Google: Enable/Disable Gmail Desktop Notifications and Sounds

Environment

Google, Gmail, web interface on desktop browsers

Issue

I want to receive desktop notifications for new or important emails in Gmail and customize the notification sound.

Resolution

Enable Gmail desktop notifications

To enable Gmail desktop notifications and set a notification sound, follow the steps below.

1. Open Gmail in your desktop browser.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then click See all settings.
3. Find the Desktop notifications section under the "General" tab.
4. Click the "Click here to enable desktop notifications for University of Michigan Mail" link at the top of the section.
   • This will appear if you have not granted permission from your browser previously.
5. Click Allow in the pop-up that appears near your address bar.
6. Select either New mail notifications on or Important mail notifications on, depending on your preference.
7. Next to Mail notification sounds, select a sound from the list to enable notification sounds.
8. Select a notification sound as desired. To disable sounds, select None.
9. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

Important: If you previously enabled Gmail notifications for your Chrome or Edge browser and then disabled them, you may have the following message in the "Desktop notifications" section: "Note: Notifications have been disabled in this browser. Learn more." You will need to do the following to re-enable them, which cannot be done via Gmail settings. Each browser will have a slightly different process:

1. Ensure you're logged in and viewing your U-M Gmail account in your browser.
2. Depending on your browser, do the following:
   • Chrome: Click the View site information icon on the far left of your browser's address bar and toggle Notifications on.
   • Edge: Click the View site information icon on the far left of your browser's address bar and select Allow beside "Notifications."
3. Refresh the page after adjusting this browser setting.

Disable Gmail desktop notifications

1. Open Gmail in your desktop browser.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then click See all settings.
3. Find the Desktop notifications section under the "General" tab.
4. Select Mail notifications off.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

Google does not adjust your browser permissions when you change the Gmail notification settings. If you would like to remove the Gmail notifications permission completely from your browser settings:

1. Ensure you're logged in and viewing your U-M Gmail account in your browser.
2. Depending on your browser, do the following:
   • Chrome: Click the View site information icon on the far left of your browser's address bar and toggle Notifications off.
   • Firefox: Click the Permissions icon on the far left of your browser's address bar and click the X on "Allowed" beside "Send notifications."
   • Edge: Click the View site information icon on the far left of your browser's address bar and select Block beside "Notifications."
3. Refresh the page after adjusting this browser setting.

Additional Information

• Note that desktop notifications cannot currently be set up to alert to new mail for specific labels or alternate inboxes.
• Gmail notifications will not work if you have turned off all notifications for your web browser.
• For more information or specifics for mobile, refer to the Google Help Center: Get notifications for new email.

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.