# How to turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac: Slack and macOS settings, 2026

> How to turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac in Slack Preferences or macOS System Settings, plus fixes for sounds that still play.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/turn-off-notification-sounds-in-slack
Updated: 2026-11-06

To turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac, open Preferences with ⌘ , and check Mute all sounds from Slack under Sound & appearance. To silence Slack at the macOS level instead, go to System Settings > Notifications > Slack and turn off Play sound for notifications.

## Quick answer

- Open Slack, press ⌘ , and check Mute all sounds from Slack under Sound & appearance on the Notifications page.
- To silence Slack at the system level, go to System Settings > Notifications > Slack and turn off Play sound for notifications.
- Want some sounds? Leave the mute box unchecked and set each notification type's drop-down to the silent option.
- Keep Allow notifications turned on. Turning it off removes the banners too, not just the sound.

Applies to: Slack desktop app for Mac on macOS 12 or later. Time: 5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- Slack desktop app for Mac, signed in to your workspace
- macOS 12 (Monterey) or later for the System Settings steps

## How to Turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac in Slack on a Mac

1. **Open Slack Preferences.** (Profile picture > Preferences) Shortcut: ⌘ ,. Click your profile picture, then choose Preferences. You can also press ⌘ , while the Slack desktop app is active. Slack lists this shortcut for the desktop app only. Tip: The shortcut does nothing in a browser tab, so make sure the Slack Mac app is in front.
2. **Open the Notifications page.** (Preferences > Notifications) In Preferences, click Notifications. This page holds the sound and alert settings for Slack on your Mac.
3. **Find the Sound & appearance section.** (Notifications > Sound & appearance) Scroll down until you see Sound & appearance. One Slack help article calls it Sounds & appearance, so go by the label on your screen. Tip: Slack's two help articles use slightly different labels for this section. Both point to the same settings.
4. **Check Mute all sounds from Slack.** (Sound & appearance > Mute all sounds from Slack) Click the box labeled Mute all sounds from Slack so it shows a check mark. Slack stops playing its notification sounds. Tip: If you want to hear each sound first, click Show an example before you check the box.
5. **Close Preferences and test.** Close the Preferences window. Ask a colleague to send you a message, or wait for an alert. You should see the alert without a sound.
6. **Keep some sounds instead.** (Sound & appearance > Notification type drop-down) If you want some sounds, leave the mute box unchecked. For each notification type on the page, open its drop-down and choose the silent option for the types you want quiet.
7. **Open System Settings.** (Apple menu > System Settings) Click the Apple menu, then choose System Settings. Slack's help article still says System Preferences, which is the name used before macOS Ventura. Tip: If your macOS version shows different labels, look for the same words in the same order.
8. **Open Slack in Notifications.** (Notifications > Application Notifications > Slack) Click Notifications. Then, under Application Notifications, click Slack.
9. **Turn off the sound for Slack.** (Slack > Play sound for notifications) Turn off Play sound for notifications. Apple's guide uses the singular label, Play sound for notification, so match what your Mac shows. This switch turns the sound on or off. It does not choose a different sound.
10. **Confirm the change took effect.** Trigger a Slack alert from another account, or wait for one. If it still makes a sound, go to the troubleshooting section below and check the Sound settings.

Slack has two sound settings on a Mac, and they work at different levels. The first lives inside Slack's own Preferences. The second lives in macOS, where you control notifications for each app. Most people only need the first. If a sound still plays after that, the second one usually explains why.

![Person working at a laptop on a desk while setting up how to turn off Slack notification sounds on Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/turn-off-notification-sounds-in-slack/how-to-turn-off-slack-notification-sounds-1-e6ab95.jpg)

## Two sound settings control Slack on a Mac

Slack's setting is called Mute all sounds from Slack. It sits on the Notifications page inside Preferences. When you check it, Slack stops playing its notification sounds. The setting is about sound. It does not turn Slack's notifications off.

The macOS setting works differently. In System Settings, each app gets its own sound switch. Apple's guide describes that switch as on or off only. You can silence Slack there, but you cannot pick a different sound for it.

| Layer | Where to find it | What it changes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Slack | Profile picture > Preferences > Notifications > Sound & appearance | Whether Slack plays its own notification sounds |
| macOS | Apple menu > System Settings > Notifications > Slack | Whether macOS plays sound for Slack alerts |
| Slack shortcut | ⌘ , opens Preferences in the desktop app | Gets you to the Slack sound setting faster |

_Where each Slack sound setting lives on a Mac_

Start in Slack. Slack's own help points there first. Move to macOS only if sound still plays after the Slack change, or if you want Slack silent in macOS no matter how Slack is set up.

## Mute all Slack sounds in Preferences

Most people stop after this setting, and that is a sensible choice for a quiet Mac. Keep one thing in mind. The setting covers Slack only. Other apps on your Mac keep their own sound settings, and macOS keeps its own switch for Slack.

