# Notifications

HolyCRM can let you know when something needs you, like being asked to serve, even when the
app is closed.

## The bell

The **bell** at the top of the app shows your notifications for the church you're in. A number
on it means there are ones you haven't read. Tap one to open what it's about; **Mark all as
read** clears the number. Notifications are kept for 90 days.

## Turning notifications on for your phone or computer

Notifications are turned on **per device**: your phone and your computer are separate.

1. Open the bell and tap **Turn on notifications**, or go to **My Profile → Notifications**.
2. Your browser asks for permission: choose **Allow**.
3. Tap **Send a test** in My Profile to check it works. The test should arrive within a few
   seconds.

**iPhone and iPad:** notifications only work once HolyCRM is installed on your Home Screen
(iOS 16.4 or later). Install it first (see [Getting Started](#/getting-started)), open it from
its icon, then turn notifications on from there.

**Android and computers:** they work in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Samsung Internet, whether or
not you installed the app. They don't work in private or incognito windows.

## What you'll be notified about

- **When you're asked to serve** on a rota. On Android and computers the notification has
  **I can serve** / **I can't** buttons; "I can't" lets you add a note. Or tap it to answer.
- **A reminder** the day before if you haven't answered yet.
- **The day before you serve**, once you've confirmed.
- **Event reminders:** the day before an event you're registered for, with the time.
- **Small group:** on the day your group meets, a few hours before.
- **Announcements** your church sends as an app notification.
- **A thank-you** when a gift of yours is recorded (never the amount).
- **Kids check-in:** if the kids' team needs you, a page asking you to come, with your tag's
  code. This one can't be switched off.
- **If you lead rotas:** when a volunteer says they can't serve, so you can find a replacement,
  and two days before a service if any role still has open places ("Sunday service needs 2
  more people").
- **If you see Visitors:** when a new visitor arrives (from the app or your "New here?" form),
  and when a visitor is assigned to you for follow-up.
- **If you see Prayer Requests:** when a new request arrives, and when one is assigned to you.
  The notification never shows the request itself or who sent it.
- **Administrators:** when someone they invited joins the team, plan and trial reminders, and
  when a payment is received.

When several of the same kind arrive close together (say, a list of visitors imported at
once), you get one notification that counts them, like "12 new visitors", not twelve.

Under **My Profile → Notifications → What to notify me about** you can switch each kind off
for the church you're in. If you belong to more than one church, each one has its own switches.

Notifications only say *what* happened. Details stay inside the app, behind your login,
because notifications can appear on a locked screen.

## Devices and signing out

**My Profile → Notifications** lists the devices where notifications are on. **Remove** stops
them on a device you no longer use. Signing out also turns them off on that device, so on a
shared computer the next person isn't sent yours.

## The "Tap to copy the URL for this app" notice on Android

While HolyCRM is open, Android may show a quiet notice from Chrome saying **"Tap to copy the
URL for this app"**, with **Share** and **Open in Chrome**. Chrome adds it to every app
installed from the browser; it isn't a HolyCRM notification. To hide it, long-press it and
turn that kind of Chrome notification off. That hides it for **every** app you installed
from Chrome, and HolyCRM's own notifications keep working.

## Not getting notifications?

- **"Notifications are blocked"**: you chose *Block* when the browser asked. Allow
  notifications for HolyCRM in the browser's site settings, then come back.
- Check the device isn't in *Do not disturb* or battery saver mode, which can hold them back.
- You'll still find everything in the bell, and you'll still get the usual emails.