How to Use Tellspin in Private Slack Channels

Can Tellspin Work in Private Channels?

Yes. Everything Tellspin does in a public channel also works in a private one: mentioning @Tellspin with a keyword, channel-based contact methods, and posting reminders. The only difference is that Tellspin can't see a private channel until someone adds it as a member.

Step 1: Invite the Tellspin Bot

1. Open the private channel.
2. Type /invite @Tellspin and press Enter.
3. Slack confirms that Tellspin has been added. You can double-check under the channel's details → Integrations → Apps.

Step 2: Reach the On-Call Person from the Channel

Once Tellspin is a member you can contact a schedule from inside the private channel with a keyword, just like anywhere else:

You can also scope a schedule to the private channel with the Channel contact method. When creating or editing the schedule, choose Channel in the Choose contact method modal; the private channel now appears in Select a channel with a lock icon:

Anyone who mentions @Tellspin in that channel reaches the on-call person without needing a keyword. A channel can only be the contact method for one schedule, so if two rotations share a channel (say a weekly and a monthly one), give the second a Keyword contact method and reach it with @Tellspin <keyword>.

Step 3: Post Reminders in the Private Channel

Once Tellspin is a member, the private channel can be chosen under Select a channel (Invite @Tellspin to this channel) when you add or edit a reminder. If you skip the invite, Slack rejects the post with channel_not_found and, for private channels, Tellspin's failure notice may not reach you either. See how to change the reminder channel.

The Channel Still Doesn't Show Up?

• Confirm the invite worked: the channel's Integrations tab should list Tellspin under Apps.
• Close and reopen the Tellspin App Home so the channel list is reloaded.
• If @Tellspin help in the channel answers that no rotation schedule is set for this channel, the schedule uses the User Group contact method. That's expected: mention the user group handle instead, or switch the schedule to a Channel or Keyword contact method if you want @Tellspin to respond there.

Slack Connect Channels

Tellspin also works in Slack Connect channels. Add Tellspin to the shared channel and set it as the schedule's Channel contact method; people from the other workspace can then mention @Tellspin and Tellspin replies in a thread pinging whoever is on-call. They don't need to approve the app. Slack user groups aren't shared across workspaces, so use the channel or a keyword rather than the group handle in Slack Connect.

Security and Privacy

Adding Tellspin to a private channel lets it post messages there and see the channel's basic information, within the permissions approved when Tellspin was installed. Tellspin only acts on messages that mention @Tellspin. See Security.

Related

• Contact Methods
• Troubleshooting reminders not working