How to Remove Mark as Read Feature on Slack

Slack marks messages as read as soon as you open a channel or direct message. Here's how to customize that.

When it comes to having your work discussions online, Slack can keep your messages in check. However, it can also get overwhelming. After not accessing Slack during a long holiday or leave, it can be difficult to sort through endless notifications demanding for your attention.

For some people, Slack's Mark as Read feature may be helpful in staying on track. But for others, it can cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety, being a constant reminder of what you haven't sorted through. So, is there a way to remove Slack's Mark as Read features?

How to Remove Mark as Read on Slack

Should you realize that you've clicked Marked as Read too quickly without actually having read the messages, all you have to do is click Undo. Afterward, the messages marked will reappear again in your unread messages view.

Can You Remove the Slack Mark as Read Feature?

While the Mark as Read feature helps Slack manage their Slack mentions and catch up on their channels, there are other ways to make it work for you. If you want to change your Mark as Read settings, there are three ways to manage it:

• Start me where I left off, and mark the channel read.
• Start me at the newest message, and mark the channel read.
• Start me at the newest message, but leave unseen messages unread.

Here's how to change your mark as read preferences and manage the mark as read feature on Slack.

How to Manage the Slack Mark as Read Feature on Desktop

As of writing, the only way you can change your Mark as Read settings is through the Slack desktop app.

1. Open your Slack desktop app.
2. In the upper-right corner of the app, click your profile picture.
   
3. In the dropdown menu, select Preferences.
4. On the left side of the popup, select Mark as read.
   
5. Go to When I view a channel.
6. Select your preference.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to do this on the Slack mobile app. However, if you find yourself in a pinch without a Slack desktop app, you can also log in to Slack on your tablet or desktop's web browser instead.

Change Your Mark as Read Preferences on Slack

When you see dozens of notifications at once on Slack, it can be easy to suddenly miss out on something important. If you want to make sure you don't miss out on any important announcements or messages, managing your mark as read preferences can make a huge difference.