January 27, 2011

Gmail Desktop Notifications

If you use Google Chrome, you can enable a new Gmail feature that shows desktop notifications for new messages. Go to "Settings", and enable chat notifications and mail notifications to see a small bubble when you get a new message. If you get a lot of messages, it's a good idea to only enable notifications for important messages.


The nice thing is that the notifications are displayed even when you're visiting a different site or the Chrome window is minimized. Gmail's blog mentions an important use case: "you've probably missed an important chat message because you weren't looking at your Gmail window when it came in".

Unfortunately, you'll no longer see the notifications if you close Gmail or Google Chrome, so this isn't a perfect replacement for Gmail Notifier. This issue could be solved by background web apps, a new Chrome feature that allows installed web apps to run in the background.

Right now, desktop notifications are only available in Google Chrome, but this feature has been implemented in WebKit and there's a W3C draft for web notifications. Google Calendar has a similar feature as part of the "Gentle reminders" experiment.

{ Thanks, Sterling, Karol, Niranjan and Ran. }
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36 comments:

  1. Shay ErlichmenJanuary 27, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    I wonder how they manage to bypass the request permission bar that that ask the user if he allows the site to send notifications.
    They still ask the user permission but using their own UI. As far as I can tell I never lot gmail to display the desktop notifications (I'm checking it in the browser settings)

    ReplyDelete
  2. TimJBartJanuary 27, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    I've enabled in gmail, enabled notifications in Chrome, but I just can't get them to fire when I get a new message. Weird.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DanMay 24, 2012 at 12:07 PM

      Did you ever figure this out? I have the same issue.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJune 1, 2012 at 9:05 AM

      I have the same issue.

      Delete
    3. 808LesSeptember 11, 2012 at 1:22 PM

      Same here, I've followed the instructions over and over, and just don't see any notifications. Anyone else figure it out?

      Delete
    4. UnknownOctober 7, 2012 at 9:04 AM

      Are you testing it by sending an email to yourself? Does not work that way, try sending from an alternate address, worked for me.

      Delete
  3. Barry ScottJanuary 27, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    Great feature, maybe a Chrome extension could be made so it works even if Gmail is closed?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eamon NerbonneJanuary 27, 2011 at 2:26 AM

    It's coming to a firefox version post-4.0 too:
    https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=594543

    ReplyDelete
  5. alcoholism treatment centersJanuary 27, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    Chrome is best browser even for slower pc

    ReplyDelete
  6. Barry ScottJanuary 27, 2011 at 3:09 AM

    "alcoholism treatment centers said...
    Chrome is best browser even for slower pc"

    I agree, I have been using it since it became available and most of the people I know have switched on my recommendation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. bbJanuary 27, 2011 at 3:14 AM

    Chat notification works fine. There's a bug with e-mail notifications when email conversation is being updated.

    ReplyDelete
  8. hynseyJanuary 27, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    I don't see this option in Gmail settings? Is it on the general tab?

    ReplyDelete
  9. hynseyJanuary 27, 2011 at 3:34 AM

    nevermind, had to completely reload gmail to get it :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. LePeRJanuary 27, 2011 at 3:38 AM

    just thought i'd let people know that about:labs has been renamed to about:flags if you're trying to enable background webapps

    ReplyDelete
  11. imoJanuary 27, 2011 at 4:44 AM

    www.imo.im launched desktop notifications before Gmail. It works with Gtalk as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. daftenJanuary 27, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    It's not available for gmail on google web apps standard though (as far as i can see)

    ReplyDelete
  13. ScrvpvlvsJanuary 27, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    @Shay Erlichmen, When I enabled the feature, I was asked for permission using the Chrome permission bar. This is because I use the setting "Ask me when a site wants to show desktop notifications". After giving permission, mail.google.com was then listed as an exception.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Shay ErlichmenJanuary 27, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    @Scrvpvlvs So something is screwed in my browser, mail.google.com is not listed in the notifications exceptions (and I don't allow All sites to send notifications) and gmail didn't ask me to allow it. what is more wired is the fact that OTHER site who work with desktop notification DO trigger the permissions bar.
    Well I guess it serve me right for working with the dev build. Paranoia is back in the box for now :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    Best extension for instant E-Mail notifications: Gmail Push Notifications (https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/adlgnpfgagimgadbaboilkbdnhbpegmd)
    With desktop notifications.

    ReplyDelete
  16. thiagoJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    it's useless, your gmail has to be opened!

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    Chat notifications working fine but mail notifications do not, I'm using gmail as an application shortcut, may be this is the problem?

    ReplyDelete
  18. BrianJanuary 29, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    Doesn't seem to be working for me. It never asks for permission.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ScottJanuary 31, 2011 at 3:01 AM

    Doesn't work !
    (Win 7, 64 bit)
    Any suggestions ?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dino NunnoJanuary 31, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    I turned on my email notifications and it is working for me! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. MikeFebruary 1, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I saw the setting while in Gmail via Firefox, and turned it on, then saved changes. Then I launched Gmail in Google chrome and waited for an email to come in. Nothing came while I was in the office. When I returned to the office, I got a google talk notification. So I closed that app and went to verify my Gmail settings. But, the desktop notification section of the General tab of settings was JUST NOT THERE. So now I'm very puzzled.

    ReplyDelete
  22. games online freeFebruary 9, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    email notifications is working fine for me

    ReplyDelete
  23. UsedCarsFebruary 20, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    it isnt working with Firefox!

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    Looooove it!

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    Gmail Desktop Notifications is pointless if you have to keep a page open to Gmail. it's just as easy to periodically open the Gmail page to check mail.
    What is needed is a desktop notification that let's you know when you have new mail even when you are not logged into your account through your browser.
    As far as I can see, the gmail desktop notification is just another useless piece of junk that only takes up resources on a users PC

    ReplyDelete
  26. Pranjal GAugust 5, 2011 at 2:36 AM

    it's useless if one can't get these notification in firefox. chrome is not as good to use , specially in laptops. where the snap pad is the most user-friendly device. chrome doesn't support most snap pad options like rolling back to the previous page just with a touch.

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    i can still experience some BUGS,
    Email notifications were working fine till the point i applied FILTERS,

    Now when new mail comes in the filters or Even inbox,
    No new Email notification is Experienced ..

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousOctober 21, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Any way to make the popup stay on screen longer?

    "Until I dismiss it" would be ideal.

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousNovember 21, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Totally useless since I have to keep the webpage opened. Very disappointed!

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2012 at 5:57 AM

    how to disable. Checking disable does not work

    ReplyDelete
  31. PhaniFebruary 17, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    I have been using chrome for a while but chrome has got slower now.
    how to fix it

    ReplyDelete

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