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Slack is a popular communication tool used by many to stay connected with their teams. However, sometimes the pop-up notifications on Windows 11 may stop working, causing you to miss important messages. This guide will help you fix this issue step-by-step with simple instructions.

Notifications are essential for staying updated without constantly checking Slack. When pop-ups don’t appear, it can disrupt your workflow and delay responses. Fortunately, most notification problems can be resolved quickly.

We will start with basic checks and gradually move to more detailed solutions. By following these steps carefully, you should be able to restore Slack notifications on your Windows 11 PC.

Let’s begin by making sure everything is set up correctly in both Windows and Slack settings.

Quick Note: Preliminary Checks

• Check your internet connection: Notifications require an active internet connection to work properly.
• Confirm Slack is running: Ensure Slack is open and running in the background on your PC.
• Check Focus Assist status: Windows Focus Assist can mute notifications. Make sure it’s turned off or set properly.
• Restart Slack: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening Slack can fix notification issues.

Step 1: Verify Slack Notification Settings

First, you need to check if Slack notifications are enabled within the app itself. If notifications are turned off here, Windows won’t show pop-ups.

1. Open the Slack app on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4. Go to the Notifications tab.
5. Make sure the option “Notify me about” is set to All new messages or your preferred setting.
6. Ensure “Sound & appearance” settings are enabled for pop-up notifications.

This step is important because Slack controls which messages trigger notifications, and disabling them here will prevent pop-ups regardless of Windows settings.

Step 2: Check Windows Notification Settings for Slack

Windows 11 has its own notification controls that can block app notifications. You need to confirm that Slack is allowed to send notifications.

1. Click the Start button and select Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to System > Notifications.
3. Scroll down to find Slack in the list of apps.
4. Make sure notifications are turned on for Slack.
5. Click on Slack and check that “Show notification banners” is enabled. This option controls pop-up notifications.

Windows notification settings are crucial because even if Slack sends notifications, Windows can block the pop-ups from appearing on your screen.

Step 3: Disable Focus Assist (Quiet Hours)

Focus Assist is a Windows feature that silences notifications during certain times or activities. If it is enabled, you won’t receive Slack pop-ups.

1. Open Settings and select System.
2. Click on Focus Assist.
3. Set it to Off to allow all notifications.
4. If you prefer using Focus Assist, you can customize it to allow priority notifications from Slack.

Turning off Focus Assist is important because it often blocks notifications to reduce distractions, which might be why your Slack pop-ups are missing.

Step 4: Clear Slack Cache

Sometimes, corrupted cache files can cause Slack to behave improperly, including notification issues. Clearing the cache can help fix this.

1. Close Slack completely by right-clicking the Slack icon in the system tray and selecting Quit Slack.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type %AppData%SlackCache and press Enter.
4. Select all files in the Cache folder and delete them.
5. Restart Slack and check if notifications work now.

Clearing cache removes temporary files that may cause glitches without affecting your messages or settings.

Step 5: Update Slack and Windows

An outdated app or operating system can cause compatibility issues. Keeping both Slack and Windows updated ensures you have the latest fixes and features.

1. Open Slack and click your profile picture.
2. Choose Check for Updates. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.
3. For Windows, click Start, go to Settings > Windows Update, and click Check for updates.
4. Install any available updates and restart your PC.

Updating software fixes bugs and improves notification reliability.

Alternative Method: Use Slack Web Version Notifications

If the desktop app still won’t show notifications, you can try using Slack in your web browser as a temporary workaround.

• Open your preferred browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
• Go to https://slack.com/signin and log in.
• Enable notifications by allowing the browser to show notifications when prompted.

This method can help you stay updated while you troubleshoot the desktop app.

FAQs

Why am I not getting Slack notifications even though they are enabled?

Sometimes, Focus Assist or Windows notification settings may block notifications. It’s important to check both Slack and Windows notification settings and ensure Focus Assist is off.

How do I know if Slack notifications are muted?

Slack has a “Do Not Disturb” mode. If this is on, notifications will be silenced. You can check this by clicking your profile picture in Slack and seeing if “Pause notifications” is enabled.

Can restarting my PC help with notification issues?

Yes, restarting your computer can resolve temporary glitches affecting notifications.

Are Slack notifications delayed or slow?

Notification delays can be caused by slow internet or server issues. Ensure you have a stable connection and check Slack’s status page for outages.

How do I customize Slack notifications?

You can customize notifications in Slack settings under the Notifications tab, selecting which messages to be notified about and how often.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the steps above and Slack pop-up notifications still do not work, consider these final options:

• Reinstall Slack: Uninstall Slack from your PC, then download and install the latest version from the official website.
• Contact Slack Support: Visit Slack Help Center for direct assistance.
• Check Windows Troubleshooter: Windows has a built-in troubleshooter for notifications in Settings > System > Troubleshoot.

These options help resolve more complex issues or provide official support when needed.

Conclusion

Slack pop-up notifications not working on Windows 11 can be frustrating but are usually easy to fix. Start by checking Slack’s own notification settings, then verify Windows notification permissions and Focus Assist status. Clearing cache and updating software often solves hidden problems.

If the desktop app still fails, consider the web version or reinstalling Slack. Remember, keeping both your app and operating system up to date is key to a smooth notification experience.

By following this guide carefully, you should be able to restore your Slack notifications and never miss an important message again.