Slack DM Routing

What is DM routing?

DM routing controls what happens when a Slack user sends a direct message to the WorkClaw bot. Since your team may have multiple Claws, DM routing determines which Claw handles the conversation. This is configured separately from channel bindings, which control behavior in shared channels.

How do I configure DM routing?

Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Slack > DM Routing and choose a routing mode:

• Default Claw -- all DMs are routed to a single designated Claw. This is the simplest option and works well for teams with one primary agent.
• Handle-based -- the user's first message determines routing based on Slack handles. If you have multiple Claws with distinct handles, users can DM the specific handle they want.
• Round-robin -- DMs are distributed across available Claws to balance load. Useful for teams with multiple agents performing similar tasks.

How does the default Claw mode work?

When set to "Default Claw," all direct messages to the WorkClaw bot are forwarded to the Claw you designate as the default. The Claw responds using its configured personality and skills. To change the default, select a different Claw from the dropdown in the DM routing settings.

How does handle-based routing work?

If you have configured multiple handles, each handle maps to a specific Claw. When a Slack user starts a DM, they see the bot listed under the handle name. The message is routed to the Claw associated with that handle. This lets team members choose which agent they want to interact with.

Handle-based routing requires at least two configured handles. See Handle Management for setup instructions.

What happens to ongoing DM conversations?

Once a DM conversation is established with a specific Claw, all subsequent messages in that conversation continue to route to the same Claw. This ensures continuity -- the Claw retains the conversation context from its memory. To start a conversation with a different Claw, the user must open a new DM.

Can I disable DMs entirely?

Yes. Set the routing mode to Disabled under DM routing settings. The WorkClaw bot will still appear in Slack but will not respond to direct messages. Channel interactions via bindings remain active.