Guide to desktop notifications
Slack notifications keep you informed about things that need your attention. Learn how notifications work on your desktop and how to customize them to suit your needs.
How notifications work
When you first join a workspace, Slack will notify you of messages directed at you. By default, here’s when you’ll receive notifications:
- You receive a direct message (DM)
- Someone @mentions you or notifies a channel you’re in
- Someone uses one of your keywords
- You receive a reminder from Slackbot
These settings apply to both desktop and mobile notifications until you make changes. If you’re having issues, skip ahead to Troubleshooting notifications.
Slack won’t send notifications to both devices at the same time — you have to be considered idle on desktop to receive mobile notifications. Learn more about the timing between desktop to mobile notifications.
Configure your notifications
The default desktop notifications are automatically enabled as soon as you join a workspace. Use the steps below to customize your preferences.
Notification triggers
By default, only @mentions, direct messages, and keywords will trigger a desktop notification. You can change this preference to include all messages sent to channels you're a member of, or nothing at all:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Select Notifications.
- Under Notify me about, choose which activity Slack notifies you of.
Tip: Check the box next to Notify me about replies to threads I’m following to receive notifications when someone posts a new message to a thread you’re following.
Note: Using Slack for Windows? By default, notifications are set to deliver via Slack for Windows 7, and via the Windows Action Center for Windows 10.
Notification sound and appearance
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Select Notifications.
- Under Sound & appearance, choose how notifications look, sound, and behave.
Tip: Click the bell icon next to your workspace name and choose how long you'd like to snooze notifications.
Badge notifications on the Slack icon
When you have an unread notification, you’ll see a badge in the top right corner of your desktop’s Slack app icon.
Mac
Windows
Linux
Default badge notifications
By default, any unread activity will display a red badge on the Slack icon.
- • A dot means you have unread activity in one of your Slack workspaces.
- 3 A number means a teammate sent you a direct message, mentioned you or notified a channel you're in, or used one of your keywords.
If you'd like, you can remove the badge from the icon using the steps outlined below.
Set your badge notification preference
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Select Notifications.
- Under 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.
For Windows, you'll see badge notifications in two places: in your taskbar and in your notifications area.
Notifications area
When Slack is running, you’ll see a Slack icon in your notifications area.
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A blue badge means there's unread activity in one of your workspaces. |
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A red badge means a teammate sent you a direct message, mentioned you, or used one of your keywords. |
By default, your app is set to keep running in the notification 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 do this:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu, then click Advanced.
- Under Other options, uncheck the box next to Leave app running in notification area when the window is closed.
Taskbar
In your taskbar, 3 a red badge means a teammate sent you a direct message, mentioned you, or used one of your keywords.
By default, the Slack icon will flash once when receiving a notification, but only if your computer has been idle for 10 seconds. You can choose to flash the Slack icon even when you're active:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Under Sound & appearance, check Flash window when receiving a notification.
Tip: To keep the Slack icon in the taskbar when the app window is closed, select Flash window when receiving a notification, but leave the second option unchecked.
Note: If your taskbar is set to small taskbar buttons, badges on the Slack icon will not be visible.
On Linux, you'll see badge notifications in your notifications area when the Slack app is running.
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A blue badge means there's unread activity in one of your workspaces. |
|
A red badge means a teammate sent you a direct message, mentioned you, or used one of your keywords. |
By default, your app is set to keep running in the notification 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 do this:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu, then click Advanced.
- Under Other options, uncheck the box next to Leave app running in notification area when the window is closed.
Note: Badges, like this one 1, appear in your channel list whenever someone @mentions you or notifies a channel you’re in — this only includes @here if you’re active on Slack at the time the message is sent.
Channel-specific & group DM notifications
You can set specific notification preferences for any channel or group direct message (DM). Choose when to get notifications or to mute activity altogether.
- Open the channel.
- Click the gear icon to the left of the search field to open the Channel Settings menu.
- Select Notification preferences.
- Choose your preferences for desktop and mobile.
- Click Done.
Tip: Some channels are noisier than others. Try muting a channel for a little peace and quiet. 🕊
Email notifications
By default, you'll get email notifications if you're not active in Slack and someone mentions or sends you a direct message. Here's how to change your preference:
- From your desktop, click your workspace name in the top left.
- Select Preferences from the menu.
- Select Notifications.
- Under When I'm not active on desktop, check or uncheck Send me email notifications. If checked, click change to choose how often notifications are delivered.
Troubleshooting notifications
If you think your notifications are stuck, delayed, or not showing up at all, click on one of the articles below to begin troubleshooting. Let’s figure this out together!