# Slack alerts: send a test message

> The alert_settings.slack_channels.test operation: POST /api/v1/alert_settings/slack_channels/{id}/test in the REST API and the alert_settings_slack_channels_test tool in the MCP server.

Posts a test message to one of the organization's Slack channels (in the mode of the request) and records
whether the webhook accepted it (`lastTest`). A refused or unreachable webhook is a result (`ok: false`
with what went wrong), not an error. A dry run posts nothing and returns a simulated result.

Needs `org:write` (owners and admins).

## At a glance

- **REST:** `POST /api/v1/alert_settings/slack_channels/{id}/test`
- **MCP tool:** `alert_settings_slack_channels_test`
- **Operation ID:** `alert_settings.slack_channels.test`
- **Scope:** Organization
- **Permission:** `org:write`
- **Risk tier:** `write`
- **Dry run:** Supported (send `Ownrecord-Dry-Run: true`)
- **Idempotency:** `Idempotency-Key` required
- **Modes:** Test and live
- **Authentication:** API key with the `org:write` scope
- **Since:** M7

## Request

### Path parameters

| Field | Type       | Description |
| ----- | ---------- | ----------- |
| `id`  | `sec_…` ID |             |

### Body

This operation takes no body.

## Response

`200 OK` with a JSON object:

| Field         | Type                      | Description |
| ------------- | ------------------------- | ----------- |
| `id`          | `sec_…` ID                |             |
| `object`      | `"slack_channel"`         |             |
| `name`        | string                    |             |
| `urlHint`     | string                    |             |
| `minSeverity` | one of `high`, `critical` |             |
| `createdAt`   | date-time                 |             |
| `createdBy`   | string                    |             |
| `lastTest`    | object or null            |             |

## Examples

### The webhook accepted the message

```http
POST /api/v1/alert_settings/slack_channels/sec_01m4ttwd3veh9apbewxheq5xad/test
Authorization: Bearer or_test_…
Idempotency-Key: 3f1c9a52-7d0e-4b8f-9a61-0c2d5e8b7f14
```

Response (`200`):

```json
{
  "id": "sec_01m4ttwd3veh9apbewxheq5xad",
  "object": "slack_channel",
  "name": "#tax-alerts",
  "urlHint": "hooks.slack.com …x7Qa",
  "minSeverity": "high",
  "createdAt": "2026-10-13T12:00:00.000Z",
  "createdBy": "usr_01m4ttwd3veh9apbewxheq5xh6",
  "lastTest": {
    "ok": true,
    "status": 200,
    "message": "The webhook accepted the test message.",
    "at": "2026-10-13T12:30:00.000Z"
  }
}
```

## Errors

| Code                                                                                     | HTTP status | When                                                  | What to do                                                                                           |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`resource_not_found`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#resource_not_found) | 404         | The alert settings of this mode have no such channel. | Check the ID and that your credentials are scoped to the right organization, entity, brand and mode. |
| [`upstream_timeout`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#upstream_timeout)     | 502         | The test took too long to run; try again.             | Retry the request with the same Idempotency-Key after a short wait.                                  |
| [`version_conflict`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#version_conflict)     | 409         | The settings changed at the same moment; retry.       | Fetch the object again and retry the change.                                                         |
| [`permission_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#permission_denied)   | 403         | You can't change this organization's settings.        | Ask an organization owner or admin for a role or scope that allows this action.                      |

It can also return these [common errors](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference.md#common-errors): [`validation_failed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#validation_failed), [`api_version_unsupported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_version_unsupported), [`invalid_json`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#invalid_json), [`unsupported_media_type`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#unsupported_media_type), [`authentication_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#authentication_required), [`api_key_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_key_invalid), [`idempotency_key_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_required), [`idempotency_key_reused`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_reused), [`idempotency_in_progress`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_in_progress), [`approval_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_required), [`approval_rejected`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_rejected), [`approval_expired`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_expired), [`stale_approval`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#stale_approval), [`approval_policy_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_policy_denied), [`rate_limited`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#rate_limited), [`internal_error`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#internal_error).