Configure your Slack notifications
Notifications in Slack keep you informed of the work you care about, whether you’re at your desk or on the move. Use the steps below to customize your desktop, mobile, and email notifications.
Note: If you’re having issues with notifications, visit Troubleshoot Slack notifications for help.
How notifications work
- By default, you’ll receive notifications on desktop and mobile (if you’ve downloaded the Slack iOS or Android app).
- You can decide whether you receive banner notifications on desktop or mobile, and adjust your default settings to be notified about Everything or Mentions and direct messages.
- If you choose to only be notified about mentions and direct messages (DMs), you can set exceptions to be notified about everything in certain channels or DMs.
Choose how you're notified
Adjust your notification preferences to decide where you receive banner notifications and whether you’re notified about all messages or only mentions and DMs.
Desktop
iOS
Android
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu to open your notification preferences.
- Below How to notify you, check or uncheck the box next to Desktop notifications or Mobile notifications.
- Select Everything or Mentions and direct messages from the What to notify you about drop-down menu.
- Download the Slack app to your mobile device and sign in to your workspace (if you haven’t already).
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Tap the toggle next to Mobile notifications if they aren’t turned on.
- Below What to notify you about, select Everything or Mentions and direct messages.
- Download the Slack app to your mobile device and sign in to your workspace (if you haven’t already).
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Tap the toggle next to Mobile push notifications if they aren’t turned on.
- Below What to notify you about, select Everything or Mentions and direct messages.
Set mobile overrides and additional notification preferences
You can set a different notification preference for mobile and choose whether or not you’re notified in the following scenarios:
- Someone replies to a thread you’re following
- You receive a message from a VIP when your notifications are paused (paid plans only)
- A huddle starts in one of your channels or DMs
Desktop
iOS
Android
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Below Also notify you about, check or uncheck the box next to an option.
- If you're setting up mobile overrides, choose how you'd like to be notified from the drop-down menu.
- Tap your picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Below Also notify you about, tap the toggle next to an option.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Below Also notify you about, tap the toggle next to an option.
Tip: If you only want to receive notifications during certain hours or on certain days, you can set a notification schedule. Outside of the schedule you set, your notifications will be paused.
Set up keyword notifications
You can set keywords to receive notifications about topics that are important to you. Whenever someone uses one of your keywords in a channel you've joined, you'll get a notification and see the keyword highlighted in yellow.
Desktop
iOS
Android
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Below Channel keywords, enter the words or phrases you’d like to be notified about.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Select Add channel keywords.
- Enter the words or phrases you’d like to be notified about.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Select Add channel keywords.
- Enter the words or phrases you’d like to be notified about.
Note: Keywords are not case-sensitive, but only exact matches will trigger notifications. Keywords in messages sent in threads won't trigger a notification.
Adjust notification sound and appearance
You can choose whether or not to display message previews in banner notifications and select which notification sound alerts you about:
- New messages
- VIP messages (paid plans only)
- Huddles
- Sending a DM
- Receiving a DM while in the conversation
Desktop
iOS
Android
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Scroll down to Sound & appearance.
- If you’d like, check the box next to Include a preview of the message in each notification or Mute all sounds from Slack.
- Select an option from the drop-down menu for each notification type.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Tap Sound.
- Select your preference.
Note: Selecting notification sound and appearance preferences is not available on Huawei devices.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap
- Tap System Options.
- Tap Sound.
- Select your preference, then tap Save.
Set your badge notification preference
When you have an unread notification, you’ll see a badge in the top right corner of the Slack app icon on your desktop. Depending on your device, there are a few ways to adjust this preference:
Mac
Windows
Linux
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Below Sound & appearance, check or uncheck Show a badge • on Slack's icon to indicate new activity.
Tip: If you're a member of multiple workspaces, you can pick and choose the ones you'd like to see badge notifications for.
On Windows, you'll see badge notifications in two places: in your taskbar and in your notifications area.
Taskbar
By default, the Slack icon will flash once when receiving a notification if your computer has been idle for 10 seconds. You can choose to have the icon flash when you're active:
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Scroll down to Flash window when a notification is received and select Always.
Tip: Selecting the preference Always will also keep the Slack icon in the taskbar when the app window is closed.
Notifications area
By default, the Slack app will run in the notifications area even when the window is closed. Choosing not to leave the app running will remove the Slack icon and badges from your notifications area. Here's how to keep the app from running in the notifications area when the window is closed:
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Click Advanced.
- Below Other Options, uncheck the box next to Leave app running in notification area when the window is closed.
By default, the Slack app will run in the notifications area even when the window is closed. Choosing not to leave the app running will remove the Slack icon and badges from your notifications area. Here's how to keep the app from running in the notifications area when the window is closed:
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Click Advanced.
- Below Other Options, uncheck the box next to Leave app running in notification area when the window is closed.
Note: New activity for direct messages, keywords, mentions, app notifications, thread replies, Slack Connect invitations, and overdue reminders will show a badge notification. If you’d like, you can exclude thread replies that don’t mention you.
Choose mobile notification timing
By default, you’ll receive mobile notifications one minute after locking your desktop screen or 10 minutes after Slack stops detecting cursor activity. You can choose to receive mobile notifications as soon as they’re sent, as soon as you’re inactive, or after an additional delay.
Desktop
iOS
Android
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Scroll down to When I'm not active on desktop and choose your timing.
Tip: If you’d like to receive notifications on your desktop and mobile devices at the same time, select this preference: Immediately, even if I'm active.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Tap Notify Me on Mobile.
- Choose your mobile notification timing.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen, then tap Notifications.
- Tap Notify Me on Mobile.
- Choose your mobile notification timing.
- Tap Save.
Configure email notifications
You can choose what you get notified about and how often you receive notifications by email. Email notifications are bundled and can be delivered every 15 minutes or once an hour.
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Preferences.
- Under When I'm not active on desktop, check or uncheck the box next to Send me email notifications for mentions and direct messages. If checked, choose how often you’d like notifications delivered.
Note: To change which emails you receive about Slack news and updates, you can manage your Slack email subscriptions.