Goal: help you enable push notifications with sound for Darwin on both mobile and desktop, either using a PWA (installed app) or in the browser.
Quick requirements (read first)
Sign in to Darwin on the device where you want notifications.
Allow notifications in two layers: 1) the browser or the PWA, and 2) the operating system.
Sound: make sure the “Play sound” (or “Sounds”) option is enabled in the system’s notification settings for that app/browser.
Do Not Disturb/Focus/DND: turned off, or add Darwin to the allowed list.
Platform compatibility:
- iOS/iPadOS: push notifications only work if you install Darwin as a PWA via “Add to Home Screen” in Safari (from iOS/iPadOS 16.4+). Push does not arrive in the browser.
- Android: push works in the browser (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) and as an installed PWA.
- macOS: push works in Safari and Chromium-based browsers in the browser and also as a PWA. For Safari PWAs, macOS Ventura (13+) is required.
- Windows 10/11: push works in Chrome/Edge (browser and PWA).
Compatibility matrix (summary)
Platform | In the browser | As a PWA |
iOS/iPadOS | ❌ (no admite push web en navegador) | ✅ (iOS/iPadOS 16.4+ con Añadir a pantalla de inicio en Safari) |
Android | ✅ (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) | ✅ |
macOS | ✅ (Safari/Chrome/Edge/Brave) | ✅ (Safari 13+ para PWA estándar desde Ventura, y Chromium) |
Windows 10/11 | ✅ (Chrome/Edge) | ✅ |
> Sound note: the tone is managed by the system. On iOS, PWAs use the default sound and respect Silent mode. On Android and Windows you can choose tone/channel.
iPhone / iPad (iOS/iPadOS)
A) Install Darwin as a PWA (required to receive push)
1. Open Safari and go to Darwin.
2. Tap Share → Add to Home Screen → Add.
3. Open the Darwin web app from the Home Screen icon.
4. Accept the notification prompt when it appears.
> If you add it from Chrome on iOS, the shortcut still opens in Safari. Use Safari to grant permissions.
B) Enable sound and permissions in iOS
1. Settings → Notifications → find the Darwin PWA name.
2. Turn on Allow Notifications.
3. Under Alerts, enable Lock Screen and Banners.
4. Enable Sounds (make sure iPhone volume is not muted / Silent Mode is off).
5. (Optional) Enable Time Sensitive Notifications so they can break through Focus.
C) Focus / Silent Mode
- Settings → Focus: turn it off or add the Darwin PWA to Allowed.
- iPhones with a physical/action Silent switch: turn Silent mode off to hear sound.
### D) Quick test on iOS
- With the PWA open, look for the “Enable notifications” button (if shown) and grant permission.
- Ask someone to message you in a Darwin chat and check that the notification plays a sound.
> Important: on iOS there is no push for sites in the browser (Safari/Chrome) — only for PWAs installed on the Home Screen.
## Android (Chrome/Edge/Firefox and PWA)
A) In the browser (without PWA)
1. Open Darwin in Chrome (or Edge/Firefox).
2. Tap the padlock/site icon → Permissions → Notifications: Allow.
3. Android may request a system confirmation: Allow.
4. System: Settings → Notifications → Chrome → ensure Notifications and Sound are enabled. You can choose a tone within the “Default” or “General” channel.
B) As an installed PWA
1. In Chrome: menu ⋮ → Install app (or “Add to Home Screen”).
2. Open the Darwin PWA → accept the notification permission.
3. System: Settings → Apps → Darwin (PWA) → Notifications: enable Allow, review Sound (choose a tone).
C) Battery optimization / DND
- Settings → Battery → Don’t optimize / allow background activity for Darwin PWA or Chrome.
- Do Not Disturb: off, or add Darwin to Allowed.
