If you are a Slack user, then you are already aware of the wonderful features it offers for communicating with coworkers. But like any other chat tool, you also have to make it work for you and this means setting up your notifications. We will show you how to customize your Slack notifications on your desktop, online, and on your mobile device so you never miss a message.
Customize Slack Notifications
Slack is available across computer platforms, online, and also on mobile devices. The following are steps to customizing your slack-
- Open your Notification Preferences.
- Choose Trigger.
- Enable Thread notification.
- Setup Keywords.
- Create a Notification Schedule.
- Choose a Sound and Appearance.
- Select Timing to be Notified when Idle.
- Channel specific Notifications.
Now let us have a detailed look at these steps outlined above.
1] Open Your Notification Preferences
To get started, sign into the workspace you want to adjust your alerts for and open your notification preferences. Remember, you can use different notification settings for each workspace.
For Desktop and online, click your profile image or icon on the top right, select Preferences, and choose Notifications on the left.
For the Mobile App, on the other hand, go to settings at the bottom of the workspace and select Notifications.
2] Choose a Trigger
You can choose to be notified for all new messages, only direct messages, mentions, and keywords, or nothing at all. Make your choice at the top under Notify me about or On mobile notify me about.
If you prefer to use different triggers on your desktop or online versus your mobile device, this is an option. Check the box for Use different settings for my mobile devices and then select the trigger in the drop-down list that you want to use on mobile.
Read: How to enable Dark Mode in Slack app.
3] Enable Thread notification
If you’re following a particular conversation thread, you can check the box for Notify me about replies to threads I’m following if you like. On your mobile device, turn on the toggle for Thread Notifications.
4] Setup Keywords
Keywords are handy if there’s a particular topic you’re interested in. You can add keywords so that when one is used in a channel, you’ll get a notification. These keywords will sync with that workspace too. So you can enter one or more in the desktop app and you’ll see them in the keyword section in the mobile app.
Note: If you use Slack in a browser, you may need to refresh to see keywords you add elsewhere.
Use the My Keywords section of the notification settings to enter your words or phrases. Use commas to separate each as shown in the image below.
5] Create Notification Schedule
Since most of us don’t work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Slack lets you create a notification schedule. With it, you’ll only be notified within the days and times you set up. This is helpful for stopping notifications when you’re not working like on nights and weekends.
In the Notification Schedule area, choose from Every day, Weekdays, or Custom days for the notifications. Then, select the start and end times.
You’ll still see the messages when you log into your workspace, you just won’t receive the notifications for them outside of the schedule.
Read: Slack Tips and Tricks for managing small team chats.
6] Choose a Sound and Appearance
If you belong to more than one workspace, setting up a different sound for each can be useful. So use the Notification Sound & Appearance drop-down box to pick one. In the desktop app or online, you can also choose to Mute all sounds from Slack, if you rather, by checking that box.
You can check the box or turn on the toggle to Include a preview of the message in the notifications. This is also great for seeing whether the notification is important or if it can wait until later.
In the Slack desktop app, you also have options to show a badge icon for new activity and bounce the Slack icon when receiving a notification. Check either or both if you’d like to use those actions.
7] Select Timing to be Notified when Idle
Another convenient feature for Slack notifications is based on your activity. So if you’re idle on your desktop, you can send the notifications to your mobile device instead.
For Desktop and online, Make a selection in the drop-down list for When I’m not active on desktop.
You can also check the box to send me email notifications for mentions and direct messages. This will notify you via email to the address you use for that Slack workspace. It’s a nice backup if you plan to be away from Slack for a long length of time.
Whereas, or the Mobile App, Choose an option in the Notify Me on Mobile setting as seen below.
8] Channel Specific Notifications
Outside of your overall workspace notification preferences, you can set those for certain channels. These are useful for Slack channels that have a lot of activity where you may not want to be notified of every message posted.
These notifications apply to that channel only. So you can still see all new messages (if that’s the workspace trigger you pick) for the rest of the channels.
For Desktop and Online, Click the Info icon (small letter i) on the top right of the channel. Select More and then Change Notifications.
Choose from Every new message, Just @mentions, or Nothing. Optionally check the box to use different settings on your mobile device.
Finally, click the X at the top right corner to close the window.
You can quickly review or edit these settings in the Notifications preferences section you’ve used above. Scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see all of your Channel-Specific Notifications.
For the Mobil App, tap the Info icon on the top right of the channel. Click Notifications, then select a trigger from the same options as above. Tap the X to close the window.
To see these notifications in the mobile app, head to the Notification settings you’ve used above, and tap Channel-Specific Notifications.
Capitalize on Slack Notification Flexibility
Looking at how so many settings are available for your Slack notifications, it’s worth it to take a couple of minutes and customize them to your liking. We have written an informative article on how to Set up and use Auto-Reply on Slack to send replies as scheduled by the user.
If you think people around you could benefit from customizing their Slack notifications too, please share this helpful how-to with them.
