Slack MCP server: connect Claude & Cursor to your workspace (2026)

A Slack MCP server lets an AI client read channels, fetch threads, post messages and look up users. This guide wires it into Claude Desktop and Cursor using a Slack bot token — about ten minutes end to end.

Step 1 — create a Slack app

Go to api.slack.com/apps → Create New App → From scratch. Pick your workspace. Under OAuth & Permissions, add the bot token scopes you need: channels:history, channels:read, chat:write, users:read, and reactions:write if you want the agent to react. Install the app to the workspace — you will get a Bot User OAuth Token that starts with xoxb-.

You also need your Team ID (workspace ID), visible in the URL of the Slack admin page or via the app's basic info.

Step 2 — configure the client

Add this to your config file (see MCP config file location if you are unsure where it is):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "slack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-slack"],
      "env": {
        "SLACK_BOT_TOKEN": "xoxb-your-token",
        "SLACK_TEAM_ID": "T01234567"
      }
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop or Cursor. The Slack tools should appear in the tools panel.

Step 3 — invite the bot

The bot can only see channels it has joined. In each channel you want to expose, type /invite @yourbot. Private channels require an explicit invite too. This is the single most common reason "Slack returns nothing."

Step 4 — verify

Ask: "Summarise the last 20 messages in #engineering." If it pulls real messages, you are live.

Common problems

• not_in_channel — invite the bot to that channel (step 3).
• missing_scope — add the scope under OAuth & Permissions, then reinstall the app so the token picks it up.
• invalid_auth — wrong or rotated token. Copy the xoxb- token again.
• No tools appear — Node 18+ is required for npx; check node --version. See Cursor MCP not working for client-side fixes.

Security note

A Slack token gives an AI broad read access to internal conversations. Scope it tightly, prefer read-only scopes unless posting is essential, and rotate the token periodically — see MCP security best practices.

Going further

Slack pairs well with GitHub and Linear servers for a team-ops stack. Browse curated loadouts or the communication category. Built a better Slack server? Submit it.