Gmail notifications work differently on desktop, phone, and tablet
Gmail can send you alerts when new messages arrive, but the steps depend on what device you are using. On a computer, notifications appear as pop-ups in the corner of your screen. On a phone or tablet, they show up as badge numbers on your Gmail app icon and as alerts in your notification center. You control each type separately, so you may need to adjust settings in more than one place to get the alerts you want.
The most common reason people do not see Gmail notifications is that they have turned them off without realizing it, or they have blocked notifications at the operating system level. This guide walks you through turning them back on for each device type.
Key Takeaways
- Desktop notifications require you to turn them on in Gmail settings and then grant permission in your web browser.
- Phone and tablet notifications are controlled in your Gmail app settings, not in your device settings, though your device must also allow notifications from Gmail.
- You can choose which labels or senders trigger notifications, so you do not have to be alerted for every message.
- If you have multiple Gmail accounts, each one has its own notification settings.
Turning on notifications in Gmail on a computer
Open Gmail in your web browser and look for the gear icon in the top right corner of the page. Click it and select See all settings. Click the Notifications tab near the top of the settings page.
Under Desktop notifications, click the dropdown menu and select On. A pop-up will appear asking your browser to send notifications — click Allow. If you do not see this pop-up, your browser may have already blocked Gmail notifications. You will need to reset that permission in your browser settings before Gmail notifications will work.
Below the desktop notifications dropdown, you can choose which messages trigger alerts. The default is All mail, which means you get a notification for every incoming message. If you want alerts only for important messages, select Important mail instead. You can also choose Starred only if you want to be notified only for messages you have marked with a star.
Resetting browser notification permissions if Gmail notifications are blocked
If you clicked Allow in Gmail but nothing happened, or if you previously blocked Gmail notifications, you need to reset the permission in your browser. The steps differ depending on which browser you use.
In Google Chrome: Click the lock icon or info icon to the left of the web address at the top of the page. Click Permissions or Site settings. Find Notifications in the list and change it from Block to Allow. Then go back to Gmail settings and repeat the steps above.
In Firefox: Click the lock icon to the left of the web address. Click the arrow next to Permissions. Find Notifications and click the X to remove the block, or change the setting to Allow. Return to Gmail settings and try again.
In Safari: Go to Safari in the menu bar, then Settings, then Websites, then Notifications. Find mail.google.com in the list and change it from Deny to Allow.
Turning on notifications in the Gmail app on Android
Open the Gmail app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap the Gmail account you want to change notifications for. Tap Notifications.
Make sure the toggle next to Notifications is turned on (it should be blue). Below that, you will see options for Notification sound and Vibration — turn these on or off depending on your preference. You can also tap Notification categories to choose which types of messages send alerts, such as messages from your contacts or messages with certain labels.
If notifications are turned on in the Gmail app but you still do not see them on your phone, check your phone's main notification settings. Go to Settings on your Android device, tap Apps or Applications, find Gmail, and tap Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed for Gmail at the system level.
Turning on notifications in the Gmail app on iPhone or iPad
Open the Gmail app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left corner. Tap Settings. Tap the Gmail account you want to change. Tap Notifications.
Make sure the toggle next to Notifications is turned on. You can then choose whether to receive notifications for All mail, Important mail only, or Starred only. If you want sound and vibration alerts, make sure those toggles are also on.
If you have turned on notifications in Gmail but your phone is not showing them, check your iPhone or iPad settings. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, find Gmail in the list, and make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. You can also choose whether notifications appear as badges on the app icon, in the notification center, or as banners at the top of the screen.
Choosing which senders or labels trigger notifications
If you want notifications only from specific people or for messages in certain folders, Gmail lets you set that up. On a computer, go to Gmail settings and click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Click Create a new filter and enter the sender's email address or use other criteria to identify the messages you care about. At the bottom, check the box next to Apply the label and choose or create a label for those messages.
Then go back to the Notifications tab in settings and change the desktop notifications dropdown to Starred only or Important mail. Star or mark as important the messages from your filter, and you will receive notifications only for those. On the Gmail app for phone or tablet, you can often select specific labels to notify you about directly in the notification settings.
What to do if you are not seeing notifications
Start by checking that notifications are turned on in Gmail settings itself — this is the most common reason they do not appear. On a computer, verify that your browser has permission to send notifications and that you clicked Allow when Gmail asked. On a phone or tablet, check both the Gmail app settings and your device's main notification settings for Gmail.
If notifications are on everywhere but you still do not see them, try signing out of Gmail and signing back in. Close the Gmail app completely (not just minimizing it) and reopen it, or close your browser tab and return to Gmail. Sometimes notifications get stuck and a fresh start fixes the problem. If you have multiple Gmail accounts, make sure you are checking the notification settings for the correct account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get notifications for only one label or folder?
Yes, but the process is different on desktop and mobile. On a computer, create a filter that adds a specific label to messages you care about, then set notifications to Starred only and star those messages. On the Gmail app, some versions let you choose specific labels in notification settings directly.
Why do I see a notification badge on my Gmail app but no alert sound?
Check your notification settings in the Gmail app and make sure the sound toggle is on. Also check your phone's main notification settings for Gmail — your device may be set to show badges but not sounds. You can usually change this in your phone's notification settings for the Gmail app.
Do I need to keep Gmail open in my browser to get desktop notifications?
No. Once you turn on desktop notifications in Gmail settings and grant permission in your browser, you will receive notifications even if Gmail is not open. The notifications will appear as pop-ups in the corner of your screen.
What if I want different notification settings for different Gmail accounts?
Each Gmail account has its own notification settings. Sign into each account separately and adjust the notification options for that account. On a phone or tablet, open the Gmail app settings, select the specific account, and change its notification preferences.
Can I turn off notifications for specific senders?
Gmail does not have a built-in "mute this sender" option for notifications, but you can create a filter that skips the inbox for certain senders, which prevents notifications. Go to settings, create a filter for that sender, and check Skip the Inbox. Messages from that sender will still arrive but will not trigger notifications.