Message Cleanup
How Smithy keeps channels tidy and why user authorization is needed.
Why Cleanup Matters
When Smithy creates a Classic Thread, it generates a new parent message with the thread subject. The user's original message is still sitting in the channel. Without cleanup, the channel ends up with both the original message and the thread — which is messy.
Message cleanup removes the original message so only the managed thread remains.
Why Authorization Is Required
Slack's API requires that to delete a user's message, the app must have the chat:write permission granted by that specific user. Smithy's bot token alone cannot delete messages authored by other users.
This is a Slack security measure — it ensures no app can delete your messages without your explicit consent.
How to Authorize
Each user who wants automatic message cleanup should run:
/smithy authorize
This opens a link to connect your Slack account with Smithy. Once connected, Smithy can delete your original messages after converting them into threads.
What Happens Without Authorization
If a user hasn't authorized Smithy:
- Their original message stays in the channel
- Smithy still creates the managed thread
- Smithy sends a private reminder to authorize for a cleaner experience
When Cleanup Isn't Needed
Authorization and cleanup are not needed for:
- Attachment Threads — the original message is preserved since it contains the file
- Slash command threads — threads created via
/thread newdon't have an original message to clean up