> **Test before you mute:** Click Show an example in the same section before you check the box. Once the box is checked, Slack will not play the sound you are trying to test.

## Keep some Slack sounds and silence the rest

Some people don't want silence. They want fewer sounds. Slack's help says you can leave Mute all sounds from Slack unchecked. Then set each notification type's drop-down to the silent option. That gives you control over each type, one at a time.

A simple pattern works for many people. Keep one sound for the alerts you cannot miss, and silence the rest. Start with the types that interrupt you most. Then adjust after a few days.

- Focus time: silence every type, but keep the alerts on screen.
- Busy channels: keep a sound for direct messages and silence the rest.
- Shared room: mute Slack in Preferences so no sound plays while others work nearby.

Change one drop-down at a time, then send yourself a test message. That way you know which change did what.

## Silence Slack in System Settings on Mac

The macOS switch is the second layer. Use it when sound still plays after the Slack change. Use it also when you want macOS to stay quiet for Slack, whatever Slack's own settings say.

> **Do not turn off Allow notifications by mistake:** Apple's guide says turning off Allow notifications for an app turns off its notifications entirely. You lose the banners too. Leave that switch on and turn off only the sound.

Apple writes the label as Play sound for notification, in the singular. Slack's help article writes Play sound for notifications, in the plural. Match whatever your Mac shows. Apple also says each app must be changed separately, so quieting Slack does not change any other app.

Older Macs can show slightly different menus. Slack's troubleshooting article still says System Preferences, which was the name before macOS Ventura. If the names differ, look for Notifications, then Slack, and you will land in the right place.

## Fix Slack sounds that still play or never play

When the sound will not stop, check the layers in order. Start with the macOS switch for Slack. Next, open Sound > Sound Effects and check the output device and alert volume. Then look at Do Not Disturb and the snooze icon. Last, disconnect an external monitor briefly to test it.

![Mac on an office desk with a notebook, the kind of setup where Slack notification sounds need turning down](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/turn-off-notification-sounds-in-slack/how-to-turn-off-slack-notification-sounds-2-8c055c.jpg)

The reverse problem is just as common. Sound disappears completely. Slack's troubleshooting article says to confirm Play sound for notifications is turned on in System Settings. It also says to check Play user interface sound effects in the same Sound area.

## Mistakes people make when turning off Slack sounds

- Turning off Allow notifications when they only wanted silence. The banners disappear with the sound.
- Changing the Slack setting and expecting macOS to follow. The two layers are separate, so check both.
- Testing right after muting. Click Show an example first, or test before you check the box.
- Missing the snooze icon. A snooze icon next to your name means notifications are paused, which can look like a sound problem.
- Expecting the same steps in a browser tab. Slack's sound instructions cover the desktop app, iOS, and Android.

Each mistake is easy to fix once you know where the setting lives. Go back through the layers one at a time. You will usually find the switch that is out of place.

## Using Slack in a browser tab

The steps in this guide are for the Slack desktop app for Mac. Slack's sound instructions cover the desktop app, iOS, and Android. The help pages I checked do not describe a sound toggle for the web app. If you run Slack in Chrome or Safari, the Preferences steps may not apply.

Browser alerts follow the browser's own notification permissions. In Chrome, the path is Preferences > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Permissions > Notifications. In Safari, go to Preferences > Websites > Notifications and allow your workspace. Slack's help article gives those paths, but it does not say what sound you will hear there.

## Which Slack and macOS versions these steps match

Slack's help pages do not show version numbers for these menus. Their footer shows only the copyright year, with no update date. The newest Mac release notes I could check are version 4.53.280, dated November 3, 2026. None of the recent entries I read mention notifications or sounds.

Sound fixes do appear in older release notes. Version 4.23.0, dated December 7, 2021, fixed notification sounds still playing on macOS 12 when Notification Sounds was set to None. If you run an older build, update Slack first, then retest.

I have not run these steps on a Mac. They come from Slack's help center and Apple's guide, which Apple wrote for macOS 27. If a label on your screen differs, trust the screen and follow the same path.

## Why quiet matters for your focus

Sounds add up across a day. Microsoft's Work Trend Index page says telemetry shows people using Microsoft 365 are interrupted about every 2 minutes on average. Those interruptions come from a meeting, an email, or a notification. Microsoft's page is inconsistent about the scope of some figures, so treat this as a rough signal.

- **2 minutes** Average gap between interruptions from a meeting, email, or notification for Microsoft 365 users, per Microsoft's telemetry ([source](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-down-infinite-workday))
- **79%** of 1,200 U.S. employees said they couldn't go a full hour without getting distracted, per a secondhand summary ([source](https://news.outsourceaccelerator.com/workers-focus-insightful-study/))
- **one-third** said Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email notifications disrupted their focus ([source](https://news.outsourceaccelerator.com/workers-focus-insightful-study/))

A separate survey points the same way. An Insightful study of 1,200 U.S. employees found 79% said they couldn't go a full hour without getting distracted. 59% couldn't manage 30 minutes. About one-third said Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email notifications disrupted their focus. I read this through a secondhand summary, and the fieldwork dates are not given.

