How do I set up notifications in Notion?

Setting up notifications in Notion requires accessing your Settings & Members menu from the left sidebar, then selecting "My notifications & settings" to configure preferences across desktop, mobile, and email platforms. You can customize notifications for specific pages by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting "Notify me," choosing between all comments, replies and mentions only, or for databases, all updates versus important updates like status changes and assignments. This flexible system helps you stay informed about the collaborative work that matters most while avoiding notification overload.

The process begins with ensuring your system permissions are properly configured. On desktop, verify that Notion has notification access through your operating system's settings, while mobile users should check that push notifications are enabled for the Notion app. Without these foundational permissions, you'll miss critical updates regardless of your in-app preferences. Once permissions are set, you can fine-tune your experience by choosing different notification levels for desktop versus mobile to match your workflow patterns.

For database-heavy workspaces, the person property notifications feature proves particularly valuable. When you edit a person property column and configure its notification settings, you can control whether users, groups, or no one receives alerts when assigned to tasks or projects. This targeted approach prevents unnecessary pings while ensuring accountability. The "Important updates" option strikes an effective balance by notifying you of comments, status changes, assignee modifications, and due date adjustments without overwhelming you with every minor edit.

Email notifications add another layer of connectivity, automatically sending updates when you're inactive in the app unless you enable "Always send email notifications" for constant coverage. The notification inbox in your sidebar displays a red badge with pending alerts, allowing you to filter, search, and archive updates to maintain an organized workflow. However, this system has limitations—you can't schedule notification frequency or set up recurring reminders easily, and active databases with frequent property changes can quickly become noisy if you're subscribed to all updates.

Success with Notion notifications comes from strategic selectivity. Prioritize "Important updates" for critical databases containing deadlines and assignments, while reserving "All updates" only for essential collaborative spaces. Regular inbox maintenance through archiving keeps your notification stream manageable, and leveraging @mentions ensures direct communication reaches the right people. This thoughtful approach transforms notifications from a distraction into a powerful tool for staying connected with your most important work.