This article explains how you are informed about new chat messages when using Chats in a web browser. There are two different types of signals:

Web push notifications 
These are system notifications shown by your browser or operating system.

Unread indicators 
These are visual indicators that show you have unread chats. They can appear in different places:

• as a red dot on the Chats icon in the main menu,
• as a badge in the browser tab,
• as an unread count in the browser tab.

Web push notifications and unread indicators are related, but they do not always appear in the same situations. For example, you may see a red dot on the Chats icon even when no web push notification appears.

Web push notifications

Web push notifications are system notifications shown by your browser or operating system. They help you notice new chat messages when you are not actively looking at the relevant app page.

Enable web push notifications in Chats

You can enable web push notifications from Chats settings.

1. Open Chats.
2. Open the more options menu (3 dots).
3. Select Chat Settings.
4. Turn on Desktop Notifications.
5. If your browser asks for permission, select Allow.

After this, Chats is allowed to send web push notifications from your browser.

Turning on Desktop Notifications in Chats settings does not guarantee that every web push notification will appear. Your browser, operating system, Focus mode, muted chat settings, closed tabs, or the page you are currently viewing can still prevent a web push notification from being shown. If web push notifications do not appear, follow the checklist in:  If web push notifications do not appear

When web push notifications should appear

When web push notifications may not appear

If web push notifications do not appear

Use this checklist if you expected a web push notification but did not receive one.

1. Keep the app open in a browser tab

Web push notifications work only when the app is open in a browser tab and you are logged in.

They are not guaranteed if the app tab is closed or the browser is fully closed.

2. Check what you are currently viewing

If the relevant app page is active and visible on your screen, no web push notification appears on purpose. This is expected. New messages should already be visible directly in the app.

3. Allow notifications in your browser

Your browser must allow notifications for the app. When your browser asks for permission, choose Allow.

Notification permission is specific to each browser, browser profile, and device. For example, allowing notifications in Chrome does not automatically allow them in Safari, Edge, or another Chrome profile.

4. Allow notifications in your operating system

Your operating system can block web push notifications even when they are enabled in Chats settings. Make sure notifications are enabled globally and allowed for your browser.

Windows
Go to Settings → System → Notifications.

macOS
Go to System Settings → Notifications.

Also make sure Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is not silencing notifications.

5. Check that the chat is not muted

Muted chats do not send web push notifications. Open the chat settings and make sure notifications are not muted for that chat.

6. Use a regular browser window

Web push notifications may not work reliably in private or incognito windows. Open the app in a regular browser window and test again.

7. Check battery or energy-saving settings

On laptops, battery saver or energy-saving settings may reduce background activity and delay or block web push notifications.

Turn off the battery saver temporarily and test again.

Duplicate web push notifications

If the same app is open in several browser tabs, the same message may trigger several web push notifications. This happens because more than one open tab may be eligible to send a web push notification.

To reduce duplicate web push notifications, keep only one app tab open.

Web push notification sound

If a web push notification appears with a sound, the sound is usually controlled by your browser or operating system settings.

You may be able to change or disable notification sounds in your device settings.

Windows
Go to Settings → System → Notifications, then check the notification settings for your browser.

macOS
Go to System Settings → Notifications, then check the notification settings for your browser.

The exact sound options depend on your browser, operating system, and device.

Unread indicators on web

Unread indicators are different from web push notifications. They help you see that you still have unread chats, even if no system push was shown.

Red dot on the Chats icon in the main menu

A red dot on the Chats icon in the main menu means that you have at least one unread chat.

The red dot can appear even when no web push notification appears, for example when you are already viewing the relevant app page.

Browser tab badge and unread count

The browser tab may show an unread badge or a number. The number represents the number of unread chats, not the number of new messages. The count goes down when chats are read, not when individual messages are dismissed.

For example: