Alex Ruben
How To Reply to a Specific Message in Slack
If you’ve ever tried keeping up in a busy Slack channel, you know it can get messy fast. Replies pile up, messages blur together, and it’s easy to lose track of what’s actually being responded to. Luckily, Slack has these handy threading features to help keep things tidy. This guide should help folks understand how to reply directly to messages, create threads, and quote messages — making conversations way easier to follow, especially during those hectic work hours.
How to Reply to a Specific Message in Slack
Find the message you want to reply to
First off, fire up Slack on your desktop or phone (seriously, mobile works just as well). Head over to the relevant channel or DM where the conversation is happening. Browse until you spot the message that needs a response. Sometimes it’s just a quick question or comment, other times a long back-and-forth — either way, knowing exactly which message you’re replying to is crucial because otherwise, things get confusing fast. Noticed how sometimes replies just show up out of nowhere and make no sense? Yeah, this step helps prevent that.
Open the reply thread or start a new one
Click on the message. A little pop-up menu or a small arrow on the right side usually appears. On desktop, clicking the message either opens a reply box directly beneath it or pops up a thread view on the side. On mobile, just tap the message, then choose Reply in thread from the options. Why do this? Because it lets you keep your reply neatly tucked under the original without cluttering the main chat. On some setups, it feels weird not to reply right in the main chat, but trust me — threads are your friend. Expect your response to appear linked to that message, which stops everyone from having to sift through dozens of messages to find your point.
Type your reply and send
Once the thread opens, type your response in the box. Keep it relevant so the context stays clear. When you’re done, hit Enter (or tap Send). Sometimes it takes a second to appear, especially if Slack is slow or your internet is spotty, but don’t panic — it’s usually fine. This method is great for conversations that need context because your reply stays attached to that specific message, making things way clearer for everyone else.
Go back to the main chat or keep on threading
After sending, you can switch back to the main channel or DM. Your reply now sits under the original message, neatly organized. Some folks like to keep things tidy, while others forget they even started a thread. If a reply is more casual or short, some just type it directly into the main chat — but then it’s harder to connect it to the original message. Trust me, using threads more often than not keeps the chaos down a notch.
Optionally quote a message without starting a thread
Want to quote what someone said without creating a full thread? Hover over the message, click on the More actions icon (three dots), then pick Quote message. On mobile, hold down the message and look for a quote option. It’ll insert the original message into your reply, which is useful if you want to respond in a more public way — especially handy when replying to a random comment from someone you don’t chat with all the time. Not everyone gets the hang of quoting at first, but it’s a nice tool for clarity.
Extra tips & troubleshooting
Here’s what else helps keep your Slack game on point:
- Use threads for long discussions or detailed replies — it prevents cluttering the main channel.
- Don’t forget to check your notifications so you don’t miss important replies or mentions.
- Tag relevant teammates with @ so they see your responses, especially if they need to chime in.
One thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes starting a thread or quoting doesn’t work immediately — especially on the first try. On a few setups, Slack acts up, or the interface takes a beat to catch up. Usually, a quick restart of Slack (completely closing and reopening) fixes it, or just waiting a few seconds. Because of course, Slack has to make it harder than necessary.
Wrap-up
Getting comfortable with replying in threads, quoting messages, and organizing conversations makes Slack much less chaos and more productive. Once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty much second nature. It’s especially useful when juggling multiple ongoing discussions without losing track of who said what. Just remember, when in doubt, use threads — they’re built for clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit my reply after sending it?
Yeah, hover over your message, click the More actions icon, and pick Edit message. Sometimes on mobile, it’s hidden behind a long press or a menu, but it’s there.
How do I delete a reply?
Same deal — hover over the message, click More actions, then choose Delete message. Not many surprises there.
Is there a limit to the number of replies in a thread?
Nope. Slack’s pretty generous with threads, so you can keep chatting away without worrying about hitting some arbitrary cap. On one setup it worked fine, on another… not so much. It’s generally unlimited, which is nice.
Summary
- Find your message, open the thread, and reply directly.
- Quote messages for clarity without threading.
- Keep conversations organized and avoid chaos.
Hopefully, this shaves off some confusion and makes Slack a bit less annoying. It’s all about working smarter, not harder — or at least trying to. Good luck!