How to Hide Slack Messages During Screen Sharing (Fast Setup)

Short answer

Stop Slack DMs from popping up during presentations. Here are 3 quick ways to hide Slack notifications and messages during screen sharing.

Direct answer

stop slack dms from popping up during presentations. here are 3 quick ways to hide slack notifications and messages during screen sharing and follow the step-by-step approach in this guide.

Slack Is the #1 Source of Screen Sharing Embarrassment

Every remote worker has a story. A Slack DM pops up during a presentation. A channel message with a sarcastic comment appears while the CEO is watching. An unread badge reveals a channel name that should not be visible. A message preview shows just enough text to be mortifying.

Slack is uniquely dangerous during screen sharing because it is always running and always generating notifications. Unlike email (which you can close), Slack is expected to be open during work hours. And Slack notifications include message previews by default — showing the first line of every message to everyone watching your screen.

This guide covers every method for hiding Slack content during screen sharing, from quick fixes to permanent solutions.

Method 1: Close Slack Entirely

The simplest solution. Close the Slack desktop app before sharing your screen.

Pros: Eliminates all Slack visibility — no messages, no notifications, no sidebar. Cons: You cannot reference Slack during the meeting. If someone messages you something relevant, you will not see it.

Close the app, not just the window. On macOS, Cmd+Q. On Windows, right-click the system tray icon and "Quit."

Method 2: Enable System Do Not Disturb

Enable DND at the operating system level to suppress all notifications, including Slack.

macOS: Hold Option and click the date/time in the menu bar. Windows 11: Win+N then toggle Focus. Windows 10: Click the notification icon, select Focus Assist, choose Alarms Only.

This prevents Slack notification banners from appearing over your shared screen. It does not hide the Slack app itself — if Slack is open in the background and you accidentally switch to it, the messages are visible.

Our guide on hiding notifications during screen sharing covers DND setup on every OS.

Method 3: Share a Specific Window, Not Your Desktop

When your conferencing tool asks what to share, select a specific application window instead of your entire desktop. This limits the broadcast to only that application — Slack messages, desktop notifications, and other apps are excluded.

If you are presenting a browser tab, use tab-level sharing (available in Google Meet and Chromium browsers) for even more isolation.

This is the single most effective technique for preventing accidental Slack exposure.

Method 4: Blur Slack Content with ContextBlur

If you need Slack open during the meeting (for reference or to respond to messages), use ContextBlur to blur specific elements within the Slack web app.

Blurring Slack Web App

Open Slack in your browser at app.slack.com. Activate ContextBlur (Ctrl+Shift+B). Click to blur:

• Channel sidebar: Blur channel names that reveal project names or client identities
• Message previews: Blur individual messages containing sensitive content
• DM conversations: Blur the entire DM panel
• Unread badges: Blur notification counts that reveal activity patterns
• User profiles: Blur names and profile photos in specific conversations

Blurs persist across page refreshes. If you switch between channels, your sidebar blurs remain active.

Limitations

ContextBlur works on the Slack web app in Chrome. The Slack desktop app renders its own window outside the browser, so browser extensions cannot modify it. If you use the Slack desktop app, combine Methods 1-3 with Method 4 for the web app.

Method 5: Slack's Built-In Notification Settings

Slack has its own notification controls that can reduce exposure:

Pause notifications: Click your profile picture, select "Pause notifications," choose a duration. This stops Slack notifications for the specified time but does not hide the Slack interface.

Notification content: Go to Preferences, Notifications, and under "Notification Display," change from showing message text to showing "Slack notification" only. This hides message previews in system notifications but does not affect the Slack app window.

Do Not Disturb schedule: Set recurring DND hours in Slack if you have regular meeting times. Preferences, Notifications, "Do not disturb."

Mute channels: Right-click channels you do not want to see notifications from and select "Mute channel."

These settings reduce notification exposure but do not address the Slack sidebar, open conversations, or accidental window switches.

Method 6: Slack's Dedicated Screen Sharing Mode

Slack does not have a dedicated screen sharing privacy mode. Slack Huddles have their own screen sharing feature, but it does not suppress Slack notifications or hide Slack content from the shared view.

When sharing your screen via Slack Huddles, the same risks apply: DMs, channel messages, and sidebar content are visible if Slack is the active window.

The Complete Slack Privacy Stack

For maximum protection during screen sharing, combine methods:

1. Close the Slack desktop app (Cmd+Q / right-click → Quit)
2. Enable system DND to suppress any residual notifications
3. Share a specific window, not your desktop
4. If you need Slack during the meeting, use the web app and blur sensitive elements with ContextBlur
5. After the meeting, re-open the desktop app and disable DND

This layered approach eliminates Slack-related exposure from every angle: app visibility, notification popups, sidebar content, and message previews.

For the complete pre-sharing routine covering Slack and every other application, see the screen sharing checklist. For professional guidelines on managing messaging apps during calls, see our screen sharing etiquette guide.