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Key Points
- Slack notifications are a great way to stay up-to-date on the conversations happening in the channels and DM’s you’re subscribed to.
- You can set up different levels of notifications depending on the trigger, such as a direct message, mention, or keyword.
- You can modify sound and appearance notifications in your phone’s system settings.
- It’s also possible to redirect your Slack notifications directly to your email inbox
Slack is the ultimate workplace communication tool. It allows you to easily stay in touch with your colleagues and get updates on projects quickly. However, it can be difficult to know when something needs your attention if Slack notifications aren’t turned on.
Notifications keep you updated with what’s happening in your workplace, whether at your desk or on the go. Slack lets you configure what type of notifications you want to receive and how often. Users can adjust the default notification triggers (DMs, mentions, and keywords), set up keyword notifications, set notification schedules, and adjust the sound and appearance of the notifications.
You can also set email notifications so you never miss an important update. And if you want to change the messages you receive from a specific channel or user, you can configure all that easily in the settings.
Here is a step-by-step guide to turning on Slack notifications:
Method 1: Turn On Slack Notifications on Desktop
Most people use desktops when working, and Slack has desktop-specific settings. Here’s how to make sure you have notifications set up correctly.
Step 1: Launch Slack on Your PC or Mac
The first step is to open the Slack app. If you use the web version, head to www.slack.com and log in to your Slack account. Select the Slack workspace you want and launch to access.
Step 2: Navigate to the Profile Picture Icon
Once you’re in the app, locate the profile icon. If you haven’t set your profile icon, there will be a generic avatar with a blue background.
Don’t confuse it with the “add people to workspace” icon, which looks similar but has a plus sign below it. Proceed to click the profile icon.
Step 3: Click Preferences
When you click the profile icon, a menu will appear with several selections. In this section, you can set yourself “away,” pause notifications, adjust profile settings, and even sign out of the workspace.
Step 4: Select Notifications Preferences
When you’re in the preferences section, select the “Notifications” tab. Often, it’s the tab that opens first when you click preferences. So you won’t need to navigate too far.
You’ll see “Notify me about…” Below it, you can choose what notifications you want to receive.
For instance, selecting “All new messages” allows you to receive notifications anytime a message is sent in any channel of your workspace.
Select “Direct messages, mentions, and keywords” if you want to receive notifications when someone sends you a direct message, mentions your name, or includes specific keywords.
You can also select “Nothing” to turn off Slack notifications completely. That includes the notifications you receive when a huddle starts and replies to threads you are following.
Method 2: Turn On Slack Notifications on a Mobile Device
Mobile devices allow you to receive Slack notifications on the go. While you can configure your mobile notifications on a desktop, it’s much simpler to do so on the mobile app.
On the desktop app, open “Notifications” under “Preferences,” then tick the box that says “Use different settings for my mobile devices.” Click the drop-down and select the triggers you want to set.
Follow these steps to turn on Slack notifications on a mobile device:
Step 1: Launch the Slack App
Open the Slack app to access your workspace. Slack automatically logs you into your workspace if you’re logged into the app. If not, log in with your email and password.
Step 2: Tap the Profile Icon
At the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll see a profile icon labeled “You.” Tap it to open the profile menu.
Step 3: Select Notifications
The profile menu will show several options, including pause notifications, set yourself away, saved items, notifications, and preferences.
Step 4: Set Your Notification Triggers
Once you click the “Notifications” option, you’ll be taken to a section with several options. Select the first option, labeled “On mobile, notify me about…” and choose the triggers you want.
The available options are “all new messages, direct messages, mentions, and keywords,” and “Nothing.”
The second option, “Notify me on mobile…” lets you schedule when you want to receive the notifications. For instance, you can choose “Always, even when I’m active” to receive notifications regardless of whether you’re using the app.
You can also select “As soon as I’m active” to receive notifications when you open the app. Other options include “After 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 30 minutes.” Click save to confirm changes.
How to Set Up Keyword Notifications on Desktop
Keyword notifications are a great way to stay aware of specific conversations on Slack. They can help you stay connected with colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders.
For instance, your department is dealing with a customer experiencing technical issues. You can set “technical issue” as the keyword trigger, so you get notified whenever someone mentions it on Slack.
Step 1: Select Notifications Under Preferences
Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the desktop app, then select “Preferences.” Under Preferences, select “Notifications” and move to the next step.
Step 2: Go to My Keywords and Fill in The words
Under “Notifications,” scroll down until you see “My Keywords.” Enter words, phrases, and emojis you want to use as triggers. You’ll get a notification whenever someone mentions those words on the app. Use commas to separate keywords.
Set Up Keyword Notifications on Mobile Devices
Slack also allows you to use keywords and phrases as triggers on mobile devices. Here’s how you can do that:
Step 1: Open Notifications and Select “My KeyWords”
Open the profile menu, then select “Notifications.” Under “Notifications,” scroll down the page until you see the “My Keywords” section.
Step 2: Enter Your Triggers
Select the “My Keywords” option and proceed to enter the words, phrases, and emojis you want to use as triggers. Separate your entries with commas.
Once you’re done entering the triggers, click save to confirm your changes. You will now receive notifications whenever someone mentions those words on Slack.
Setting Slack Notification Sound and Appearance
How your notifications look and sound can be the difference between being alerted and missing out on meaningful conversations.
To customize the look and sound of your Slack notifications on desktops, click the profile icon at the top right corner of the screen, then select “Preferences.”
Under “Notifications,” scroll down to “Sound and appearance” and customize the settings as desired. You can also adjust the look and sound of your notifications on mobile devices. To do this, open the profile menu, then select “Notifications.” Scroll down to “Sound and appearance” and make customizations as needed.
If you are using a mobile device, you can adjust the sound of your notifications by selecting “System Options” under “Notifications.” You’ll be redirected to your phone’s app settings, where you can make all the desired customizations. If you want Slack notifications to pop up on your screen, you can enable this feature by clicking the toggle icon next to “Show as pop-up.”
Conclusion
Knowing how to turn on Slack notifications can help you stay in touch with colleagues and other stakeholders. We have shown how to set up notifications on desktop and mobile devices. You can set keyword triggers, including specific keywords in channel conversations.
While you can get by with basic notifications and settings, you should still customize your notification sound and appearance for maximum convenience. With these tips in mind, you are ready to take full advantage of Slack’s excellent features. Read our other article How To Use Slack to get started.
