How to Fix Can’t Access Slack on Windows

Need to do some work, but you can’t access Slack on Windows?

Slack is one of the best collaboration platforms out there to do remote work with your workmates or team. It’s available on all major platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. 

There’s also a dedicated website for users who don’t want to install the desktop app. 

Unfortunately, there have been reports from users who have difficulty accessing Slack on their Windows computers. The Slack app on their computer is either not launching or stuck in the blank page where the user interface is not loading. 

Usually, this problem occurs when Slack’s servers go down unexpectedly due to errors or when there’s ongoing maintenance. Other causes are corrupted files, outdated software, or improper device configurations. 

To help you out, we’ve decided to make a guide on what to do if you can’t access Slack on Windows. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Check Slack’s Servers. 

Usually, most issues that occur on Slack are caused by their servers going down. Since Slack is an online platform, it relies on its servers to deliver content and services. 

With this, we suggest visiting Slack’s System Status page if you can’t access Slack on your Windows PC. This way, you can immediately identify if the problem is coming from your end or Slack’s servers. 

If Slack’s servers are down or there’s a problem with their services, the only thing you can do is wait for their team to resolve the issue. 

On the other hand, you can try the solutions mentioned below if Slack’s servers are working fine to address the problem on your end. 

2. Restart Your Device. 

The first thing you should do if you can’t access Slack on Windows is restarting your computer. This will reload your system resources and eliminate any temporary errors that may have occurred on your computer during use. 

Follow the steps below to restart your Windows PC: 

1. On your computer, click the Windows icon in the Taskbar to open the Start Menu. 
2. After that, access the Power Options tab. 
3. Finally, select Restart to reboot your system. 

After restarting your operating system, go back to Slack and see if it is now working on your computer. 

3. Run Slack As Admin. 

There are instances when Slack doesn’t have enough permissions and privileges to run correctly on your system. If you can’t access Slack on Windows, try running it as an administrator to bypass restrictions. 

Check out the steps below to guide you on the process: 

1. First, locate the Slack app on your desktop. 
2. Next, right-click on Slack and select Properties. 
3. After that, go to the Compatibility tab. 
4. Lastly, enable ‘Run This Program as an Administrator’. 

Once done, close the window and go back to Slack to check if the problem is solved. 

4. Check If Slack Is Not Running in the Background.

Slack may already be running in the background, but the user interface is not loading. This is a common issue on most Windows applications, and closing them from the Task Manager fixes the problem. 

See the steps below to check Slack in the Task Manager: 

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows + X keys to access the Quick Access Menu. 
2. After that, click on Task Manager to launch it. 
3. Find Slack from the list and highlight it by left-clicking on it. 
4. Finally, hit the End Task button to stop the application from running.

Once done, relaunch Slack to check if the problem is solved. 

5. Run Malwarebytes. 

Another reason why Slack is not working on Windows is if your system has malware and other viruses. These harmful files consume your system resources and cause other applications to malfunction. 

If you also encounter problems with other apps, it may indicate that your system is infected by malware and viruses. 

To fix this, download Malwarebytes on your computer and use its ‘Full System Scan’ feature. This will prompt the tool to search your entire storage drive for infected files and automatically remove them in the process. 

Malwarebytes is available for all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. 

6. Update Windows. 

The current version of Windows on your computer may have an underlying issue that causes issues on Slack. It’s also possible that Slack is not compatible with the current version of your operating system. 

Follow the steps below to update Windows and fix compatibility issues with Slack: 

1. On your computer, access the Start Menu and click on Settings. 
2. Inside Windows Settings, go to Update & Security. 
3. Finally, click on Check for Updates and follow the on-screen prompts if there’s a newer version of Windows. 

After the update, go back to the app to check if you still can’t access Slack on Windows. 

7. Reinstall Slack. 

If updating your operating system did not work, we suggest reinstalling Slack on your computer. This way, you can ensure that you have the latest version of the app and installed correctly in your system. 

Here’s how you can delete Slack on Windows: 

1. First, open the Control Panel and click on Uninstall A Program. 
2. After that, locate the Slack app from the list. 
3. Lastly, right-click on Slack and select Uninstall. 

Once done, go to Slack’s website and download the installer for Windows. 

Try relaunching the app afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

8. Report the Problem to Slack. 

If none of the methods above worked out for you, we suggest you take up the matter with Slack’s team. 

Go to Slack’s Help Center and get in touch with their customer support to ask for assistance regarding the issue with the dedicated app for Windows. Be sure to provide all the necessary details to make it easier for their team to assess your situation. 

You can also browse the other guides on the help center and see if you can find possible solutions for your problem. 

That ends our guide on what to do if you can’t access Slack on Windows. If you have other questions, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll be glad to help. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