The thing nobody says out loud during a tool migration is the real fear underneath it: what if we lose everything? Years of conversations, decisions buried in threads, the context that makes a team actually understand itself – gone in one messy export.
And it’s not just a technical worry. If you’re the one making this call, you’re carrying more than a checklist. You’re checking in with your team, weighing whether the new tool is actually better or just different, second-guessing your own gut, and quietly wondering how to keep people from getting frustrated in the first messy weeks before everyone settles in.
That worry is real. But it’s worth separating from the actual risk. The scary part isn’t the move itself – it’s not knowing what the move involves. Once you do, it stops being a leap and starts being a checklist.
And the good news is that the Chanty side of the migration is straightforward. The main thing to understand before you start is what your Slack export contains and what will be transferred.
Here is what actually happens when you move a team from Slack to Chanty.
First, the important part: Slack stays intact
Importing your Slack data into Chanty doesn’t delete or alter your existing Slack workspace.
The export is a copy of the data Slack makes available for you. Your team can continue using Slack while the export is prepared and while you check the imported data in Chanty.
That means you don’t have to make the switch blind. You can test the process, check the result, and give your team time to get comfortable before you make Chanty the place for day-to-day communication.
If something doesn’t look right, your original Slack workspace is still there.
Before you migrate: know what will export
The migration itself has two technical stages: export your data from Slack, then import that data into Chanty.
But before you click Export, take a minute to understand what Slack will actually give you. Your available export depends on your Slack plan and workspace permissions.
As a general rule, Slack’s standard exports include public-channel data. Broader exports covering private channels and direct messages are available only under certain Slack plans and may require Slack’s approval.
That means the question isn’t simply “Can I export my Slack workspace?”
It’s “Which parts of my Slack workspace can I export?”
What to check before you start
| Slack data or setting | What to expect |
| Public channel messages | Available through Slack’s standard export options |
| Private channels | Depends on the type of Slack export available to your workspace |
| Direct messages | Depends on the type of Slack export available to your workspace |
| Team member information | Imported from the information available in the export |
| Files and file links | Transfer depends on the links and files available in the Slack export |
| Avatars | Don’t make the trip |
| Slack integrations | Don’t make the trip and need to be set up again |
| Slack-specific features | May need to be recreated in Chanty |
| Channel organization | Imported into the corresponding Chanty conversation area |
The goal isn’t to promise a perfect copy of every Slack-specific feature. It’s to move the conversations and information you need while giving you a clear picture of what needs to be recreated on the other side.
And if you’re unsure what your particular Slack export will contain, it’s worth checking before starting the full migration.
The migration, step by step
Before you start: create a team on Chanty, or sign in if you already have one.
Step 1. Export your data from Slack
Think of it as packing before a move, except nothing gets left behind by accident.
- Check your access. You’ll need Owner or Admin access on Slack – only those roles can request a data export.
- Head to the export menu. Go to Administration > Import/Export Data in Slack (web or desktop).
- Choose your export type, based on your Slack plan:
- Public channels – messages and file links from public channels only, in JSON format. Available on every plan, including Free and Pro.
- All channels and conversations – public channels, private channels, and DMs. Available on Business+ and Enterprise+ plans, but it’s not instant: Workspace owners need to apply for access to the export tool, and Slack reviews the request before granting it. Once approved, you can also schedule recurring exports going forward.
- Set your range and go. Choose a date range and hit Start Export. Slack emails you the moment the file’s ready, so you don’t need to babysit the process.
- Download the file, and leave it alone. Don’t open it, rename its contents, or edit the files inside. The export needs to remain in the format Slack generated so Chanty can process it correctly.
Don’t skip this one setting: before you export, go to:
Administration > Workspace Settings> Settings&Permissions > Email Display and check Display email addresses.
Why does this matter? Chanty uses the information in the Slack export to identify and match team members. If the relevant email information isn’t available, you can end up with profiles that don’t map as cleanly as they should.
A few limits worth knowing going in:
A smooth migration starts with realistic expectations.
- Your Slack plan matters. Free and Pro exports are limited compared with the broader exports available to Business+ and Enterprise workspaces.
- Private channels and DMs may require a broader Slack export. Slack can require workspace owners to apply for access to certain types of exports.
- Free-plan file links have limitations. Slack’s export behavior can mean that file links are available only for a limited period, even when your message history goes further back.
- Files transfer only where Slack’s exported download links are still live.
- Avatars don’t make the trip. You can add or update them in Chanty afterward.
- Integrations don’t make the trip. You’ll need to reconnect the services your team still uses.
