How to get specific github notifications like pull requests or assigned issues?

Question

Github provides notifications via mail or web, based on watched repos. But is there a way to get more in detail? Like only watch a specific pull requet or assigned issue? I feel like i get spammed from comments on other pull requests that have nothing to do with me.

Answer 1

Update Nov. 2020: you now have "Custom notification controls"

This week we are giving you more control over the types of content that you are notified about on GitHub:

Watching a repository can often be a double-edged sword.
You want to stay up to date with a project, but if you have a specific interest or role within the community, you have no choice but to subscribe to updates on everything.
No more.

Beneath the watch button, you’ll find that we have made a few changes: we’ve made the language clearer so you know what you’ll receive updates about, we’ve made the interface more accessible and, we’ve introduced a new custom category.
Within this, you can select the types of content you would like to be notified about.

Do you focus on code review? Limit your notifications to pull requests.
Are you a community manager? Select Discussions.
As new types of notifications are added, you’ll find them in this menu.

You’ll find these controls on all repository pages and on your watching page where you can customize notifications for repositories you already watch.

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Update May 2019: you now have "Custom thread subscriptions"

You can now limit the types of notifications you receive for any issue and pull request to be specific to merge, reopened and/or closed events.

That should allow to further control the amount of emails received.

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Update July 2017: you now can declare in the GitHub repo a code owner.
Any pull request touching a file managed by said code owner will trigger a notification to that person.

See "Repo owner automatic notification after updating a pull request"

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2015: Yes, for instance, for a specific issue on a project (issue 2595), you can register by clicking the "Subscribe" button at the right side of the page (since 2015).

Once clicked, it will appear as "Unsubscribe" (for you to click if you don't want any more notifications)

So you don't have to watch the all repo, you can subscribe only to specific issues.

Answer 2

Not sure if this has changed, but now there's a subscribe button in the top right corner:

https://help.github.com/articles/subscribing-to-conversations/