Ever since the start of the pandemic, the work culture has changed, and people are now working from their homes instead of their offices. Slack has grown into the go-to workspace communication tool for users working from their homes. The rise in popularity and usage of Slack is all thanks to the multiple workspace tools it offers. However, just like every other app, there are several issues in Slack, especially related to notifications.
The multiple ways to customize notifications in Slack often are the reason behind Slack notifications not working. If you are facing the same issues and are looking for methods to fix them, here are some effective methods which will fix the Slack notifications not working issue on your Android device.
Before we begin
Do note that the Slack notifications not working issue is prevalent on all operating systems, including Android and iOS. While the fixes here are done on Android, the same methods are also applicable to iOS.
Here are a few things you should keep in mind before you fixing the issue:
- Slack notifications settings sync across all platforms. When a setting changes in one device, it also changes the setting on another device.Notifications settings should be configured separately for each group.
1. Restart Your Phone
When you first come across an app issue or issue related to your phone, restart it. It seems like the first easy fix is to restart your phone, open the Slack app and see if it fixes the issue.
2. Use Built-in Slack Troubleshooter
The good thing about Slack is it offers a built-in notifications troubleshooter which can help you fix most of the problems. It is present on both Android and iOS. Here is how to use it:
Open the Slack app on your Android phone.
Tap on the “You” tab at the bottom right of the Slack interface, then click on the “Notifications” option.
Under the Notifications menu, you have to tap on “Troubleshoot notifications” to initiate the troubleshooting process.
It will scan your device for any notifications issues and will fix any detected issues.
3. Allow Notifications
On Android, there is a separate notifications setting available for every app that you install. You can tweak these notifications settings and basically disable all notifications if you’d like. If you are not receiving Slack notifications, check the notifications setting for the Slack app and see if it has been accidentally disabled.
Long press on the Slack app icon and tap on “App info” button.
Tap on the “Notifications” option.
Ensure all notifications are enabled, or at least the most important ones.
3. Install the Latest Slack App Update
More often, we forget to update all apps installed on our devices. It is a nice habit to check for app updates on the Google Play Store, as the app developers may have fixed some bugs in the newer version. Make sure you are running the latest version of the Slack app on your device to avoid any possibilities of the issue happening due to a bug in the app.
4. Enable Mobile Notifications
If you are still facing the Slack notifications not working issue on your mobile phone, then you may want to check whether you have enabled mobile notifications within the app. Slack works slightly differently compared to other apps in terms of notifications.
By default, Slack sends notifications to you only if you are inactive on your desktop Slack app. This means one minute of locking your desktop screen or 10 minutes of no activity. Simply, you will receive Slack notifications on your mobile as long as you are active on the desktop app. You can change this behavior of the app by following the below steps:
Open the Slack mobile app and tap on the “You” tab at the bottom right of the interface, then tap on “Notifications.”
Tap on the “Notify me on mobile … ” option.
Here, select the “Always, even when I’m active” option.
5. Enable Sound
Typically, when a notification arrives on your phone, you expect it to make a sound to “notify” you. You can also set or check whether you have set a sound for Slack notifications.
For this, head over to; You tab -> Notifications -> System options. Tapping on System Options will open the Android system-wide notification settings. Here, ensure that you have turned off silent mode. Choose a loud, yet subtle message tone for Slack notifications.
6. Enable Slack Thread Notifications
If you are having trouble receiving thread or reply notifications, check to see whether the dedicated setting is enabled.
To do that, head over to You tab -> Notifications. Here, enable the “Notify me about replies to threads” toggle.
7. Unmute Channel
Another possible fix to check is whether you have muted the channel from which you are expecting notifications. If you have muted a channel, you will come across the Slack notifications not working issue.
To unmute the Slack channel, open the channel, and under the Channel details settings, make sure the “Mute channel” toggle is disabled.
8. Disable Battery Saving Mode
There is a power-saving mode on Android devices which allows users to save some extra juice when their phones have a little amount of battery left. This battery-saving mode can sometimes be the culprit behind Slack notifications not working. In order for Slack notifications to function properly, you need to disable battery-saving mode.
On Android, head over to “Settings -> Battery.” Here, turn off Battery Saver mode.
9. Disable Battery Optimization for the Slack App
Devices running on newer versions of Android have a “Battery Optimization” feature for each app installed on the device. It gives the authority to the user to decide which app may run in the background. If you, by accident, enabled this feature for the Slack app, then you will come across issues like Slack notifications not working.
To check and turn off “Battery Optimization” for the Slack app, long-press the app icon and tap on “App info.” Go to “Advanced -> Battery.” Under the Battery menu, check the “Don’t optimize” option. You can also use the “Intelligent Control” option.
10. Clear Cache Data
You can also try clearing the app’s cache data. Most often, the corrupted temporary files are the reason behind the malfunctioning of apps. You can clear the cache data of the Slack app by going to You tab -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Reset Cache.
These are some of the best ways to fix the Slack notifications not working issue on your Android device. As already mentioned, you can also follow these steps for iOS devices.
Also learn how to hide notifications from your lockscreen in Android.
My work has been published on Android Authority, Android Police, Android Central, BGR, Gadgets360, GSMArena, and more. A Six Sigma and Google Certified Digital Marketer who is covering tech-related content for the past 2 years.
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