How to Set Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Slack on Mac

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

SlackNotificationsDo Not DisturbMacAlertsSettingsCustomizationFocusPreferencesProductivity

Slack is a powerful tool used by many teams and organizations to collaborate and communicate effectively. Notifications are an essential feature in Slack that helps ensure that important updates and messages are received on time. However, it is important to manage notifications correctly to maintain productivity without being bothered by constant alerts. In addition, Slack offers a 'Do Not Disturb' mode that allows you to temporarily mute notifications when you need to focus or during non-work hours. Here we will tell you how to set up and manage notifications and how to use the Do Not Disturb feature in Slack, specifically for Mac users.

Understanding Slack notifications

Before we dive into the settings, it's important to understand the types of notifications you can get in Slack:

• Messages: You can get alerts for both direct messages (DMs) and messages in channels.
• Mentions: You get notifications when someone mentions you or uses keywords you're following.
• Threads: These are follow-up messages in a discussion you're involved in or following.

Navigating through the Slack notification settings will allow you to determine which alerts you receive and adjust Slack’s behavior to suit your work style.

Basic notification settings

To adjust basic notification settings in Slack, follow these steps:

1. Open Slack on your Mac.
2. Go to the workspace where you want to adjust the settings.
3. Click the down arrow next to your workspace's name in the upper-left corner of the screen, then choose Preferences.

In the Preferences menu, you'll find the Notifications section. This section is divided into several subsections to help you manage different aspects of notifications:

Notification settings

Here, you can choose the default behavior for notifications. Some options you might consider include:

• All new messages: Get notified for every new message, regardless of channel or conversation.
• Direct messages, mentions, and keywords: Receive notifications only for direct messages, mentions, and specific keywords.
• None: Mute all notifications completely.

Distinctive sound and tone

Another way to manage notifications is to adjust sound and appearance settings. You can:

• Choose a custom sound for notifications. This helps differentiate Slack notifications from other notifications on your Mac.
• Enable or disable sound notifications if you think they’re distracting.
• Set desktop notifications to appear continuously or disappear after a short period of time.

These settings allow you to create a notification environment that suits you, ensuring you get the information you need in the way that best suits your productivity.

Managing channel-specific notifications

Sometimes, you may want to fine-tune notifications for specific channels. This is especially useful when you are only interested in certain types of updates. Let's see how:

1. Open the channel you want to configure notifications for.
2. Click on the channel name at the top of the window to open the channel details.
3. Select Notifications from the available options.

Under these settings, you can set up notifications:

• For all new messages coming into the channel, ensuring you stay up to date with everything.
• Just to mention, if you don’t want to be disturbed unless a message is directed at you.
• Without any reason, the channel was completely muted.

Using Do Not Disturb in Slack

Slack's Do Not Disturb (DND) feature is invaluable when you need to focus on work or during off-hours. Activating DND will mute notifications, ensuring your workflow isn't interrupted. Here's how to use this feature:

Activating Do Not Disturb manually

You can manually activate DND at any time:

1. Click the bell icon in the sidebar of your Slack workspace.
2. Select Do not disturb settings.
3. Select the duration for DND from the available options, such as 30 minutes, one hour, or a custom duration.

During this time, Slack will not send you any notifications. Once the period is over, Slack will automatically remove the DND, and notifications will resume as normal.

Scheduling Do Not Disturb

You can also set a DND period, which is especially beneficial if you have regular hours during which you don’t want to be disturbed:

1. Again, access the Notifications section in the Preferences menu.
2. Scroll down to the 'Do Not Disturb' section.
3. Set your preferred DND hours. For example, you can set DND to activate automatically after your working hours in the evening.

The Scheduled DND feature reduces the pressure of setting it up manually and ensures that notifications don't interrupt you while you're away from work.

Overriding the Do Not Disturb option

In special circumstances, you may still want to exclude certain notifications from DND. Slack allows you to do this using specific keywords like @here or @channel, but be careful when using this feature as it may disrupt your intended non-notification period.

Tips for effective notification management

Here are some practical tips for managing your notifications in Slack:

• Prioritize important channels: Make sure you receive real-time updates only from essential channels that require your immediate attention.
• Use keywords wisely: Set up notifications for keywords related to important tasks or projects so you avoid information overload.
• Evaluate instead of default: Review your notification settings regularly and adjust them according to your role and responsibilities in your team or organization.

Configuring these notifications effectively ensures a balance between staying informed and maintaining productivity without being bothered by constant alerts.

Conclusion

Managing notifications and Do Not Disturb settings in Slack on your Mac can significantly enhance your productivity and work-life balance. By customizing your alerts and strategically using the Do Not Disturb feature, you ensure you stay informed of important communications without unnecessary distractions. Exploring the various settings and reviewing them periodically allows you to keep your notification system aligned with your current needs and tasks. These steps will empower you to effectively manage your Slack experience, enabling better focus and improved collaboration within your teams.

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