# "Watching" for topics, but not posts?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** notifications
**Created:** [May 14, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157 "2025-05-14T20:09:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/1 "2025-05-14T20:09:27Z")
Is there a way to get notified of each new topic added to a particular category that does not include each new post?
I read the description for Tracking but it’s unclear if that would notify about a brand new post, also beyond “Hey, there’s a new topic in X!” I don’t want any other notifications to come through.
However, if worse comes to worst. I can just create an SOP telling our users to go to each topic and manually turn off notifications if that’s the only option.
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### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/3 "2025-05-14T20:49:41Z")
You want to watch first post:
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### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/4 "2025-05-14T20:53:11Z")
I see. I read that description as well. But to me it read as if:
When a new topic is posted, you’ll only be notified once it has it’s first post beyond the topic being created.
Otherwise, why isn’t it just called ‘Watching for new topics’?
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### Author:  [@jahan\_gagan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jahan_gagan)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/5 "2025-05-14T20:56:04Z")
The **Default categories watching first post** site setting allows admins to set which categories will automatically be set to “Watching First Post” for all new users on your Discourse site.
### How it works
- Any category you add to this list will have the “Watching First Post” notification level for new users, by default.
- After you save, you can choose to apply this change only for new signups, or retroactively for existing users.
- Users can still change their personal notification settings if they wish.
Any user can manually set their category notification preference to **Watching First Post** (or any other level) by:
1. **Navigating to the category** they’re interested in.
2. **Clicking the bell icon** near the top right of the category page (next to the New Topic button).
3. **Selecting “Watching First Post”** from the dropdown menu.
This overrides any site-wide or admin default for that category, applying only to that user’s account.
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### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/6 "2025-05-14T21:00:17Z")
Thanks, not looking to do this site wide.
I set up my ‘support\_staff’ group to ‘Watching First Post’ on our ‘Tickets’ sub-category so that when a new topic is created there, they’re all notified so that tickets get taken care of as quickly as possible.
Will report back once I test it out.
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### Author:  [@awesomerobot](https://meta.discourse.org/u/awesomerobot)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/7 "2025-05-15T13:05:03Z")
> [@tknospdr](#):
>
> why isn’t it just called ‘Watching for new topics’
Yeah this occurred to me as well when I was reading our description… the current is:
> **Watching First Post**
> You will be notified of new topics in this category but not replies to the topics.
but maybe we could improved with
> **Watch for New Topics**
> You will be notified of new topics in this category. You will also be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you.
> **Straying a little off-topic now, but every time I read through the menu I wonder if there's a path we can take for more clarity...**
>
> We’ve used watching/tracking for a while but it probably doesn’t mean much until you reach a certain familiarity with Discourse. What if we’re try to be more literal… :bell
>
> > **All topics and posts**
> > You will be notified of every new topic and post within this category. A count of new posts will be shown for every topic.
>
> > **New topics, mentions & replies**
> > You will be notified of new topics in this category. You will also be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you.
>
> > **Post counts, mentions & replies**
> > A count of new posts will be shown for every topic in this category. You will also be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you.
>
> > **Mentions & replies**
> > You will be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you.
>
> > **Mute**
> > You will not receive any notifications from this category, and its topics won’t show up in lists that include content from multiple categories.
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### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/8 "2025-05-15T23:27:43Z")
Watch First Post, appears to be doing what I need.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/watching-for-topics-but-not-posts/366157/9 "2025-06-14T23:27:54Z")
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