# Troubleshooting notifications, invitations, SSO and connections

*Slack Consultant Study Guide · Learning and Enablement · Last updated October 21, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant/learning-and-enablement/troubleshooting-notifications-invitations-sso-and-connections*

The first fix for the user issues a consultant or help desk sees most after launch: stuck badges, missing or late notifications, missing invitation and notification emails, SAML sign-in errors such as the Audience mismatch, and the grey WebSocket banner.

- Certification: Salesforce Slack Consultant
- Exam section: Learning and Enablement
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Troubleshoot common Slack issues for users.

## What the exam expects

- Match a user's symptom to Slack's documented first fix, and reject fixes that are more disruptive or aimed at the wrong layer.
- Troubleshoot notifications: stuck badges, notifications that never arrive (operating system settings), delayed mobile notifications, and the diagnostic test.
- Troubleshoot missing emails: invitations (spam, filters, allowlisting @slack.com and @slack-mail.com, pending invitations) and DM email notifications that only arrive when the member is inactive.
- Read a SAML authorization error and say which setting to fix in Slack or in the identity provider.
- Recognise the grey "Last updated less than a minute ago" banner as WebSocket trouble for the network administrator.
- Key terms: **badge** (unread count on a conversation); **Focus Assist** (Windows feature that suppresses notifications); **pending invitation** (an invite not yet accepted); **Service Provider Issuer** (Slack's SAML identifier, matched by the IdP's Audience); **WebSocket** (the live connection that delivers new messages).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck badges | Shift+Esc in the affected workspace marks everything as read | [Troubleshoot notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications) |
| Windows notifications missing | Check Notifications & Actions; turn Focus Assist Off | [Troubleshoot notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications) |
| Delayed mobile notifications | Notify Me on Mobile: As soon as I'm inactive | [Troubleshoot notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications) |
| Mobile diagnostic | Troubleshoot Notifications, then Send a report | [Troubleshoot notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications) |
| Domains to allow | @slack.com and @slack-mail.com | [Trouble receiving emails](https://slack.com/help/articles/218876627-Trouble-receiving-emails-from-Slack) |
| Pending invitations | Workspace Owners and Admins view them and resend to the correct address | [Trouble receiving emails](https://slack.com/help/articles/218876627-Trouble-receiving-emails-from-Slack) |
| DM email notifications | Only when not active on desktop or browser; bundled every 15 minutes or hour | [Trouble receiving emails](https://slack.com/help/articles/218876627-Trouble-receiving-emails-from-Slack) |
| Audience error | Service Provider Issuer must match the IdP Audience (SP Entity ID) | [Troubleshoot SAML errors](https://slack.com/help/articles/360037402653-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors) |
| Destination error | Fix the IdP Reply or ACS URL | [Troubleshoot SAML errors](https://slack.com/help/articles/360037402653-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors) |
| Grey banner | WebSocket trouble; network admin checks the wss domains | [Troubleshoot connection issues](https://slack.com/help/articles/205138367-Troubleshoot-connection-issues) |

## Check yourself

- Why does a user who is active in the desktop app all day get no DM email notifications?
- When should a user press Shift+Esc?
- Which two email domains should IT make sure are not blocked?
- What fixes "The SAML Response does not contain the correct Audience"?
- When is the network administrator the first call?

## Sources

- [Troubleshoot Slack notifications](https://slack.com/help/articles/360001559367-Troubleshoot-Slack-notifications)
- [Trouble receiving emails from Slack](https://slack.com/help/articles/218876627-Trouble-receiving-emails-from-Slack)
- [Troubleshoot SAML authorization errors](https://slack.com/help/articles/360037402653-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors-Troubleshoot-SAML-authorization-errors)
- [Troubleshoot connection issues](https://slack.com/help/articles/205138367-Troubleshoot-connection-issues)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 7 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Slack Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams