How to reply to a specific message in Slack

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Sending messages and collaborating with team members was once a tedious experience until Slack came into the picture. It is more than a messaging application that connects people and work groups to exchange information. The platform transforms the communication process of organizations.

If you’re new to the platform, you may be unfamiliar with some of its features, such as knowing how to reply to a specific message in Slack. This article will show you the steps to follow to reply to messages quickly and easily.

How to Reply to a Specific Message in Slack on PC

You can reply to every message sent to you directly with these steps.

1. Open the URL on your computer in a web browser or go to the app on your desktop and open it.
   
2. You’ll find your messages under the “Direct Message” heading or go to “Mentions” (@your username) in the left column.
   
3. Select the message you want to reply to.
   
4. Click on it to open a conversation with the user automatically.
   
5. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a box. Place your cursor inside the box and start typing. When you’re done, send it.
   

If you have unread messages from any user, they will be highlighted with the number at the top of the chat (based on the number of unread messages), for example, “4 new messages.”

How to start a specific conversation in Slack on an iPhone

With an iPhone, you can quickly reply to specific messages in Slack.

1. Go to Messages under the “Dm” icon at the bottom of the Slack app.
   
2. Place your cursor inside the box at the bottom of the page to start typing.
   
3. When you’re done, press the arrow icon.
   

Your message will automatically appear in the conversation and the user can read it immediately.

How to reply to a specific message in Slack on an Android

You can reply to specific messages in Slack using an Android phone, regardless of your operating system version.

1. Open your Slack app.
   
2. Go to the “Dm” icon.
   
3. Tap the message or DM you want to reply to.
   
4. Place your cursor inside the text box and start typing.
   
5. When you’re done, click the arrow icon in the bottom corner of the box to send the message.
   

How to reply to a message using a thread

This method is useful if you want to reply to a message without taking over the channel.

1. Hover your mouse over the message.
   
2. Once you find several icons (if you are using the updated version). Click the chat bubble icon to automatically create a thread column on the right side of the window.
   
3. Write your message inside the box.
   
4. Press the “Enter” key or the arrow icon at the bottom.
   

How to set aside messages for later in Slack

Often, your schedule can be so busy at work that you may not be able to respond to messages in Slack. However, you can easily put them aside to read later. There are three main ways to set messages for “later.”

Set a reminder

If you need more time to respond to a message in Slack, you can set a reminder and receive an alert later from Slackbot. For example, on your way to work, you receive a message that says: “don’t forget to send the minutes of yesterday’s meeting before noon.” You can set a reminder with the following steps:

1. Find three points in horizontal style and click on them.
   
2. Place the cursor on “Remind me about this” from the options.
   
3. Choose the time you want to receive the reminder.
   

You will automatically receive a message from Slackbot notifying you that you will receive a reminder about the message at the chosen time. This bot message is only visible to you.

Mark as unread

Sometimes you won’t have time to respond to messages in Slack. If you accidentally opened a message that you want to address later, here’s how to mark it as “Unread.”

1. Click the three dots next to the message you want to flag.
   
2. Choose “Mark as unread” from the options displayed.
   

Then, every time you visit Slack again, it will remain as “New Messages” in the messages sidebar until you check it.

Highlight a message

If you receive essential information that you would like to retain for future use, you can star the message for easy access later.

Here are the steps to star messages in Slack:

1. Select the DM you want to feature.
   
2. Open the conversation.
   
3. Click on the header.
   
4. You will find the star icon next to it. Click on the “Star” icon.
   

Whenever you want to read one of your featured messages, go to the Featured option in the Menu.

How to Reply to a Message in Slack Using an Emoji

Emojis are not just intended to be used in casual conversations. They are also useful for real work. Maybe you get a message on Slack that demands an urgent response and you don’t have time to start typing. Then what do you do?

An emoji allows you to quickly respond to a message in Slack without having to write long sentences or paragraphs. They are designed to convey a message even without further explanation on your part. So you’ll be able to make the most of it the next time you chat with your team members.

Here’s how to reply to a specific message in Slack using a custom emoji:

1. Click the smiley face icon to open the emoji menu in the Message section.
   
2. Select “Add emoji.”
   
3. Enter a name for the emoji.
   
4. Click Save.”
   

How to share past conversations in Slack

Slack makes it easy to share a message from one public channel to another with just a few steps outlined below:

1. Click on the three dots to find more options.
   
2. Place the cursor on “Remind me this” from the options and select the time.
3. Select “Copy link” from the options and go to the thread or channel where you want to share the message and paste it in the message box below the page. Your message will be shared immediately.
   

Use Slack to improve communication and collaboration with your team

With Slack, replying to specific messages is easy for different situations. Remember, you don’t have to respond to messages immediately if you’re short on time. Instead, use the emoji features to give a quick reply or “Mark as unread” to set it for later.

How do you use Slack? Do you find the different options for replying to messages useful? Let us know in the comments section below.