- Your imported Slack channels appear in Chanty’s Public Conversations area rather than simply reproducing Slack’s sidebar exactly.
None of these limitations should come as a surprise after the migration. They’re worth knowing before you start so you can plan around them.
Step 2. Import your data into Chanty
This is the part that runs itself.
- Confirm you’re the Team Owner in your Chanty space.
- Click your profile photo to open Manage Team.
- Go to System > Data Import.
- Choose the Slack export file you downloaded.
- Click Import Team to start the transfer.
That’s it! Chanty emails you the details once everything’s landed.
The important thing here is that you don’t need your whole team standing by while the import runs. The migration happens in the background, so your employees can continue working while the data is being processed.
How long it takes
The process itself has two main stages: Slack prepares the export, then Chanty processes the imported archive.
The exact time depends on how much history you’re exporting and how large the workspace is. A small workspace with a limited date range may take only a few hours, while a large enterprise workspace with years of conversations and files can take several days.
So rather than thinking of migration as a single day when everyone has to stop working, think of it as a process happening alongside normal work.
Day one in Chanty
The import handles the data. What makes the switch actually land is what you do next.
Your team doesn’t need another complicated migration project. They need a short explanation of what changed and where they should go from here. Pin a short message pointing your team to where things live now, and let them know the old workspace still exists if anyone needs to double-check something from before. That small bit of orientation does more for adoption than the migration itself.
Your migration-day checklist
If you’re the person responsible for the switch, here’s the whole process in one place.
Before the import
✅ Create your Chanty team
✅ Confirm you’re the Chanty team Owner
✅ Confirm your Slack export permissions
✅ Check which conversations your Slack plan allows you to export
✅ Check email visibility in Slack
✅ Decide whether to run a test migration
✅ Export the Slack archive
✅ Keep the original archive unchanged
After the import
✅ Check several channels
✅ Check several team member profiles
✅ Verify important files and links
✅ Check private conversations if they’re included in your export
✅ Confirm that important conversations are where you expect them
✅ Reconnect any integrations your team still needs
✅ Invite or notify your team
✅ Pin a short “We’re now using Chanty” message
✅ Keep Slack available as a reference during the transition
✅ That’s your migration plan.
No company-wide shutdown. No need to move everyone at exactly the same moment. And no need to delete your Slack workspace before you know you’re comfortable with Chanty.
Your old workspace isn’t going anywhere
Nothing about this process deletes or alters your Slack workspace. The export is a copy. Your original Slack data remains available exactly as it was while you check the new workspace and get your team settled.
That gives you something important during a migration: room to make the decision without making it irreversible on day one.
You can export. Import. Check. Then switch your team’s daily work to Chanty when you’re ready.
FAQ
Will my team lose access to Slack during the migration? No. Slack stays fully functional throughout. The export and import both run independently of your team’s day-to-day use.
Will my Slack workspace be deleted after i import it into Chanty? No. Importing your data into Chanty doesn’t delete or modify the original Slack workspace.
Can I migrate private channels and DMs? That depends on the Slack export available to your workspace. Slack’s broader exports can include private channels and direct messages, but access depends on your Slack plan and export permissions. Check your available export option before starting the migration.
What happens to threads and replies, do they come across as threads? Yes, conversation structure is preserved in the export; it isn’t flattened into a single feed.
Will my files come across? Files can transfer where Slack’s exported download links are still available. Slack export limitations can affect older file links, so it’s worth checking important files during a test migration.
Can I do a test run before migrating the whole team? Yes. Export a short date range first (let’s say the last week) to see how the data looks in Chanty before committing to a full-history export.
What if the import fails or looks incomplete? Your Slack workspace is untouched, so there’s no risk in trying again. Re-download a fresh export file (never reuse the edited one) and reach out to Chanty’s team if the issue persists.
How long does the whole thing actually take? Export time depends on how much history you’re pulling. Larger workspaces take longer, but it’s a background wait either way. Import is typically the fastest of the two steps.
Do we need to stop using Slack while the migration happens? No. Your team can continue working in Slack while the export and import are underway. Once you’re satisfied with the Chanty workspace, communicate the switch clearly and make Chanty the new home for daily work.
Ready to make the switch?
You don’t need to treat moving from Slack to Chanty as a leap of faith.
Check your Slack export, test a small piece of your history if you want to. Import the full archive when you’re ready. Then give your team leader a clear place to continue the conversation.
The move itself is a checklist. The bigger decision is what you want your team’s everyday work to look like once you’ve made it.