D) Quick test on Android
- With Darwin open (PWA or browser), send a test message and confirm it arrives with sound.
macOS (Safari/Chrome/Edge/Brave and PWA)
A) Safari as a PWA (macOS Ventura 13+)
1. Open Darwin in Safari.
2. File menu → Add to Dock (or “Add as App”).
3. Open the Darwin app (PWA) from Launchpad/Dock.
4. Accept the notification permission.
5. macOS: System Settings → Notifications → find Darwin: enable Allow Notifications, choose Banners or Alerts, and enable “Play sound”.
B) Safari in the browser (site without PWA)
1. Safari → Settings → Websites → Notifications → for the Darwin domain choose Allow.
2. macOS: System Settings → Notifications → Safari: enable Allow and “Play sound”.
C) Chrome/Edge/Brave (browser or installed PWA)
1. In Darwin, click the padlock/site icon → Permissions → Notifications: Allow.
(Or Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications → add the Darwin domain under Allow.)
2. If you installed it as a PWA: on macOS you’ll see Darwin as a separate app.
3. macOS: System Settings → Notifications → Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and/or Darwin (PWA):
- Allow Notifications ✓
- Style: Banners or Alerts
- Play sound for notifications ✓
D) Focus / DND on macOS
- System Settings → Focus: turn it off or add Darwin (or your browser) to Allowed.
E) Quick test on macOS
- With Darwin open, grant permission and send a test message. Check the Notification Center if you didn’t see it on screen.
> Notes:
>
> - In macOS Ventura (13+), Safari supports standard Web Push for PWAs. In earlier versions, support is limited.
> - On macOS, the system “Sound Effects” volume affects notification sounds.
Windows 10/11 (Chrome/Edge and PWA)
On the Darwin site, Allow notifications (padlock/site icon → Notifications: Allow).
Windows: Settings → System → Notifications: turn on Notifications globally and for Google Chrome / Microsoft Edge and/or Darwin (if installed as a PWA).
Go to Settings → System → Notifications → Chrome/Edge/Darwin and enable “Play a sound when a notification arrives”.
Check that Focus Assist is Off or that Darwin is allowed.
(Optional) In Chrome → Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications: ensure the Darwin domain is under Allow.
Troubleshooting (checklist)
- Not arriving on Mac, but they do on iPhone: review macOS System Settings → Notifications (app/browser and Darwin PWA) and Focus. Accept permission on that Mac (permissions aren’t shared across devices).
- Never saw the permission / accidentally denied it:
- Safari macOS: Safari → Settings → Websites → Notifications → remove the site from the list or set it to Allow, reload and accept the prompt.
- Chrome/Edge: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications → remove from Blocked and set to Allow again.
- iOS PWA: uninstall the PWA (long-press icon → Delete App), add it again via Add to Home Screen and accept the permission.
- Banners arrive but no sound:
- Check the sound toggle in the system’s notification panel (iOS: Sounds; macOS: Play sound; Windows: Play sound; Android: notification channel and tone).
- Review system volume and Silent mode (iOS) / DND.
- Android doesn’t notify in the background: disable Battery optimizations for the Darwin PWA or Chrome.
- Incognito/Private window: push does not work. Use a normal window.
- Multiple accounts: make sure you’re logged into the correct account on that device.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I receive push on iOS if I only use the browser?
No. On iOS/iPadOS, web push requires installing the PWA from Safari (iOS/iPadOS 16.4+).
Can I choose a custom tone?
iOS: uses the system default tone (not configurable by the PWA).
Android: yes, pick a sound per channel in Settings.
Windows: yes, there’s a “Play sound” toggle and system sound settings.
macOS: uses the system’s notification sound; ensure “Play sound” is enabled.
Do I need to keep the browser open?
iOS PWA: no, notifications arrive even if it isn’t open.
Android/Windows/macOS (Chromium browsers and Safari): push arrives even if the tab isn’t active; in some setups the browser may need to be running in the background.
Are notifications synced across devices?
No. Permissions and sounds are configured per device and per app/browser.
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