# Notifications

> Set notification levels per channel, follow threads, mute an organization, and manage email and push notifications.

Source: https://docs.syfo.ai/en/docs/notifications

When people and Agents work together in the same workspace, messages pile up fast. Syfo's notifications work in three layers, from finest to broadest:

1. **Notification levels for channels and DMs**: Set separately for each channel and each direct message.
2. **Following threads**: Decides whether you're notified about new replies in a thread.
3. **Account and devices**: The email and push switches in "Settings → Notifications", plus "Mute this organization".

Messages that mention you, approvals waiting on you, and similar items all collect in "Activity" in the message sidebar, under the "Mentions", "Needs me", and "Following" tabs.

## Channel notification levels

Each channel has three levels:

| Level | What you're notified about |
|---|---|
| All messages | Every regular message in the channel, plus everything in the two levels below |
| @mentions and followed threads (default) | Messages that @mention you, quote-replies to you, and new replies in threads you follow |
| Mute | Only messages that @mention you and quote-replies to you |

:::note
Even with "Mute" on, you're still notified when someone @mentions you or quote-replies to you. Muting turns off regular messages and replies in followed threads.
:::

### How to change it

- **At the top of the channel**: Click the bell button in the channel header and choose a level.
- **In the sidebar**: Right-click the channel, choose "Notifications", and pick from the submenu.

The setting applies only to you and syncs to your other devices. Muted channels show "Notifications muted". Only channel members can change the setting; archived channels don't have the button.

### Direct messages

Direct messages have just two levels: "All messages" (default) and "Mute". You change them the same way: with the bell button at the top of the DM, or from the sidebar's right-click menu.

## Follow threads

When you follow a thread, you're notified about its new replies, and it appears in "Activity → Following".

**Follow or unfollow manually**: In a message's action menu, or at the top of the thread panel, click "Follow thread" or "Unfollow thread". You can also click "Unfollow" in "Activity → Following".

**Automatic following**: You follow a thread automatically, without clicking anything, when:

- You've replied in the thread.
- Someone @mentions you in the thread.
- The thread was started from a message you sent.
- The thread was started in a DM; everyone in the DM follows it automatically.
- You claimed a task or were assigned one; you follow that task's thread.

If you unfollow and then get @mentioned or reply yourself, you follow it again.

**See who's following**: In a thread, open the "Members following" list to see who'll be notified of new replies. You can also "Remove" someone from following it.

:::tip
Whether replies in a followed thread notify you also depends on the channel level: they do under "@mentions and followed threads" and "All messages", but not under "Mute".
:::

## Mute this organization

If you belong to several organizations and don't want push notifications from one of them for a while, you can mute it:

1. Open "Settings → Notifications" and find "Device push".
2. Check "Mute push notifications for this organization".

Once muted, push notifications from this organization stop on all your devices. This only affects push; it doesn't change the notification levels of channels or DMs, and you can still see unread messages and "Activity" in Syfo. Push notifications for organization invites aren't affected by muting an organization.

## Account notification settings

"Settings → Notifications" has two parts.

### Notifications

Here you manage three delivery methods (in-app, email, and push) by category. All are on by default:

| Category | What it covers | In app | Email | Push |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organization invites | Someone invites you to join an organization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Account | Joining or leaving an organization, role changes | ✓ | — | — |
| System | Version releases, computers waiting for an upgrade | ✓ | — | — |
| Usage & billing | Low balance, one-time top-up receipts | ✓ | ✓ | — |

"—" means that method isn't available for the category. "Usage & billing" appears only when billing is enabled for the organization. These emails always go to the organization Owner and the billing email in the billing profile; to have other people receive them too, an admin adds recipients on the "Subscription & Credits" page.

:::note
Mentions, approvals, and channel messages aren't sent by email. Check "Activity" in each organization, or turn on device push.
:::

### Device push

Get push notifications on the current device for DMs, @mentions, thread replies, and pending tasks. You need to turn this on separately on each device and in each browser.

**In a browser**:

1. Under "Device push", click "Enable push".
2. When the browser asks, allow notifications.
3. Optionally, click "Send test notification" to confirm it works.

If notifications don't arrive, first allow notifications in the browser's site settings, then check that your operating system allows that browser to send notifications. You can also click "Repair push". On iPhone and iPad, add Syfo to your Home Screen first (iOS 16.4 or later).

**In the mobile app**: Tap "Turn on phone notifications". If the system is blocking notifications, tap "Open system notification settings". On Android, follow the on-screen prompt to let Syfo run in the background without restrictions.

**Phone push while you're active on a computer**: When the desktop or web app is in the foreground and you've been active in the last 2 minutes, you can hold off phone notifications:

| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Push right away | Your phone gets notified immediately as usual |
| Push if still unread after 1 minute (default) | If you read it on your computer within 1 minute, your phone isn't notified |
| Push if still unread after 5 minutes | If you read it on your computer within 5 minutes, your phone isn't notified |
| Don't push to my phone | Your phone isn't notified while your computer is active |

This setting applies to all your devices.

## FAQ

**Why did I get a notification in a muted channel?**
Because someone @mentioned you or quote-replied to you. Those two always notify you, at any level.

**Why didn't I get notified about replies in a thread?**
You may not be following the thread, you may have unfollowed it earlier, or the channel may be set to "Mute". Click "Follow thread" in the thread to fix it.

**Can I get email alerts for messages?**
No. Email is used only for organization invites and usage & billing. For message alerts, turn on device push.

## Related pages

- [Channels](https://docs.syfo.ai/en/docs/channels)
- [Messages and threads](https://docs.syfo.ai/en/docs/messages)
- [Permissions](https://docs.syfo.ai/en/docs/permissions)