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How to host a Slack bot 24/7 (Bolt, Socket Mode)

1 min readUpdated Nov 4, 2026Copy link

With Socket Mode, a Slack bot opens its own connection to Slack, so it doesn't need a website or an open port. That makes it a good fit for a simple bot server.

1. Create the Slack app #

1. Go to api.slack.com/apps and create a new app from scratch in your workspace.
2. Socket Mode: turn it on. Slack asks you to make an app-level token with the connections:write scope. It starts with xapp-.
3. OAuth & Permissions: add the bot scopes chat:write and channels:history, then install the app to your workspace. Copy the Bot User OAuth Token, which starts with xoxb-.
4. Event Subscriptions: turn it on and subscribe to the bot event message.channels.
5. Invite the bot to a channel with /invite @YourBot.

2. A Bolt for JavaScript bot #

In a new folder run npm init -y and npm install @slack/bolt dotenv, then create index.js:

require('dotenv').config();
const { App } = require('@slack/bolt');

const app = new App({
  token: process.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN,
  appToken: process.env.SLACK_APP_TOKEN,
  socketMode: true
});

app.message('hello', async ({ message, say }) => {
  await say(`Hey <@${message.user}>!`);
});

(async () => {
  await app.start();
  console.log('Slack bot is running');
})();

Put both tokens in .env:

SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=xoxb-...
SLACK_APP_TOKEN=xapp-...

Run node index.js and say hello in the channel to test it.

3. Run it 24/7 on ESN #

1. Create a server with the Node.js Discord Bot type on any bot plans (from $0.50/month). It runs any Node.js start file, Slack bots included.
2. Upload index.js, package.json, package-lock.json and .env in Files (not node_modules).
3. Check that Main JavaScript File in Startup is index.js.
4. Press Start in Console and wait for Slack bot is running.

Python works too: Slack's slack_bolt package has the same Socket Mode option. Use a Python bot server, requirements.txt and main.py instead.

Keep the tokens safe #

The xoxb- token can post as your bot in every channel it's in. Never commit .env to GitHub. If a token leaks, rotate it in the app's settings and update .env.

FAQ #

Do I need a public URL for a Slack bot?

Not with Socket Mode. The bot connects out to Slack over a WebSocket, so no public URL or open port is needed.

Why doesn't my Slack bot see messages?

Check that the message.channels event is subscribed, the bot has channels:history, and the bot was invited to the channel.

Still stuck? Use the live chat on the panel or ask in the ESN Systems Discord. Last updated November 4, 2026.