## Keyboard shortcuts for Slack notifications

No shortcut mutes Slack, as far as Slack's pages show. ⌘ , opens Preferences in the desktop app, which gets you to the setting fastest. ⇧ Esc marks everything as read when unread badges get stuck. That is a badge fix, not a sound fix, so don't expect it to silence anything.

I could not confirm the shortcut that opens Slack's full shortcut list. The intro text on the shortcut page is garbled in the version I read, so I left it out.

## Where to go next

If the sounds are gone but you still miss alerts, read [how to open Preferences in Slack on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/open-preferences-in-slack). Then check [how to view all unread messages in Slack on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/view-all-unread-messages-in-slack) so nothing slips past.

If teammates may wonder why you are quiet, set a status that says so. The steps are in [how to set status in Slack on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/set-your-status-in-slack).

## Shortcuts

- Open Slack Preferences (desktop app only): ⌘ ,
- Mark everything as read when unread badges get stuck: ⇧ Esc

## If it does not work

- **Sound still plays after you check Mute all sounds from Slack** On macOS 12 or later, Slack's help says sounds are controlled by macOS settings. Go to System Settings > Notifications > Slack and turn off Play sound for notifications. Then check Sound > Sound Effects.
- **Slack alerts make no sound at all** Slack's troubleshooting article says to confirm Play sound for notifications is turned on under System Settings > Notifications > Slack. Also check the output device, alert volume, and Play user interface sound effects under Sound > Sound Effects.
- **Alerts show, but no sound, and a snooze icon sits beside your name** A snooze icon means notifications are paused. Slack's help says Do Not Disturb in Control Center should be off.
- **Sound acts up when an external monitor is connected** Slack's help says external monitors can cause sound problems. Disconnect the monitor briefly to test whether the sound changes.
- **Banners disappeared when you changed the sound** Apple's guide says turning off Allow notifications turns off notifications entirely. Turn Allow notifications back on for Slack, then turn off only Play sound for notifications.
- **Still stuck after all the steps** In Slack, choose Help > Troubleshooting > Report Issue, then click Send us a message. Slack's help says logs attach automatically.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where's the Mute all sounds box?”: Lazur circles the Mute all sounds from Slack checkbox on your screen and labels it. It can explain what ticking the box does. It does not tick the box for you. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Does muting Slack also mute the macOS sound?

Not by itself, as far as Slack's pages describe. Mute all sounds from Slack lives inside Slack. Slack's troubleshooting article says that on macOS 12 or later, sounds are controlled by macOS settings, so check System Settings > Notifications > Slack too.

### Can I keep the banners but lose the sound?

Yes. Leave Allow notifications on for Slack and turn off Play sound for notifications. Apple's guide describes Allow notifications as the switch that turns everything off, so leave that one on.

### Can I pick a different sound for Slack in macOS?

No. The macOS setting is on or off only. Apple's guide describes it as a toggle, not a sound picker. Slack's own Sound & appearance section lets you choose a sound or silence each notification type.

### Does this work in the Slack web app?

The sound instructions in Slack's help cover the desktop app, iOS, and Android. The pages I checked don't describe a sound toggle for the web app. Browser notification permissions are a separate setting in Chrome and Safari.

### What does the snooze icon next to my name mean?

Slack's troubleshooting article says a snooze icon means notifications are paused. It also says Do Not Disturb in Control Center should be off. A paused Slack can look like a sound problem when it is really a pause.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut to mute Slack sounds?

I could not confirm one. Slack's shortcut page lists ⌘ , for Preferences, which gets you to the setting in one press. The rest of the list was garbled on the page I read, so I did not include any other shortcut.

### Which Slack version do these steps match?

Slack's help pages do not show version numbers for these menus. The newest Mac release notes I could check are version 4.53.280, dated November 3, 2026. None of the recent entries I read mention notifications or sounds.

## Sources

1. [Configure your Slack notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/201355156-Configure-your-Slack-notifications), Slack Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Troubleshoot Slack notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications), Slack Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Slack keyboard shortcuts](https://slack.com/help/articles/201374536-Slack-keyboard-shortcuts), Slack Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Slack for Mac - Release Notes](https://slack.com/release-notes/mac), Slack, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Change notification settings on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-notification-settings-mh40583/mac), Apple Support, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Breaking down the infinite workday](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-down-infinite-workday), Microsoft WorkLab, checked 2026-11-07
7. [79% of U.S. workers can't focus for an hour](https://news.outsourceaccelerator.com/workers-focus-insightful-study/), Outsource Accelerator, checked 2026-11-07