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The Channels page is the central place to connect chat apps and route Inbox Zero updates. Depending on the provider and enabled features, you can receive rule notifications, draft replies, meeting briefs, follow-up reminders, digests, document-filing alerts, and scheduled check-ins.

Connect a channel

  1. Open Channels in the left sidebar.
  2. Find Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Telegram and select Connect.
  3. Complete the provider-specific flow:
    • Slack: approve the Slack OAuth request and return to Inbox Zero.
    • Teams or Telegram: copy the generated /connect command and send it in a direct message to the Inbox Zero bot. The code is single-use and expires after 10 minutes.
  4. Confirm that the provider displays a Connected badge.

Route rule notifications

Under a connected provider, Rule notifications lists your enabled assistant rules. Turn on the rules that should post to that provider. For each enabled rule, choose one of two modes from its menu:
  • Notify only posts a notification when the rule matches.
  • Draft reply in chat includes a generated draft for review.
If a rule already drafts an email, Inbox Zero uses Draft reply in chat as its initial channel mode. Otherwise, it starts with Notify only. Slack lets you choose a direct message or an eligible Slack channel as the destination. Teams and Telegram currently use the linked direct-message conversation.

Provider differences

  • Slack supports the richest interactive cards, including draft review and quick actions such as send, edit, dismiss, archive, or mark as read where applicable.
  • Teams: Draft editing and sending are not available yet. Review or send the draft in Inbox Zero. Other quick actions are view-only.
  • Telegram can send a prepared draft from Telegram, but draft editing is not available there. Other quick actions such as archive and mark read are currently Slack-only.

Route feature updates

Each connected provider can also show toggles for:
  • Meeting briefs: a summary before meetings.
  • Follow-up reminders: nudges for messages awaiting a reply.
  • Digests: your scheduled newsletter digest. Digests require the Plus plan or higher.
  • Document filing alerts: updates when attachments are filed.
  • Scheduled check-ins: proactive assistant updates, when configured.
Configure the underlying feature using the settings button or linked feature page. A route may stay disabled until the provider has a valid rule-notification destination. For Slack, choose the target destination before enabling delivery.

Chat with the assistant

You can direct-message the Inbox Zero bot in a connected provider. Slack also supports @mentions in channels where the bot is present. The assistant can use your connected email and calendar context, but write actions still follow the product’s confirmation and safety rules.

Disconnect a provider

Open the provider menu on Channels and select Disconnect. This stops delivery and removes that channel connection. It does not delete the underlying assistant rules, meeting-brief settings, digest schedule, or follow-up configuration.

Troubleshooting

Generate a new command from Channels and send it to the bot in a direct message within 10 minutes. A link code cannot be reused.

A Slack destination is unavailable

Reconnect Slack if requested. Confirm that you still have access to the destination and that the Inbox Zero app is present in a private channel before selecting it.

Notifications are missing

Check all three layers: the provider is connected, the individual rule or feature is enabled for that provider, and the feature itself is enabled. Also confirm the selected Slack destination or linked direct message still exists.