Reduce noise in Slack
Slack keeps all your team communication in one place, but your team does a lot! These tips will help you manage what gets your attention – and what doesn’t.
Leave channels
It’s okay to leave channels that aren’t relevant to you. In fact, we recommend it. Channel content will remain available and searchable, and you can always rejoin at a later time.
To leave a channel, type /leave in the message box or go to the Channel settings:
- Click the cog icon.
- Select Leave #channel-name.
Mute channels
Do you enjoy channels like #random but find them distracting? Try muting channels you only need to check occasionally. Muted channels won’t appear bold when there’s unread activity and you won’t be notified if you’re mentioned. Muting is also handy for channels with lots of updates from bots, like your Twitter feed.
To mute a channel, type /mute in the message box or go to the Channel settings:
- Click the cog icon.
- Select Mute #channel-name.
Note: sorry! Individual messages from apps connected to a Slack workspace can't be muted.
Archive channels
Once a project ends, you can archive channels you no longer need. All contents will be saved and remain searchable, but no new activity can be posted to the channel. Archiving affects every channel member, so if you aren’t sure whether the channel is still relevant for others, it’s best to double-check with everyone first.
To archive a channel, type /archive in the message window or go to the Channel settings:
- Click the cog icon.
- Select Additional options… .
- Click Archive this channel.
- Select Yes, archive the channel to confirm.
Note: For some workspaces, only admins or owners can archive channels. Learn more about archiving channels in Slack.
Do not disturb
When you really need to focus, turn on do not disturb (DND) to snooze all notifications for as long as you need. If a teammate sends you a message while in DND, they’ll get a message from Slackbot so they’ll know not to expect a response right away. If there’s an urgent matter, they can choose to send you a notification.
To snooze notifications in Slack, type /dnd [enter a duration] or use these steps:
- Click the bell icon next to your name.
- Select your desired time.
Tailor your sidebar
Stay focused with a tailored sidebar. Star channels and direct messages to bring the most important ones to the top under a special Starred section. If you’re an inbox zero fan, you can select to show only unread or starred channels in your sidebar. To truly focus, try showing only your unread channels and DMs and nothing else.
You can even group all of unread messages from any channel or DM in one place with Turn on All unread.
Here’s how to adjust your sidebar and channel list:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Choose Sidebar.
- Under Sidebar settings, select your preferred option.
Slack keeps all your team communication in one place, but your team does a lot! These tips will help you manage what gets your attention and what doesn’t.
Leave channels
It’s okay to leave channels that aren’t relevant to you. In fact, we recommend it. Channel content will remain available and searchable, and you can always rejoin at a later time.
Mute conversations
Try muting channels and direct messages that you only need to check occasionally. Muted conversations won’t appear bolded when there’s unread activity, and you won't be notified if you’re mentioned. Muting is also handy for channels with lots of updates from bots, like your Twitter feed.
Archive channels
You can archive channels that you no longer need. All contents will be saved and remain searchable, but no new activity can be posted to the channel. Archiving affects every channel member, so if you aren’t sure whether the channel is still relevant for others, it’s best to double-check with everyone first.
Turn on do not disturb
When you really need to focus, turn on do not disturb (DND) to pause your notifications for as long as you need. Your teammates can see that you’ve paused your notifications, and they can choose to notify you of urgent direct messages.
Tailor your sidebar
With a tailored sidebar, you can help keep your focus on what's most important for you. Here are some ways to manage your sidebar:
- Star channels and direct messages to bring the most important ones to the top of your sidebar under a special Starred section.
- If you’re an inbox zero fan, you can select to show only unread conversations in your sidebar.
- Group all of your unread messages in one place with the All unread view.