Setup guide for Slack teams

Set up your first on-call rotation in Slack in about 3 minutes

Use this guide to install OnCallManager, publish your first schedule, connect Google Calendar, and keep notifications flowing without a separate dashboard.

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Setup Guide: Create your first rotation and go live fast

Learn how to install OnCallManager, create a recurring schedule, manage overrides, and connect Google Calendar so your team has a clear current owner from day one.

Getting Started

Step 1: Install OnCallManager

  1. Click "Add to Slack and Start Setup"
  2. Review the permissions and authorize the app for your workspace
  3. Once installed, find OnCallManager in your Slack apps

Step 2: Access the App Home

Open Slack and click on "OnCallManager" in your apps list. The app home is where you'll create and manage all your on-call rotations.

Creating and Managing Rotations

Creating a New Rotation

  1. Click "New Schedule" on the app's home page
  2. Enter a name for your rotation (e.g., "Backend On-Call")
  3. Select the team members to include in the rotation
  4. Choose the rotation frequency (daily, weekly, etc.)
  5. Set the start date and time for shifts
  6. Optionally select a notification channel
  7. Preview the schedule and click "Create"

Editing or Deleting Rotations

To modify an existing rotation:

  1. Find the rotation on the app home page
  2. Click the overflow menu (three dots)
  3. Select "Edit" to modify settings or "Delete" to remove

Overriding Shifts

When team members need to swap shifts:

  1. Open the rotation's overflow menu
  2. Select "Override on-call"
  3. Choose the shifts you want to override
  4. Select the replacement team member
  5. Click "Apply" to confirm

Learn more about managing fair rotations in our rotation scheduling guide.

Google Calendar Integration

Sync your on-call schedule with Google Calendar to see your shifts alongside your other appointments.

Connecting Your Calendar

  1. Click "Connect Calendar" on the app home page
  2. Sign in to your Google account when prompted
  3. Grant OnCallManager permission to create calendar events

Subscribing to Rotations

  1. Open a rotation's overflow menu
  2. Select "Subscribe to Calendar"
  3. Your shifts will automatically appear in Google Calendar

Note: When you disconnect your calendar, all calendar events created by OnCallManager will be automatically removed.

Notifications & Group Updates

Automatic Group Updates

OnCallManager automatically updates the Slack user group associated with your rotation when shifts change. This ensures that @mentioning your on-call group always reaches the current on-call person.

Channel Notifications

If you've set a notification channel for your rotation:

  • A message is sent when a new rotation is created
  • Shift change notifications are posted when the on-call person changes
  • Override notifications announce temporary coverage changes

For tips on handling incidents effectively, see our incident response guide.

Need help after you install?

If you want a hand with your first schedule, we can help you get the initial rotation live quickly.

Visit Support → See Pricing → Email Us →