How to configure notification preferences on Slack

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

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.

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Prerequisites

Active Slack account
Slack desktop or mobile app installed
Access to workspace settings
Basic familiarity with Slack interface

Step-by-Step Instructions

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.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+, (Cmd+, on Mac) to quickly open preferences.

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

Select your preferred option based on your workflow needs.

Choose 'Direct messages, mentions & keywords' to reduce notification overload while staying informed about important messages.

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.

Set realistic work hours to maintain work-life balance and avoid after-hours distractions.

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

You can enable multiple delivery methods or choose just one based on your preferences.

Enable mobile notifications only when away from desktop to avoid duplicate alerts.

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.

Add variations of your name and important project terms to ensure you don't miss critical mentions.

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.

Set high-priority channels to 'All messages' and low-priority channels to 'Mentions only' for better focus.

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.

Regularly review and adjust your notification settings as your work patterns and responsibilities change.

Common Issues & 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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