Inbox
The list of things waiting for you: assignments, mentions, comments, approvals and requests, with reply, snooze and done.
The Inbox holds the things that want something from you: work assigned to you, mentions, comments and replies, approvals and requests. It is deliberately separate from the notification bell, which records everything that happened. The Inbox is a list you can work through and empty.
Inbox or notifications?#
| Inbox | Notification bell | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | What is waiting for a decision or response from you | Everything that happened that concerns you |
| Leaves the list when | You mark it done, act on it, or snooze it | You clear it |
| Count means | Items waiting for you | Unread notifications |
That is why the bell’s number is often larger than the Inbox count. See Notifications.
Who can use it#
Everyone. Inbox is always in the sidebar, and it only ever shows your own items. Acting on an item (for example approving a request) still needs the permission for that action, which is checked when you choose it.
Categories#
The row of categories at the top filters the list. Each shows a count when it has items waiting.
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| All | Everything waiting for you |
| Mentions | Someone mentioned you in a comment or message |
| Assignments | Work that was assigned to you |
| Comments | Comments on your work and replies to your comments |
| Approvals | Approvals requested of you, escalated to you, or with changes requested |
| Messages | Conversation messages |
| Other | Everything else, such as status changes and items due soon |
| System | Service announcements |
Reading an item#
Each row shows:
- a label saying what it is, such as Assigned to you, Mentioned you, Replied, Needs your approval, Escalated to you, Changes requested, New request, Due soon or Needs your decision;
- a red Critical badge for critical items, and a Done badge once you’ve dealt with it;
- the date it arrived, its title and a short preview.
Choose the title to open exactly what the item is about: the comment, work item or approval itself, not just the page that contains it.
When several things happen to the same item in a short time, a summary line above the list says so (for example several comments on one work item), while each notification stays individually actionable below. When your items come from more than one kind of source, a By source panel at the bottom counts them per type, such as Work item, Approval or Document.
Working through your Inbox#
Approve or reject#
Items that need your approval show Approve and Reject buttons. Your decision is recorded straight away and the item is marked done. You don’t need to open the approval first. See Approvals.
Reply#
Choose Reply
A reply box opens on the row.
Write your reply and choose Send
The reply is posted on the thing the item points to, for example as a comment on the work item. You’ll see Reply posted. Choose Cancel to close the box without sending.
Snooze#
Choose the clock button on a row and pick Tomorrow morning or Next week. The item leaves your Inbox and comes back at 9am on that day, in your own time zone. A message confirms when it will be back.
Mark done#
Choose the check mark button to mark an item done. Done is not the same as read: you can read something without dealing with it, and only Done takes it out of the list. Choose Show done at the top to see finished items again; choose the check mark on a done item to reopen it, and Hide done to go back.
Aim for an empty Inbox
Settle what you can right away, snooze what isn’t for today, and mark the rest done. When nothing is left you’ll see Nothing waiting for you.
Limitations#
- Snoozing only hides an item from the Inbox. It stays in your notifications.
- Only Tomorrow morning and Next week are offered as snooze times.
- Which items reach your Inbox and by which channel is controlled by your notification preferences.
Frequently asked questions#
Why is the number on the bell bigger than the Inbox count?
They count different things. The bell counts every unread notification; the Inbox counts what is waiting for you to act on.
I approved something from the Inbox but it says I can’t.
Your permission is checked again when you act. If your role has changed, or the approval was already decided or reassigned, the action is refused and the message says why.
When exactly does a snoozed item come back?
At 9am on the day you chose, in your own time zone.
Related pages#
Still stuck? Search the docs with ⌘K, open Help inside UnitX, or contact support.