
Tip: Slack's shortcut table lists Home as Ctrl 1 on Mac. That looks like a typo, so test it before you rely on it.
Click Threads
In Home, click Threads. The threads you are part of appear in the list. Threads with unread replies sit at the top, so you see what needs a reply first.
Use the keyboard shortcut instead
⌘ Shift T
Press ⌘ Shift T to open the Threads view without the mouse. Slack lists this as Open the Threads view and says it works only in the desktop app.
Tip: If the shortcut seems to do nothing, click into the Slack window first so it has focus.
Hover over a thread
Move the pointer over a thread in the Threads view. Four options appear. You can add an emoji reaction, open the thread in its channel or DM, save the message for later, or turn off thread notifications.
Open the channel
If you want every reply from a channel in Threads, open that channel first. Then click the channel's name in the header.
Open the notifications menu
Open the channel's notifications menu, then choose More notification options. Slack's help article gives this path for the all-replies setting.
Turn on all replies in Threads
Check the box that says you get notified about all replies and see them in your Threads view. Then click Save Changes. Use this only on channels where you need every reply.
Check the navigation tabs if Threads is missing
Click your profile picture, choose Preferences, and open Navigation. Tick or untick the tabs under Configure these tabs in the navigation bar. Threads is not in the list the help article names.
Where the Threads view lives in Slack on Mac
A thread is a reply chain attached to one message. Slack's help article on this topic is called Use threads to organize discussions. The Threads view is the list where you see the threads you are part of, all in one place.
Slack's help center gives one official route to the Threads view on Mac. Go to Home, then click Threads. Threads with unread replies appear at the top of the list. Start with that route, then use the shortcut once it feels familiar.
Home is the tab that matters here. Slack's sidebar article lists Home, Activity and To-dos as the tabs you can show in the navigation bar. If Slack opens to another view, click Home first. The rest of this page assumes you are there.
12 million
people actively use Slack, according to Slack's own 2025 blog. The post gives no methodology.
Powering productivity in the workplace (Slack blog)68%
of 17,000 knowledge workers spend at least 30 minutes a day toggling between tools. The report year is not given.
Powering productivity in the workplace (Slack blog)How to view threads in Slack on Mac with the keyboard
The fastest route is the keyboard. Press ⌘ Shift T in the Slack desktop app. Slack's keyboard shortcut article lists it as Open the Threads view. The same table lists ⌘ Shift M for the Activity view.
Slack marks both shortcuts as working only in the desktop app. That matters if you usually open Slack in a browser tab. In a browser, the same keys may trigger a different command, and Slack does not list them for web use. Use the Mac app for this one.
| Action | Mac keys | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Open the Threads view | ⌘ Shift T | Slack desktop app only |
| Open the Activity view | ⌘ Shift M | Slack desktop app only |
| Go to Home | Ctrl 1 | Listed for Mac, but probably a typo. Test it in the app. |
You cannot change these keys. Slack's help article says it is not currently possible to set custom keyboard shortcuts. If a shortcut clashes with another app, use the mouse path instead. The click path from Home still works.
What you see in the Threads view
Each thread in the Threads view has a parent message and its replies. Hover over a thread to see four quick options. You do not need to open the thread first. Slack's help article lists all four.
- Add an emoji reaction.
- Open the thread in its channel or DM.
- Save the message for later.
- Turn off notifications for the thread.
Use these options to clear a thread without leaving the list. Saving keeps a message for later. Saved items sit in the Saved section of Home, since Slack's October 2026 update moved Later items there.
Get every channel reply in your Threads view
By default, the Threads view lists only threads you are part of. You may want more than that. Say you follow a busy channel called #launch-planning, and you want every reply from it in one list. Slack lets you change that for each channel.
Turning this on for a busy channel can fill your list fast. Keep it for channels where you must see every reply. Leave quieter channels on the default, so Threads stays short enough to scan.
Why a thread is missing from Threads
Threads lists the threads you are part of. A thread you only read may not show there. Open the channel and find the message first. If you need every reply from that channel, use the all-replies setting covered in the steps.
Slack Threads not showing on Mac: what to check
If Threads is not where you expect in Home, check the tabs. Slack's sidebar article describes which tabs appear in the navigation bar. It names Home, Activity and To-dos. Threads is not on that list, so a missing Threads tab there is not necessarily a fault.
- Confirm you are in the Slack desktop app, not a browser tab.
- Open Home and look for Threads in that view.
- Click your profile picture, choose Preferences, then open Navigation.
- Check the tab order. Slack added sidebar tab reordering in September 2026.
Slack's updates log says you can reorder the tabs in your sidebar, added in September 2026. It gives no step by step detail. If your build looks different, compare what you see with the help article before you assume something broke.
Recent Slack changes that affect threads and saved items
Slack's updates log does not say that Threads moved. It does list changes nearby. In August 2026, Slack added better threads for agentic work, with named threads that are easier to find.
