A Guide to Recover Deleted Slack Data

What happens when Slack data gets deleted?

• using Slack eDiscovery 

• recovering from exported Slack data 

• using a third-party Slack backup solution  

How to recover deleted Slack data using the native eDiscovery tool

How to export data using Slack’s eDiscovery API

Limitations of exporting data using Slack eDiscovery

• eDiscovery is only available for Enterprise Grid subscription users. 

• The primary org owner or an org owner must request the Slack Support team to enable the Discovery API. 

How to recover Slack data using the Slack import and export tool

How to import Slack data

• Step 1: Upload the zipped export file to a secure cloud service, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box, and generate a public direct download link (make sure to keep this link to hand). (This step can be skipped, and the file can be uploaded directly during Step 5). 

• Step 2: Click the workspace name on the top left. 

• Step 3: Select Settings & administration, then choose Workspace settings from the menu. 

• Step 4: Click on Import/Export data. Next to Slack, select Import.

• Step 5: Paste the link to the export file into the Direct download link field or click on Upload it directly and choose the zipped export file from the local machine. 

• Step 6: Click on Upload file. 

• Step 7: An email will be sent when the upload is completed.  

Limitations of recovering deleted Slack data using the Import Export tool  

• Only workspace owners can import data into Slack.

• There is a limit to the amount of data that the tool can process at once. The export file might have to be split into multiple date ranges and processed as different imports 

• Exporting and importing Slack data using the native tool is a time-consuming process since export must be set up manually for all plans except for Business+ subscription. If there is a large amount of data to be imported- it needs to be split into different date ranges. These might lead to further data loss.   

• Owners cannot select specific messages or files to be imported back to the application. 

• If internet access is lost, import progress is interrupted, and you will have to begin all over again. 

How to restore deleted Slack data using SysCloud backup solution 

Follow the below steps to restore entire Slack channels from SysCloud backup archives: 

• Step 1: Log in to the SysCloud application.  

• Step 2: Click “Archives” and select Slack from the Backup and Restore drop-down.  

• Step 3: Select the required workspace from the list. 

• Step 4: Select the channel(s) to restore the data by clicking the checkbox next to the channel name.  Click "Restore".

• Step 5: Select the snapshot date and time and select whether to overwrite the threads. 

• Step 6: Add comments to be shown in the restore report (optional) and click “Restore” to confirm.  

Follow the below steps to restore Slack threads from SysCloud backup archives

• Step 1: Log in to the SysCloud application.  

• Step 2: Click “Archives” and select Slack from the Backup and Restore drop-down.  

• Step 3: Select the required workspace from the list. 

• Step 4: Select the channel which contains the conversation thread.  

• Step 5: Select the thread(s) to restore the data by clicking the checkbox next to it and click “Restore.”  

• Step 6: Select the snapshot date and time and select whether to overwrite the threads. 

Follow the below steps to restore Slack direct messages from SysCloud backup archives:   

• Step 1: Log in to the SysCloud application.  

• Step 2: Click “Archives” and select Slack from the Backup and Restore drop-down.  

• Step 3: Select the required workspace and select the “Direct Messages” tab. 

• Step 4: Click on the direct message and select the direct messages thread(s) to be restored by selecting the checkbox next to it and click “Restore.”  

• Step 5: Select the snapshot date and time and select whether to overwrite the threads.  

• Step 6: Add comments to be shown in the restore report (optional) and click on “Restore” to confirm the restore.  

Follow the below steps to restore Slack user groups from SysCloud backup archives:

• Step 1: Log in to the SysCloud application.

• Step 2: Click “Archives” and select Slack from the Backup and Restore drop-down.

• Step 3: Select the required workspace from the list and select the tab “user groups.”  

• Step 4: Select the user group(s) to be restored by selecting the checkbox next to it and click “Restore.”  

• Step 5: Select the snapshot date and time and add comments to be shown in the restore report (optional). Click on “Restore” to confirm restore. 

Follow the below steps to restore files shared in Slack from SysCloud backup archives:

• Step 1: Log in to SysCloud application.

• Step 2: Click “Archives” and select Slack from the Backup and Restore drop-down.

• Step 3: Select the required workspace and select the tab “Workspace Files.”  

• Step 4: Select the file(s) to be restored by clicking the checkbox next to it and click “Restore.”

• Step 5: Select snapshot date and time; add comments to be shown in the restore report (optional) and click on “Restore” to confirm the restore.