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Quick Answer

Click your profile picture in the bottom left, select Preferences, and under Notifications, select Direct messages, mentions & keywords to stop getting pinged for every message.

How to Manage Slack Notifications and Do Not Disturb ​

Applies to: Slack Desktop App, Slack Mobile App
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-10

Summary ​

Slack is a fantastic tool for fast communication, but if you don't manage your notifications, the constant pinging will destroy your focus. You do not need to be notified about every single message in a 50-person channel. This guide shows you how to mute the noise while ensuring you never miss a direct message from your boss.

Prerequisites ​

  • You must be signed in to the Slack Desktop app or Mobile app

Instructions ​

1. The Golden Rule: Only Notify for Mentions and DMs ​

By default, some Slack workspaces notify you for every new message in your channels. This is unmanageable. You should change your global settings so you are only pinged when someone actually needs you.

  1. Click your Profile Picture in the bottom left corner of the Slack app.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. At the very top of the Notifications tab, look under "Notify me about...".
  4. Select Direct messages, mentions & keywords.
  5. Now, your computer will only beep if someone sends you a private DM, or if they explicitly tag your name (e.g., @sarah) in a channel.

2. How to Mute a Busy Channel ​

Even with the golden rule applied, busy channels (like #random or #watercooler) will still appear bold white in your sidebar, tricking your brain into thinking there is work to do. You can mute them entirely.

  1. Right-click the name of the noisy channel in your left sidebar.
  2. Select Mute channel.
  3. The channel name will turn gray and move to the bottom of your channel list. You can still click it to read it when you are bored, but it will never distract you again.

3. Setting Up a Notification Schedule (Protect Your Evenings) ​

You should not be getting Slack notifications on your phone at 9:00 PM unless you are on call. Set a strict schedule.

  1. Click your Profile Picture in the bottom left corner.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. Scroll down to Notification schedule.
  4. Set the drop-downs to match your working hours (e.g., Allow notifications: Weekdays, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
  5. Outside of these hours, Slack will hold all your notifications until the next morning. Your coworkers will see a small "Zzz" icon next to your name, letting them know you are offline.

4. Pausing Notifications Manually (Do Not Disturb) ​

If you are going into a 2-hour deep work session or presenting your screen in a meeting, you can pause notifications manually.

  1. Click your Profile Picture in the bottom left corner.
  2. Hover over Pause notifications.
  3. Select how long you want the pause to last (e.g., 1 hour, 2 hours, or until tomorrow).
  4. If a coworker urgently needs you while you are paused, Slack gives them a special button to "Notify anyway," so you won't miss a true emergency.

Troubleshooting ​

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
I'm missing DMs from my bossWindows/Mac settingsCheck if Windows "Focus Assist" or Mac "Do Not Disturb" is blocking Slack at the operating system level
No sound when a message arrivesSlack sound settingsGo to Preferences > Notifications and check the "Sound & appearance" section
Mobile app isn't buzzingMobile notification delaySlack doesn't ping your phone if you are active on your computer. It waits 1-2 minutes after you go idle on PC to send it to mobile
I keep getting emails about missed Slack messagesEmail notification settingGo to Preferences > Notifications, scroll to the bottom, and uncheck "Send me email notifications for mentions and DMs"