How to Migrate from Slack to Microsoft Teams (Step-by-Step 2026 Guide)

Q: Can I import Slack message history into Microsoft Teams?

Yes, but not natively. Slack exports message history as JSON files. You can use third-party migration tools like ChannelSurf, Slack to Teams Migration by Microsoft, or paid tools like BitTitan to import message history into Teams. Free Slack plans only export public channel messages.

Q: Will we lose Slack integrations when moving to Teams?

Most popular Slack integrations have Teams equivalents. GitHub, Jira, Trello, Google Drive, and Zoom all have Teams apps. However, custom Slack bots and webhooks need to be rebuilt using Microsoft Power Automate or Teams Bot Framework. Some niche integrations may not have Teams alternatives.

By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026

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Moderate3-5 hoursCommunication

Migration takes 3-5 hours of active work spread over 1-2 weeks. The biggest challenge is not the data but the people: getting your team comfortable with a new communication tool. Slack exports messages as JSON, and you will need a third-party tool to import history into Teams. Here is the full plan.

Migration Checklist

Step 1: Export Your Data from Slack

Go to workspace-name.slack.com/services/export
Click Start Export (free plan exports public channels only)
For paid plans: go to Settings → Workspace Settings → Import/Export Data
Select date range or export all history
Download the ZIP file when ready (emailed to workspace admin)

Important: Free Slack plans cannot export private channels or DMs. You need a paid plan for full export. Files shared in Slack are included as URLs but may expire.

Step 2: Plan Your Teams Structure

List all active Slack channels and their purposes
Map each Slack channel to a Teams channel (Teams uses Team → Channel hierarchy)
Decide which channels to consolidate or retire
Plan your Team structure: by department, project, or topic
Document who needs access to what

Key difference: Slack has flat channels. Teams has a two-level hierarchy: Teams (like departments) contain Channels (like topics). Plan this mapping carefully.

Step 3: Set Up Microsoft Teams

Go to teams.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft 365 account
Click Join or create a team → Create team
Create Teams for each department or project group
Add channels within each Team matching your Slack structure
Invite team members via email or from your Azure AD directory
Set channel permissions (public/private) to match Slack settings

Step 4: Import Message History

For small teams: use the free ChannelSurf tool on GitHub to import Slack JSON into Teams
For enterprises: use Microsoft Teams migration API (requires Graph API access)
For fastest results: use paid tools like BitTitan or AvePoint
Map each Slack channel export to the corresponding Teams channel
Run the import and verify messages appear correctly

Note: Imported messages will show as posted by a migration bot, not the original sender. Timestamps are preserved.

Step 5: Migrate Files and Integrations

Download shared files from Slack and upload to SharePoint (Teams file storage)
Browse the Teams App Store and install equivalents for your Slack integrations
Reconnect GitHub, Jira, Trello, and other tools via Teams connectors
Rebuild Slack workflows using Power Automate
Set up incoming webhooks if you used custom Slack bots

Step 6: Test and Verify

Send messages in each channel and verify delivery
Test video calls and screen sharing
Verify file sharing works across channels
Test all reconnected integrations
Check mobile app notifications work correctly

Step 7: Notify Your Team

Send a company-wide announcement 2 weeks before the switch
Share a quick-start guide for Teams (Microsoft provides free templates)
Schedule a 30-minute training session or share a video walkthrough
Assign a Teams champion in each department for questions

Step 8: Run Parallel for 1-2 Weeks

Keep Slack accessible in read-only mode while your team adjusts. Post a pinned message in every Slack channel directing people to the Teams equivalent. Monitor Teams adoption daily and address friction points immediately.

Step 9: Deactivate Slack

Make a final data export for archival purposes
Go to Settings → Workspace Settings → Delete Workspace
Or downgrade to free and archive channels to keep historical access
Cancel your Slack billing at Billing → Manage Plan

What You Will Lose

Slack-specific apps — some bots and integrations have no Teams equivalent
Slash commands — custom slash commands must be rebuilt
Emoji reactions context — reaction history does not transfer
Thread formatting — Slack threads may flatten during migration
Huddle/audio features — Slack Huddles work differently than Teams calls

What You Will Gain

Microsoft 365 integration — seamless Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint access
Built-in video conferencing — full-featured meetings without Zoom
SharePoint file storage — 1TB+ per user included with Microsoft 365
Enterprise security — compliance, DLP, and advanced threat protection
Cost savings — Teams is included free with Microsoft 365 subscriptions

Gotchas and Common Mistakes

Channel limit per Team: Teams has a limit of 200 standard channels and 30 private channels per Team. If you have hundreds of Slack channels, you need to consolidate.
Guest access: Slack guest accounts work differently from Teams external access. Plan your guest/external user strategy before migrating.
Notification overload: Teams default notification settings are noisier than Slack. Show your team how to customize notifications on day one.
File structure change: Files in Slack channels are scattered. In Teams, every channel has a Files tab backed by SharePoint. Re-organize files during migration, not after.

Data Export Formats

Data Type	Slack Export	Teams Import
Messages	JSON (per channel)	Via migration tool
Files	URLs (download separately)	Upload to SharePoint
Channels	JSON metadata	Create manually
Users	JSON (names, emails)	Invite via Azure AD
Integrations	No export	Rebuild in Teams

Migration Timeline

When	Task	Time Needed
Week 1	Export Slack data + plan Teams structure	2 hours
Week 1	Set up Teams + import history	2-3 hours
Week 1	Migrate files + reconnect integrations	1-2 hours
Week 2	Announce switch + train team	1 hour
Week 2-3	Run parallel	Monitoring only
Week 4	Deactivate Slack	30 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import Slack message history into Microsoft Teams?

Yes, but not natively. You need third-party tools like ChannelSurf (free, open source) or paid services like BitTitan. Free Slack plans only export public channel messages. Paid plans export everything including DMs.

How long does a Slack to Teams migration take?

For a team of 10-50 people, expect 3-5 hours of active work over 1-2 weeks. The parallel running period adds 1-2 weeks. Larger organizations with custom bots should budget 4-6 weeks total.

Will we lose Slack integrations when moving to Teams?

Most popular integrations (GitHub, Jira, Trello, Google Drive) have Teams equivalents. Custom Slack bots need to be rebuilt using Power Automate or Teams Bot Framework. Budget extra time for custom integration work.

Not sure yet? Read our full Slack vs Microsoft Teams comparison to see features, pricing, and which tool fits your team better.

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Last updated: April 9, 2026. All steps verified.