Android Central: All about Chrome Notifications settings

Friday, June 2, 2017

All about Chrome Notifications settings

Cut through the noise and see what's important by setting up your Chromebook notifications.

Just like Windows or macOS, your Chromebook can get desktop notifications. These can come from web pages, extensions, and apps (including Android apps), and they all live down in the status area where your profile photo is. Managing them is easy once you know where to look!

How to manage global website notification settings

Click the Notifications symbol inside the status area. That's the bell in the bottom right corner where your account picture lives.
Click the Settings symbol (the gear), then click Advanced settings.
Click Privacy, you'll see Content settings.
In the pop-up window that appears, scroll down to Notifications.
- You can turn on a prompt that asks you each time a website wants to send you a notification by moving the switch.

For any websites that can send notifications, you'll be prompted when you first visit.

How to manage individual website notification settings

You can also manage notifications that you've already allowed. You'll find every website that can send you a notification listed here. Changing the settings is simple:

To change the setting for a site that's listed, click the three dots in its entry in the list and use the combo box to choose Block or Allow.
To delete a site and fall back to the default global setting the next time you visit, click the X on its entry.
To create a new exception for a website or domain:
- Decide if you want to add a website to the Allow list or Block list. This will override any global setting.
- Click the ADD label on the right side of the page.
- Enter the web address in the text box that opens.
- Insert a star Shift 8 [*] before the domain name. It should look like this [*.]androidcentral.com. This would affect both http://ift.tt/sOX6Mf and forums.androidcentral.com.
- You can also use an IP address or an IPv6 address instead of a hostname.

Managing notifications for app and extensions

An app or extension that wants to send you desktop notifications will ask you the first time it tries. You also might find extra settings inside the app or extension itself. If you have allowed notifications for an app or extension and want to change the setting:

Click the bell symbol in the notifications area, next to the clock.
- Any notifications you have waiting will pop up.
- If you have no notifications pending, you'll see No notifications.
In the pop-up window, click the Settings icon that looks like a gear.
Find the app or notification in the list and uncheck the box next to it.
- If you added an exception using the directions above, unchecking its box here will remove it from the list.
- If an app or extension updates, its entry will stay on the list but its box will be unchecked. This is because you need to grant permission the first time the new version runs.

Desktop notifications can be pretty handy, but it's also easy to get overwhelmed. Use these tips to set things up so you get the information you need without a bunch of extra notification cards that aren't as helpful.