Desktop notifications

Zulip can be configured to send visual and audible desktop notifications for DMs, mentions, and alerts, as well as channel messages and followed topics.

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Toggle the checkboxes in the Desktop column of the Notification triggers table.

Notification sound

You can select the sound Zulip uses for audible desktop notifications. Choosing None disables all audible desktop notifications.

Change notification sound

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Under Desktop message notifications, configure Notification sound.

Tip: To hear the selected sound, click the to the right of your selection.

Unread count badge

By default, Zulip displays a count of your unmuted unread messages on the desktop app sidebar and on the browser tab icon. You can configure the badge to only count direct messages and mentions, or to include messages in followed topics but not other channel messages.

Configure unread count badge

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Under Desktop message notifications, configure Unread count badge.

Disable unread count badge

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Under Desktop message notifications, select None from the Unread count badge dropdown.

Web push notifications

With web push notifications, your browser can show notifications for new messages even when no Zulip tab is open. This is unlike regular desktop notifications, which require Zulip to be open in a browser tab or the desktop app. Web push notifications also work when you have installed Zulip as an app on your device’s home screen.

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Under Desktop message notifications, toggle Enable web push notifications.
3. When your browser asks for permission to show notifications, select Allow.

The Enable web push notifications setting applies to your whole account, while the browser subscription that actually delivers notifications is per-browser. Turning the setting on subscribes the browser you are currently using.

Receiving notifications in another browser or device

To also receive web push notifications in a different browser or device, open Zulip there while the setting is on:

• If you have already granted that browser permission to show notifications, it subscribes automatically when you open Zulip — there is nothing else to do.
• Otherwise, an Enable push notifications in this browser button appears in your notification settings. Click it, and select Allow when your browser asks for permission.

On iPhone and iPad, web push notifications require iOS/iPadOS 16.4 or later, and only work when you have added Zulip to your Home Screen and open it from there. The permission prompt only appears in response to a tap, so turn the setting on (or use the Enable push notifications in this browser button) directly on your device.

Web push notifications require your Zulip server to be reachable over HTTPS, with web push configured by your server administrator.

Testing desktop notifications

This does not make an unread count badge appear.

Desktop/Web

1. Go to Notifications.
2. Under Desktop message notifications, click Send a test notification. If notifications are working, you will receive a test notification.

Troubleshooting desktop notifications

Desktop notifications are triggered when a message arrives, and Zulip is not in focus or the message is offscreen. You must have Zulip open in a browser tab or in the Zulip desktop app to receive desktop notifications.

Visual desktop notifications appear in the corner of your main monitor. Audible desktop notifications make a sound.

To receive notifications in the desktop app, make sure that Do Not Disturb mode is turned off.

Check notification settings for DMs or channels

If you have successfully received a test notification, but you aren’t seeing desktop notifications for new messages, check your Zulip notification settings. Make sure you have enabled desktop notifications for DMs or for the channel you are testing. Messages in muted topics will not trigger notifications.

Check platform settings

The most common issue is that your browser or system settings are blocking notifications from Zulip. Before checking Zulip-specific settings, make sure that Do Not Disturb mode is not enabled on your computer.

Chrome

1. Click on the site information menu to the left of the URL for your Zulip organization.
2. Toggle Notifications and Sound. If you don’t see those options, click on Site settings, and set Notifications and Sound to Allow.

Alternate instructions:

1. Select the Chrome menu at the top right of the browser, and select Settings.
2. Select Privacy and security, Site Settings, and then Notifications.
3. Next to Allowed to send notifications, select Add.
4. Paste the Zulip URL for your organization into the site field, and click Add.

Firefox

1. Select the Firefox menu at the top right of the browser, and select Settings.
2. On the left, select Privacy & Security. Scroll to the Permissions section and select the Settings button next to Notifications.
3. Find the URL for your Zulip organization, and adjust the Status selector to Allow.

Desktop app

Windows

1. Click the Start button and select Settings. Select System, and then Notifications & actions.
2. Select Zulip from the list of apps.
3. Configure the notification style that you would like Zulip to use.

macOS

1. Open your Mac System Preferences and select Notifications.
2. Select Zulip from the list of apps.
3. Configure the notification style that you would like Zulip to use.

Related articles

• Channel notifications
• DMs, mentions, and alerts
• Email notifications
• Mobile notifications
• Do not disturb