Chat Notifications
SetGet Chat gives you granular control over how and when you receive notifications. You can configure preferences per channel, per DM, and globally. This lets you stay informed about important conversations while filtering out noise from less critical channels.
Per-channel notification preferences
Each channel can have its own notification level. The three options are:
| Level | Behavior |
|---|---|
| All messages | You receive a notification for every new message in the channel |
| Mentions only | You receive a notification only when someone @mentions you or @channel |
| Muted | No notifications from this channel |
Set channel notification level
- Open the channel.
- Click the bell icon in the channel header, or open the three-dot menu next to the channel name in the sidebar.
- Select your preferred notification level.
The setting takes effect immediately and persists until you change it.
Default notification level
When you join a new channel, the default notification level is All messages. You can change this at any time.
TIP
For large channels with high traffic (100+ messages per day), consider switching to Mentions only to reduce notification volume while still being alerted when someone needs your attention.
DM notification behavior
Direct messages have a different default behavior than channels:
| Aspect | Channel default | DM default |
|---|---|---|
| Notification level | All messages | All messages (cannot be set to Mentions only) |
| Can be muted | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop notification | Based on global setting | Always (unless muted) |
| Priority | Normal | Elevated (DMs are considered personal) |
DMs always notify you for every message unless the conversation is muted. This is because DMs are directed specifically at you and are expected to be seen.
Mute a DM
If a DM conversation is generating too many notifications:
- Right-click the conversation in the DM sidebar.
- Select Mute.
- You stop receiving notifications for that conversation.
Muted DMs still show unread badges (with a dimmed style) so you know there are messages, but no push or sound notifications are triggered.
Desktop notifications
Desktop notifications are browser push notifications that appear outside the SetGet window. They help you notice incoming messages even when SetGet is not the active tab.
Enable desktop notifications
- When you first use SetGet Chat, the browser prompts you to allow notifications. Click Allow.
- If you previously denied the prompt, you can re-enable it:
- Click the lock/info icon in the browser address bar.
- Find Notifications and change to Allow.
- Refresh the page.
Desktop notification behavior
| Trigger | Desktop notification |
|---|---|
| New message in a channel set to "All messages" | Yes |
| @mention in a channel set to "Mentions only" | Yes |
| New message in a muted channel | No |
| New DM (unmuted) | Yes |
| New DM (muted) | No |
| New thread reply (you are a participant) | Yes |
| Reaction on your message | No |
Desktop notifications show:
- The sender's name and avatar
- A preview of the message content (truncated)
- The channel or DM name
- A timestamp
Clicking the desktop notification opens SetGet and navigates to the relevant channel or DM.
WARNING
Desktop notifications require browser permission. If you do not see desktop notifications, check your browser's notification settings and ensure SetGet is allowed.
Sound notifications
SetGet Chat plays a notification sound when a new message arrives and the channel/DM qualifies for notifications.
Sound notification settings
| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Sound enabled | On / Off |
| Sound volume | Adjustable (via browser/OS volume) |
| Sound triggers | Same as desktop notification triggers |
To toggle sound notifications:
- Click your profile avatar in the workspace sidebar.
- Select Notification Preferences.
- Toggle Chat notification sound on or off.
TIP
If you work in an open office or shared space, consider disabling notification sounds and relying on visual indicators (badges and desktop notifications) instead.
Notification center integration
Chat notifications appear alongside other SetGet notifications in the workspace notification center:
| Notification type | Appears in notification center |
|---|---|
| Chat message in "All messages" channel | Yes |
| Chat @mention | Yes |
| Thread reply | Yes |
| DM message | Yes |
| Reaction | No |
| Pin/unpin | No |
The notification center (bell icon in the top navigation) shows a unified list of all notifications. Chat notifications include the channel name, sender, and a message preview.
Read behavior in the notification center
- Clicking a chat notification marks it as read and navigates to the message.
- Using Mark All as Read in the notification center clears chat notifications along with all other notification types.
Notification preferences summary
Here is a complete matrix of how notification settings interact:
| Channel setting | Message type | In-app badge | Desktop notification | Sound | Notification center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All messages | Regular message | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| All messages | @mention | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mentions only | Regular message | Yes (dimmed) | No | No | No |
| Mentions only | @mention | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Muted | Regular message | Yes (dimmed) | No | No | No |
| Muted | @mention | Yes (dimmed) | No | No | No |
WARNING
Muting a channel suppresses all notifications, including @mentions. If you need to receive @mention notifications but filter out regular messages, use Mentions only instead of Muted.
Global chat notification settings
In addition to per-channel settings, you can configure global defaults:
- Click your profile avatar > Notification Preferences.
- Under the Chat section, configure:
| Global setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Default channel notification level | Sets the default for new channels you join |
| Desktop notifications | Enable or disable browser push notifications for chat |
| Notification sound | Enable or disable sound for chat notifications |
| DM notifications | Cannot be set below "All messages" (DMs always notify unless muted) |
These global settings serve as defaults. Per-channel overrides always take precedence.
Managing notification overload
If you are receiving too many chat notifications, here are strategies to reduce the volume:
| Strategy | How |
|---|---|
| Mute low-priority channels | Right-click > Mute |
| Switch busy channels to Mentions only | Channel header > Bell icon > Mentions only |
| Leave channels you no longer need | Channel menu > Leave Channel |
| Disable desktop notifications | Profile > Notification Preferences > Desktop off |
| Disable sound | Profile > Notification Preferences > Sound off |
| Use Mark All as Read regularly | Chat header > Mark All as Read |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No desktop notifications | Browser permission not granted | Allow notifications in browser settings |
| Notifications appear for muted channels | Setting did not save | Refresh and re-apply the mute |
| Too many notifications | Default is "All messages" for all channels | Switch high-traffic channels to "Mentions only" |
| No sound | Sound disabled in preferences or OS volume muted | Check both SetGet settings and system volume |
| Notification center shows old items | Items not dismissed | Click notifications to mark as read |
Related pages
- Chat Overview — introduction to SetGet Chat
- Channels — channel settings and membership
- Direct Messages — DM notification defaults
- Presence — availability indicators
- Notifications Overview — workspace-wide notification system
- Notification Preferences — global notification configuration
- Email Notifications — email delivery settings