diff --git a/api/channel.go b/api/channel.go
index 896e227932..17322179d8 100644
--- a/api/channel.go
+++ b/api/channel.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func CreateChannel(c *Context, channel *model.Channel, addMember bool) (*model.C
 
 		if addMember {
 			cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: sc.Id, UserId: c.Session.UserId,
-				Roles: model.CHANNEL_ROLE_ADMIN, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL}
+				Roles: model.CHANNEL_ROLE_ADMIN, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT}
 
 			if cmresult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmresult.Err != nil {
 				return nil, cmresult.Err
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func CreateDirectChannel(c *Context, otherUserId string) (*model.Channel, *model
 		return nil, err
 	} else {
 		cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: sc.Id, UserId: otherUserId,
-			Roles: "", NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL}
+			Roles: "", NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT}
 
 		if cmresult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmresult.Err != nil {
 			return nil, cmresult.Err
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func JoinChannel(c *Context, channelId string, role string) {
 		}
 
 		if channel.Type == model.CHANNEL_OPEN {
-			cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: channel.Id, UserId: c.Session.UserId, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL, Roles: role}
+			cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: channel.Id, UserId: c.Session.UserId, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT, Roles: role}
 
 			if cmresult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmresult.Err != nil {
 				c.Err = cmresult.Err
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ func JoinDefaultChannels(user *model.User, channelRole string) *model.AppError {
 	if result := <-Srv.Store.Channel().GetByName(user.TeamId, "town-square"); result.Err != nil {
 		err = result.Err
 	} else {
-		cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: result.Data.(*model.Channel).Id, UserId: user.Id, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL, Roles: channelRole}
+		cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: result.Data.(*model.Channel).Id, UserId: user.Id, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT, Roles: channelRole}
 		if cmResult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmResult.Err != nil {
 			err = cmResult.Err
 		}
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ func JoinDefaultChannels(user *model.User, channelRole string) *model.AppError {
 	if result := <-Srv.Store.Channel().GetByName(user.TeamId, "off-topic"); result.Err != nil {
 		err = result.Err
 	} else {
-		cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: result.Data.(*model.Channel).Id, UserId: user.Id, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL, Roles: channelRole}
+		cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: result.Data.(*model.Channel).Id, UserId: user.Id, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT, Roles: channelRole}
 		if cmResult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmResult.Err != nil {
 			err = cmResult.Err
 		}
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ func addChannelMember(c *Context, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		} else {
 			oUser := oresult.Data.(*model.User)
 
-			cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: channel.Id, UserId: userId, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL}
+			cm := &model.ChannelMember{ChannelId: channel.Id, UserId: userId, NotifyLevel: model.CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT}
 
 			if cmresult := <-Srv.Store.Channel().SaveMember(cm); cmresult.Err != nil {
 				l4g.Error("Failed to add member user_id=%v channel_id=%v err=%v", userId, id, cmresult.Err)
diff --git a/model/channel_member.go b/model/channel_member.go
index 50f51304bc..ac0b94ec44 100644
--- a/model/channel_member.go
+++ b/model/channel_member.go
@@ -11,10 +11,11 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	CHANNEL_ROLE_ADMIN     = "admin"
+	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT = "default"
 	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL     = "all"
 	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_MENTION = "mention"
 	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_NONE    = "none"
-	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_QUIET   = "quiet"
+	CHANNEL_NOTIFY_QUIET   = "quiet" // TODO deprecate me
 )
 
 type ChannelMember struct {
@@ -76,5 +77,9 @@ func (o *ChannelMember) PreSave() {
 }
 
 func IsChannelNotifyLevelValid(notifyLevel string) bool {
-	return notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL || notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_MENTION || notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_NONE || notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_QUIET
+	return notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_DEFAULT ||
+		notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_ALL ||
+		notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_MENTION ||
+		notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_NONE ||
+		notifyLevel == CHANNEL_NOTIFY_QUIET
 }
diff --git a/web/react/components/channel_notifications.jsx b/web/react/components/channel_notifications.jsx
index 9eda68b38b..347d024789 100644
--- a/web/react/components/channel_notifications.jsx
+++ b/web/react/components/channel_notifications.jsx
@@ -104,14 +104,28 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
     createDesktopSection(serverError) {
         var handleUpdateSection;
 