In September 2025, Slack moved the People, Channels and External Connections tabs to a Directories page at the top of the sidebar in Home. If you remember those tabs in another spot, that change is the reason. In October 2026, Later items moved to the Saved section of Home.
Worked example: a busy Monday in the Threads view
Here is a realistic way to use the view. You open Slack on a Monday morning and want to see what needs an answer. Click Home, then Threads. Threads with unread replies sit at the top, so start there. Work down the list in order.
For a thread you can answer in one line, hover and add an emoji reaction. That clears it without opening the thread. For a thread that needs a longer reply, open it in its channel or DM. Save a message if you need time to think about it.
Common mistakes when you view threads in Slack on Mac
- Expecting ⌘ Shift T to work in a browser tab.
- Looking for a thread you only read in the Threads list.
- Searching for a custom shortcut setting, which Slack does not offer.
- Pressing Ctrl 1 for Home without testing it first.
- Turning on all-replies for every channel at once.
Most of these mistakes come from the window you are in or the channel settings. Check the app and the channel before you change anything else. Slack's help center does not list a separate error fix for Threads.
Which build this page matches
Slack's help pages do not tie these steps to a version number. The steps match those pages as checked on November 7, 2026. The newest Mac build dated on or before that day in Slack's release notes is 4.53.280, dated November 3, 2026.
None of the Mac release notes mention Threads, Activity or navigation tabs. If a step fails, check your tab settings before you assume the app changed. Compare your version with the list in Slack's release notes.
Next steps after you open Threads
Once you can open Threads, the rest is habit. Use the emoji reaction for quick replies. Save what needs time. Turn on all-replies only for the few channels where you need every message. If you want help catching up across Slack, see the Slack page.
Threads is one view among several in Slack. Activity has its own view and its own shortcut, ⌘ Shift M. Learn both, plus the Home path, so a missing view does not stop you.
Slack shortcuts for this on Mac
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Open the Threads view | ⌘ Shift T |
| Open the Activity view | ⌘ Shift M |
| Go to Home (verify in app) | Ctrl 1 |
If it does not work
- Threads is not in the Home view
- Confirm you are in the desktop app, then check the Home tab. Open your profile picture, choose Preferences, and open Navigation to see which tabs are on. Threads is not in the tab list that Slack's sidebar article names.
- The shortcut does nothing
- Make sure the Slack window is active and that you are in the desktop app. In a browser, ⌘ Shift T may do something else. Use the Home click path while you test.
- A thread you joined is missing
- Threads lists the threads you are part of. Open the channel, find the message, and check the thread from there. Turn on the all-replies setting for that channel if you need every reply.
- The unread count will not clear
- Slack's Threads help article does not list a fix for this. Try opening each unread thread once. If the count stays, quit Slack with ⌘ Q and open it again.
- The Home shortcut does not work
- Slack's table lists Ctrl 1 for Home on Mac, which may be a typo. Use the Home tab with the mouse, then report the mismatch to Slack support.
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You say“Where's the Threads button?”
Lazur · points at itLazur circles the Threads button in Home and labels it. You still click it yourself.
Questions people ask
Where is the Threads view in Slack on Mac?
Open the Slack desktop app, click Home, then click Threads. Threads with unread replies appear at the top of the list. You can also press ⌘ Shift T in the desktop app to open the Threads view directly.
What is the keyboard shortcut for Threads in Slack on Mac?
It is ⌘ Shift T. Slack's keyboard shortcut article lists it as Open the Threads view and marks it as working only in the desktop app. In a browser, use the click path through Home.
Can I change the Threads shortcut in Slack?
No. Slack's help article says it is not currently possible to set custom keyboard shortcuts. Use the default ⌘ Shift T or the click path through Home.
Why does a thread not appear in my Threads view?
Threads shows the threads you are part of. A thread you only read may not show there. To see every reply from a channel, turn on the all-replies notification setting for that channel.
Does the Threads view work in the Slack web app?
Slack's help article does not confirm web app steps for this view. Treat the shortcut as desktop only, and test the click path in your browser before you rely on it.
Is Threads the same as Activity in Slack?
No. Slack lists Activity as its own view, with the shortcut ⌘ Shift M. Opening Threads does not open Activity, and the two shortcuts are separate.
Where did my Later items go in Slack?
Slack's updates log says that in October 2026, previously archived Later items moved to the Saved section of the Home tab. Open Home and look for Saved.
Sources
- Use threads to organize discussions (Slack Help Center) · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
- Slack keyboard shortcuts (Slack Help Center) · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
- Adjust your sidebar preferences (Slack Help Center) · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
- Slack updates and changes (Slack Help Center) · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
- Slack for Mac - Release Notes · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
- Powering productivity in the workplace (Slack blog) · Slack · checked 2026-11-07
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