7 Slack apps for file sharing and collaboration

Slack is a powerful tool for collaborative chatting among co-workers, as well as brainstorming, task management, and more. By adding certain third-party apps to your Slack workspace, you can also collaborate on documents that are stored in your cloud accounts, such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Box.

You and your team members can share and discuss documents directly within a Slack channel or direct message. This can reduce or eliminate the need to switch between Slack and the cloud services’ web apps, helping to streamline collaboration.

To use any of the apps listed here, you’ll need an account (free or paid) for its cloud service. Your fellow team members may also need to have an account on the cloud service (but not always so).

Note that access settings for your documents in the cloud service may affect how the Slack app works. You may need to change these settings from the cloud service’s desktop or web app if you find you cannot do so from within the service’s Slack app.

How to install apps in your Slack workspace

On the toolbar along the left of your Slack workspace, click the three-dot icon above More. On the menu that opens, select Automations and then choose Apps on the left. The Apps panel opens. Type inside the search box to find the app that you want, then click Add.

Searching for an app in Slack.
Howard Wen / Foundry

A new tab will open in your web browser showing further details about the app. Click the Add to Slack button under the company logo to install it, and then follow any further instructions that prompt you to complete the installation process.

Some apps may require being added to a specific channel in order to work properly. If the app requires this, during the installation process, click the channel name and select the Integrations tab.

By default, any member of a workspace can install apps unless restricted by administrators. If your workspace restricts installing Slack apps, you may need to request approval from an administrator. The process is similar to the above, but after clicking Add to Slack, type a brief message explaining why you want to install the app. Click Submit. You’ll receive a direct message (DM) from Slackbot notifying you when your request has been reviewed and approved.

Now that you’re familiar with the general steps for adding an app, here’s a rundown of recommended Slack apps for the most well-known cloud services for document storage and creation.

Box

There are two official Slack apps for Box. The first, called simply Box, is made by Box itself and available for Box customers on eligible paid plans. The other, called the Box File Picker, is made by Slack developers and available to anyone with a Box account.

Box

The Box app for Slack lets you generate a link to a document stored in your Box account from the Box web app and post it in a channel or DM in Slack. When you share a Box document in Slack, it’ll display details such as its file name, author information, and a thumbnail.

Share a document with the Box app: Open the Box web app, select a document in your Box storage, and click the Slack icon on the sidebar. This will generate a link that you can then post inside a Slack channel or DM.

The app also includes a file picker that you can use to share files from within a Slack channel or DM without going to the Box app.

Other actions: You can also update the document’s access permissions from within the Slack channel or DM, and documents that are uploaded from your PC to a Slack channel or direct message can be automatically backed up to your Box account. Other features include an AI assistant, slash commands for quickly performing actions, and admin controls such as the ability to restrict the app to certain Slack workplaces.

Box File Picker

The Box File Picker app for Slack lets you import a document stored in your Box account from within a Slack channel or DM.

Share a document with Box File Picker: Open a Slack channel or DM and type /box in the message window. On the menu that pops up, click Add from Box. A panel opens that lets you search and select documents and folders in your Box account.

Selecting Box files to import to Slack with Box File Picker.
Howard Wen / Foundry

DocuSign

The DocuSign app for Slack lets you create and send documents to your team members for them to electronically sign within Slack. You can upload documents, specify the order of signers, and initiate the signing process. The app sends notifications within Slack about your document’s status to help you track when your document has been signed.

Create a document for e-signing: In a channel, type /docusign. You’ll be guided through creating the document you want to be signed. You can select a document template or upload your own document stored on your PC. The app will then take you through providing recipient information, such as names and email addresses, and defining the order in which team members need to sign.

Sign a document: The recipient team members will get a notification within Slack to review and electronically sign your document. They’ll be guided through this process without having to leave Slack.

Team members will receive a notification from the DocuSign app when they need to sign a document.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Dropbox

There are two official apps available for working with Dropbox documents, both made by Dropbox itself.

Dropbox

Along with letting you share your Dropbox documents inside Slack channels or DMs, the Dropbox app for Slack also lets you save other documents that are being shared in a Slack channel or DM to your Dropbox account. When you share a document stored in your Dropbox account, it’ll display its Dropbox URL and a thumbnail.

A Dropbox file shared in a Slack channel.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Share documents in Dropbox to Slack: From the Dropbox web app, select the document that you want to share. Click the three-dot icon next to the document. On the menu that opens, click Share to Slack. A panel opens that lets you share the document in a channel or DM.

Save documents shared in Slack to Dropbox: While you’re viewing a shared document in a channel or DM, click the three-dot icon on the toolbar in the upper-right corner of the message. On the menu that opens, click Save to Dropbox. If this option is not available, select More message shortcuts and find Save to Dropbox. The document will be saved to a folder named “Slack” in your Dropbox account.

Dropbox Paper

Dropbox offers a web app for collaborative document creation called Dropbox Paper, or simply Paper. The Dropbox Paper app for Slack helps you and your team members collaborate on Paper documents in a Slack conversation or DM. You and your team members can create new Paper documents, search for existing ones, and preview them within Slack.

Create a new Paper document: In a message window, type the command /paper new title. Replace title with a name for your new Paper document.

From Slack, you can search for, preview, and create new Dropbox Paper docs.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Search for a Paper document: In a message window, type /paper search terms. Replace search terms with a few words that are in the document’s name or content that you want to find.

Google Drive

With the Google Drive app for Slack, you can create, share, and search for documents stored in your Google Drive account from within a Slack channel or DM. Your team members can do the same by connecting their own Google Drive accounts.

Create a new Google Drive document: In a message window, type /google or /drive and select Create a document, Create a presentation, or Create a spreadsheet. You’ll be prompted to type in a title for your new document and to select which channel or team member that it will be shared with.

Share a document stored in your Google Drive: In the new message window, type /google or /drive and select Add from Google Drive. A panel opens letting you search and select documents and folders in your Google Drive account.

When you create or share a file, the Google Drive app checks to be sure all members of the channel or DM can access it. If not, you’ll be prompted to change the access permissions.

You’ll be prompted to change a doc’s access permissions when needed.
Howard Wen / Foundry

In addition to access requests, you and other team members will receive notifications when files are shared with you and when new comments appear on shared files.

Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint

Lastly, the OneDrive and SharePoint app for Slack lets you and your team members share documents stored in your OneDrive account or SharePoint workspace in two ways: from within a new Slack message or as a link that you paste inside a new message. You can also create new documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in your OneDrive from Slack.

When you share a document in a Slack channel or DM, the app shows a preview of its content. Additionally, it checks that everyone in the channel or DM has the necessary permissions to access the shared document, ensuring smoother collaboration among team members. Clicking the file will open it in the appropriate web app: Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Create a new OneDrive document: In a new message, type /onedrive and select Create a document, Create a presentation, or Create a spreadsheet. You’ll be prompted to give the file a name, optionally add a message, and choose which channel or DM to post it in. The file will be created in your default OneDrive location.

Creating a new Excel spreadsheet from within Slack.
Howard Wen / Foundry

Share a document stored in OneDrive or SharePoint: In a new message in a Slack channel or DM, type the command /onedrive and select Add from OneDrive & SharePoint. From the panel that opens, you can browse and search your OneDrive and SharePoint to select the document that you want to share.

Share a document stored in OneDrive or SharePoint as a link: From the OneDrive or SharePoint web app, select the document that you want to share and create a publicly shared link to it. Then paste this link inside a new message in a channel or DM.

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