This guide will help you fix problems with desktop notifications that don't show up or won’t go away.

Step 1. Check your system permissions

Make sure Shift has the appropriate permissions in your system preferences. Without them, Shift won't be able to display desktop notifications. Select your operating system below to check your system permissions:

• For Mac
• For Windows

Step 2. Check your notification settings within Shift

1. Click on any email account or app in your sidebar
2. Click on the lock icon at the top right of the search bar in Shift
3. Find Notifications in the drop-down and toggle according to your preference
4. If you don’t see Notifications, click on Site Settings, scroll to Notifications, and adjust them there

*The GIF above shows the steps to check your notification settings in Shift as described above.

Step 3. Check your individual email and app notification settings

Shift will honor your individual email and app notification settings. If notifications are turned off in your email, Shift will turn them off too.

For Gmail:

1. 1. Navigate to your email account within Shift
   2. Click on the gear icon in the upper right
   3. Click into the General tab
   4. Scroll down to the Desktop Notifications section and ensure "New mail notifications on" is toggled on.
   5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes

For Outlook/Office 365:

1. 1. Navigate to your email account within Shift
   2. Click on the gear icon in the upper right
   3. Click General then Notifications
   4. Scroll down to Desktop notifications and ensure they're enabled

Quick tips

• On Mac, check your Focus Mode settings.
• On Windows, check your Focus Assist settings.

These features can block desktop notifications but still let sound notifications through. If you turn these features off, you will get both desktop and sound notifications.

How to adjust "Focus Mode" (Mac)

1. Navigate to your OS top bar
2. Click the moon symbol
3. Adjust accordingly

*The photo above shows a red arrow point at Focus Mode

How to adjust "Focus Assist" (Windows)

1. 1. Navigate to the bottom right corner of the Windows bar
   2. Click the Notification Center button in the bottom right corner
   3. Expand your widgets within the Notification Center
   4. Click on Focus Assist to adjust accordingly

*The photo above shows Focus Assist outlined in red

What's next?

 Learn how to use the Mute Notifications tool here.