Beginner
How to configure notification preferences on Slack
Quick Answer
Configure Slack notification preferences by accessing your profile settings and adjusting notification timing, delivery methods, and channel-specific preferences. You can customize when you receive notifications, how they're delivered, and set quiet hours to manage interruptions effectively.
Prerequisites
- Active Slack account
- Slack desktop or mobile app installed
- Access to workspace settings
- Basic familiarity with Slack interface
1
Access notification settings
Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Slack, then select Preferences from the dropdown menu. In the preferences window, click on Notifications in the left sidebar to access your notification settings.
Tip
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+, (Cmd+, on Mac) to quickly open preferences.
2
Set notification schedule
In the Notify me about section, choose when you want to receive notifications:
- All new messages - Get notified for every message
- Direct messages, mentions & keywords - Only important notifications
- Nothing - Turn off all notifications
Tip
Choose 'Direct messages, mentions & keywords' to reduce notification overload while staying informed about important messages.
3
Configure notification timing
Set your notification schedule by clicking on Notification schedule. Choose your active hours using the dropdown menus for start and end times. Select the days of the week when you want to receive notifications by checking the appropriate boxes. Outside these hours, notifications will be paused automatically.
Tip
Set realistic work hours to maintain work-life balance and avoid after-hours distractions.
4
Choose delivery methods
Under Send notifications to my, select how you want to receive notifications:
- Desktop - Pop-up notifications on your computer
- Mobile - Push notifications to your phone
- Email - Email notifications for missed messages
Tip
Enable mobile notifications only when away from desktop to avoid duplicate alerts.
5
Set up keywords and mentions
Scroll down to the My keywords section and add specific words or phrases that should trigger notifications. Type keywords separated by commas in the text field. These will notify you even in channels where you might not see every message. Common keywords include your name variations, project names, or important terms.
Tip
Add variations of your name and important project terms to ensure you don't miss critical mentions.
6
Configure channel-specific settings
To set custom notifications for specific channels, go to the channel and click the channel name at the top. Select Settings from the dropdown, then choose Notification preferences. You can set different notification levels for each channel: All messages, Mentions only, or Nothing.
Tip
Set high-priority channels to 'All messages' and low-priority channels to 'Mentions only' for better focus.
7
Test and adjust settings
After configuring your preferences, click Done to save your settings. Test your notifications by asking a colleague to mention you or send a direct message. Check that notifications appear according to your configured schedule and delivery methods. Return to preferences if adjustments are needed.
Tip
Regularly review and adjust your notification settings as your work patterns and responsibilities change.
Troubleshooting
Not receiving desktop notifications
Check your browser or operating system notification permissions for Slack. Go to your browser settings > Site permissions > Notifications and ensure Slack is allowed. On desktop app, check system notification settings and ensure Slack is enabled.
Getting too many mobile notifications
Open Slack mobile app, go to You tab > Notifications > Mobile and select Same as my desktop notifications or customize mobile-specific settings to reduce frequency.
Missing important mentions
Check your keyword list in notification preferences and add variations of your name or important terms. Verify that the channel notification setting isn't set to Nothing for critical channels.
Notifications during quiet hours
Review your notification schedule settings and ensure the time zone is correct. Check if Allow notifications even during Do Not Disturb hours is enabled for certain channels and disable it if unwanted.
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