How to uncheck 'Notify watchers' check box on Confluence editor by default

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Please consider before making this change: As of Confluence 5.8 and above, Confluence will remember each user's setting for "Notify Watchers". Please see Confluence 5.8 Release Notes

Atlassian does not officially support the script on this page, per the Atlassian Support Offerings. It is provided for informational purposes only.

Purpose

To change the 'Notify watchers’ feature to be disabled by default when editing a page.

Solution

For Confluence 5.7 and below

  1. Navigate to Custom HTML in Confluence Admin (can be found in Browse >> Confluence Admin >> Custom HTML)

  2. Click Edit button

  3. In the At end of the HEAD field, copy/paste the following script

    1 2 3 4 5 <script type="text/javascript"> AJS.bind('init.rte', function() { AJS.$('#notifyWatchers').attr('checked', false); }); </script>
  4. Click Save

For Confluence 5.8 above, as suggested by Mikhail Zakharenkov

  1. Navigate to Custom HTML in Confluence Admin (can be found in Browse >> Confluence Admin >> Custom HTML)

  2. Click Edit button

  3. In the At end of the HEAD field, copy/paste the following script

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 <script> function disableWatchers() { setTimeout(disableWatchers, 1000); if ( $('#notifyWatchers').attr( "mz" ) != 1) { setTimeout(function() {$('#notifyWatchers').removeAttr('checked');}, 1000); $('#notifyWatchers').attr( "mz", 1); } } disableWatchers(); </script>

Updated on April 1, 2025

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