How can I reduce the number of notifications I receive?

By default, iNaturalist sends you a notification every time another user adds an identification to one of your observations, or to an observation you're following. iNaturalist will also send you a notification if someone @-mentions you in a comment, observation or identification.

If you want to reduce the number of notifications you receive, the best way to do that is to edit your Notifications preferences.

How to edit your Notifications preferences

1. Access Account Settings on the iNaturalist website by going to https://www.inaturalist.org/users/edit. Log in if you need to.
   
   
2. On the left-hand side of the page, click on "Notifications".
   
   
3. You'll be presented with four options, each with a definition below it. Turn any of the switches to "Off" if you don't want to be notified about that specific activity.
   
   
   
4. When you have made the changes you want, click on the blue "Save Settings" button.

Explanations for the Activity Notifications options

Notify me of mentions (e.g. @username) - by turning this off,  you will be not receive a notification when someone @-mentions you in an observation, identification, or comment. We recommend that most people keep this notification turned on.

Confirming IDs - by turning this off, you will not receive a notification when someone adds an identification that agrees with one you added to an observation. For example, if you add an identification of Columba livia to an observation and someone else adds an identification of Columba livia to the same observation, you will not be notified of their identification. Many people who are active on iNaturalist turn this notification off.

Infraspecies IDs - by turning this off, you will not receive a notification when someone adds an infraspecies identification (e.g. subspecies, variety, form, etc.) that agrees with the species-level identification you added to an observation. For example, if you identify an observation as Columba livia and someone adds an ID of Columba livia var. domestica to the observation, you will not be notified of their ID. If you are not particularly interested in infraspecies identifications, you may want to turn this off.

Non-disagreeing Ancestor IDs - by turning this off, you will not receive a notification when someone adds an identification that is an ancestor taxon of your identification and chooses to not explicitly disagree with your identification. For example, if you ID an observation as Columba livia and someone adds a non-disagreeing identification of order Columbiformes, you will not be notified of their ID.

Further details

• If an identification you would otherwise not be notified of contains a remark you will be notified so you won't miss out on comments/remarks made by other users.
  
  
• If you would like to stop being notified by a specific user's activity, you can mute them.