+        const user = UserStore.getCurrentUser();
+        const globalNotifyLevel = user.notify_props.desktop;
+
+        let globalNotifyLevelName;
+        if (globalNotifyLevel === 'all') {
+            globalNotifyLevelName = 'For all activity';
+        } else if (globalNotifyLevel === 'mention') {
+            globalNotifyLevelName = 'Only for mentions';
+        } else {
+            globalNotifyLevelName = 'Never';
+        }
+
         if (this.state.activeSection === 'desktop') {
-            var notifyActive = [false, false, false];
-            if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'mention') {
-                notifyActive[1] = true;
-            } else if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'all') {
+            var notifyActive = [false, false, false, false];
+            if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'default') {
                 notifyActive[0] = true;
-            } else {
+            } else if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'all') {
+                notifyActive[1] = true;
+            } else if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'mention') {
                 notifyActive[2] = true;
+            } else {
+                notifyActive[3] = true;
             }
 
             var inputs = [];
@@ -123,9 +137,9 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
                             <input
                                 type='radio'
                                 checked={notifyActive[0]}
-                                onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'all')}
+                                onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'default')}
                             >
-                                For all activity
+                                {`Global default (${globalNotifyLevelName})`}
                             </input>
                         </label>
                         <br/>
@@ -135,9 +149,9 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
                             <input
                                 type='radio'
                                 checked={notifyActive[1]}
-                                onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'mention')}
+                                onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'all')}
                             >
-                                Only for mentions
+                                {'For all activity'}
                             </input>
                         </label>
                         <br/>
@@ -147,9 +161,21 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
                             <input
                                 type='radio'
                                 checked={notifyActive[2]}
+                                onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'mention')}
+                            >
+                                {'Only for mentions'}
+                            </input>
+                        </label>
+                        <br/>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className='radio'>
+                        <label>
+                            <input
+                                type='radio'
+                                checked={notifyActive[3]}
                                 onChange={this.handleRadioClick.bind(this, 'none')}
                             >
-                                Never
+                                {'Never'}
                             </input>
                         </label>
                     </div>
@@ -162,25 +188,14 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
                 e.preventDefault();
             }.bind(this);
 
-            let curChannel = ChannelStore.get(this.state.channelId);
-            let extraInfo = (
+            const extraInfo = (
                 <span>
-                    These settings will override the global notification settings.
+                    {'Selecting an option other than "Default" will override the global notification settings.'}
                     <br/>
-                    Desktop notifications are available on Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
+                    {'Desktop notifications are available on Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.'}
                 </span>
             );
 
-            if (curChannel && curChannel.display_name) {
-                extraInfo = (
-                    <span>
-                        These settings will override the global notification settings for the <b>{curChannel.display_name}</b> channel.
-                        <br/>
-                        Desktop notifications are available on Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
-                    </span>
-                );
-            }
-
             return (
                 <SettingItemMax
                     title='Send desktop notifications'
@@ -194,7 +209,9 @@ export default class ChannelNotifications extends React.Component {
         }
 
         var describe;
-        if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'mention') {
+        if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'default') {
+            describe = `Global default (${globalNotifyLevelName})`;
+        } else if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'mention') {
             describe = 'Only for mentions';
         } else if (this.state.notifyLevel === 'all') {
             describe = 'For all activity';
diff --git a/web/react/components/sidebar.jsx b/web/react/components/sidebar.jsx
index 6033f200f3..bc66ee03c9 100644
--- a/web/react/components/sidebar.jsx
+++ b/web/react/components/sidebar.jsx
@@ -200,13 +200,17 @@ export default class Sidebar extends React.Component {
                 }
                 var channel = ChannelStore.get(msg.channel_id);
 
-                var user = UserStore.getCurrentUser();
-                if (user.notify_props && ((user.notify_props.desktop === 'mention' && mentions.indexOf(user.id) === -1 && channel.type !== 'D') || user.notify_props.desktop === 'none')) {
-                    return;
+                const user = UserStore.getCurrentUser();
+                const member = ChannelStore.getMember(msg.channel_id);
+
+                var notifyLevel = member.notify_level;
+                if (notifyLevel === 'default') {
+                    notifyLevel = user.notify_props.desktop;
                 }
 
-                var member = ChannelStore.getMember(msg.channel_id);
-                if ((member.notify_level === 'mention' && mentions.indexOf(user.id) === -1) || member.notify_level === 'none' || member.notify_level === 'quiet') {
+                if (notifyLevel === 'none') {
+                    return;
+                } else if (notifyLevel === 'mention' && mentions.indexOf(user.id) === -1 && channel.type !== 'D') {
                     return;
                 }
 
diff --git a/web/react/components/user_settings/user_settings_notifications.jsx b/web/react/components/user_settings/user_settings_notifications.jsx
index 42c65ef5dc..e83f18aab2 100644
--- a/web/react/components/user_settings/user_settings_notifications.jsx
+++ b/web/react/components/user_settings/user_settings_notifications.jsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ function getNotificationsStateFromStores() {
     if (user.notify_props && user.notify_props.desktop_sound) {
         sound = user.notify_props.desktop_sound;
     }
-    var desktop = 'all';
+    var desktop = 'default';
     if (user.notify_props && user.notify_props.desktop) {
         desktop = user.notify_props.desktop;
     }