Slack connects to Whatagraph in two separate ways, set up in different places. The native Slack integration delivers goal and alert notifications from your Overviews into your Slack channels. The Slack MCP connector gives an IQ Agent access to Slack as one of its tools - so an agent can post an update you asked for, or read and summarise a channel you pointed it to. This article covers both, along with what triggers messages, who they appear from, what an agent can and can't do, permissions, data use, disconnecting, and plan requirements.
Note: Goals and alerts, and Slack IQ Agents are set up independently. Connecting one does not connect the other.
Goals and alerts (native Slack integration)
The native Slack integration sends notifications from your Overviews to a Slack channel - either on the schedule you set or when a goal condition is met. You set it up from the Alerts section of an Overview.
Note: Goal and alert delivery works on free Slack plans.
Connect your Slack workspace
Step 1. Open an Overview and open the Alerts drawer on the right.
Step 2. Turn on "Subscribe to notifications".
Step 3. Choose Slack as the channel, then click "Connect Your Account" and authorise Whatagraph in the Slack window.
Step 4. Select your delivery Frequency and the Slack channel, then save.
If your workspace needs administrator approval
If your Slack workspace doesn't appear as connected, your workspace likely requires admin approval before new apps can be added.
Step 1. Open the authorisation link: HERE
Step 2. Include a message for your Slack administrator and submit the request for approval.
Once approved, you will receive a confirmation message from Slackbot.
Step 3. Return to the Alerts section in your Overview, click "Connect Workspace" again, and authorise the connection.
Using Whatagraph Within Your Slack Workspace
After connecting Whatagraph to Slack, you can start receiving alerts in your chosen channels. Here’s how to set it up:
Step 1. Create or open the Slack channel where you want to receive alerts.
Step 2. Add the Whatagraph app to the channel - click "Add apps" in the channel settings, or type the command /invite @whatagraph.
Step 3. The app begins sending alerts to that channel on the frequency you configured.
Slack IQ Agents and MCP
The Slack MCP connector lets you give an IQ Agent access to Slack as one of its tools. You connect Slack from the IQ Agents area, then enable it on the agents that should be able to use it. Once enabled, the agent can use Slack on its runs - when you ask it something, or on a schedule you've set for it.
Note: Using an IQ Agent with Slack requires a paid Slack plan. Goals and alerts continue to work on free Slack plans.
Connect Slack and enable it on an IQ Agent
Step 1. Go to IQ Agents, and click "Connect".
Step 2. Find Slack in the connector list and select "Connect".
Step 3. Complete the connection by authorizing Slack in the popup window. Once connected, Slack is available to the agent on its runs.
Step 4. When working on an IQ agent, you can find the Slack connection in the "External Connectors". The connector's tools are then available to that agent when it runs.
The full list of permissions can be viewed in the Settings -> MCP Connectors -> Slack
What an IQ Agent does with Slack - and what it doesn't
What an agent can do in Slack depends on which of the connector's tools are turned on for it. Typical uses are posting a message you've asked for to a channel, and reading and summarising messages in a channel you point it to. Reading or summarising doesn't post anything back to Slack - the agent only posts when you ask it to. When an agent reads Slack, it can only see content that your connected Slack account can already access.
Tools you've allowed to run without a separate approval step, so an agent can post as soon as you ask them to. It may describe what it's about to do first, but treat that as the agent's own behaviour rather than a guaranteed approval prompt. If you want tighter control, deny the tools you don't want to use on the connector's settings page.
The agent uses Slack only on its runs. A run starts when you ask the agent something in Whatagraph, or on a schedule you've set for it - scheduled runs act as the person who created the schedule. The agent does not monitor Slack in the background. Messages, replies, reactions, or @mentions posted in Slack do not automatically start a run.
Slack actions run under your connected Slack account. Support for specific actions - such as replying inside a thread, sending direct messages, adding reactions, or handling files - depends on which tools the connector exposes, and messages may be sent as plain text. Confirm an action is available before relying on it in a workflow.
Important: IQ Agent responses are AI-generated and may be inaccurate. Review anything an agent posts or reports before acting on it or sharing it.
Permissions, data use, and disconnecting
The native Slack integration requests permission to view your channel list and post messages. It posts only to the channels it has been added to, and it does not read the content of your conversations.
The Slack MCP connector is personal by default - it's tied to your account, and an agent's Slack access is limited to what your account can reach. If you want teammates to use your connection instead of connecting their own, you can share it from Settings > MCP Connectors - find the Slack connector and select "Share with team". A shared connection acts as you on Slack, so only share when that's intended.
To disconnect Slack from your IQ Agents, open the Slack connector and disconnect it. This removes your connection while keeping your agent settings, so you can reconnect later.
To stop goal and alert notifications, remove the Whatagraph app from the Slack channel.