The Easiest Way to Enable Gmail Desktop Notifications - wikiHow (2025)

Table of Contents
Open Gmail. Go to your extended Gmail settings. Scroll down to the "Desktop Notifications" section. Choose how to receive notifications. Save your new notification settings. Community Q&A Tips Warnings You Might Also Like References About This Article Reader Success Stories Is this article up to date?
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  • Computers and Electronics
  • Internet
  • Online Communications
  • Email
  • Gmail

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1Open Gmail.

2Go to your extended Gmail settings.

3Scroll down to the "Desktop Notifications" section.

4Choose how to receive notifications.

5Save your new notification settings.

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Tips and Warnings

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References

Article Summary

Written byJack Lloyd

Last Updated: February 4, 2022

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This wikiHow teaches you how to turn on web browser notifications for Gmail. Desktop notifications cause a pop-up message to appear whenever you receive a new email or chat in Gmail. Desktop notifications will only work in supported browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

1

Open Gmail.

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  1. Go to https://www.gmail.com in your computer's web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're logged in.

    • If you aren't logged into Gmail, enter your email address and password when prompted.

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2

Go to your extended Gmail settings.

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  1. Click the gear icon at the top-right corner, and then select More Settings. When you click the gear, you'll open your Quick Settings on the right panel. On that panel, select "More Settings" to view all of your Gmail settings.

    See Also
    Gmail Notifications: How to Manage Alerts on All Your Devices (2025 Guide)

3

Scroll down to the "Desktop Notifications" section.

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  1. This section is toward bottom of the General tab.

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4

Choose how to receive notifications.

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  1. You can receive notifications for all messages, or just those you deem important. Check the box next to the option that describes the notifications you want to receive.

    • New mail notifications on: Displays a notification every time you receive a new message.
    • Important mail notifications on: If a message is flagged as "Important," you'll see a notification.
    • If you want to hear a sound along with the notification pop-up, choose an option from the "Mail notification sounds" drop-down menu.

5

Save your new notification settings.

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  1. Scroll down and click Save Changes. It's at the bottom of the page. Now that you've enabled notifications, you'll see web browser pop-ups each time you receive a new email message.

    • Your web browser must be open to receive Gmail desktop notifications.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question

    What do I do if my email account doesn't make a sound even though notifications are on?

    The Easiest Way to Enable Gmail Desktop Notifications - wikiHow (13)

    Community Answer

    Go in to settings, desktop notifications, and make sure the new email notification is on. Above that, press the link '' click here to enable desktop notification for Gmail '' and it should work.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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    Not Helpful 41Helpful 19

  • Question

    I have done all of these directions, but my Gmail notification icon still isn't coming up on my desktop. It just went away a few days ago. Any ideas?

    The Easiest Way to Enable Gmail Desktop Notifications - wikiHow (14)

    Community Answer

    You have to allow Chrome to display notifications in Windows (click the Start Menu and enter "notifications" in the Search box, go into Settings, then enable notifications for Chrome). You have to allow the Hangouts in Gmail as well. Finally, go into Chrome settings, click Show Advanced Settings, Click Content Settings under Advanced, and under Notifications, click Allow All Sites to Show Desktop Notifications.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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    Not Helpful 25Helpful 9

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      Tips

      • Gmail will not send you notifications about emails sent to the "Updates", "Social", or "Promotions" folders.[1]

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      • If notifications become overwhelming, you can easily disable Gmail notifications from the Settings menu.

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      Warnings

      • Gmail browser notifications will only work if you have your browser open.

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      About This Article

      The Easiest Way to Enable Gmail Desktop Notifications - wikiHow (29)

      Written by:

      Jack Lloyd

      wikiHow Technology Writer

      This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 311,823 times.

      How helpful is this?

      Co-authors: 15

      Updated: February 4, 2022

      Views:311,823

      Categories: Gmail

      Article SummaryX

      1.Sign in to Gmail.com.
      2.Click the gear.
      3.Click Settings.
      4.Click General.
      5.Select New mail notifications on.
      6.Click Save changes.

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      Reader Success Stories

      • The Easiest Way to Enable Gmail Desktop Notifications - wikiHow (30)

        Satyam Priyadarshi

        Aug 3, 2016

        "Great job, wikiHow, I liked that warning message. It helped me in deciding whether I should opt for this or not...." more

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