> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.messagedesk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Turn On Browser Notification Sound (Site, Browser & OS)

> Why don't I hear MessageDesk notifications? Fix silent or missing browser notifications by enabling all three layers: the site permission, the browser-wide setting, and your Mac or Windows notification settings.

# Turn on browser notification sound

Use this page if MessageDesk browser notifications don't appear, or they pop up but **don't make a sound**.

Browser notifications pass through **three layers**, and each one has to allow MessageDesk. If any one layer is off, you get a silent alert or no alert at all.

| Layer | Where it lives | What it controls |
| - | - | - |
| **1. Site permission** | The site settings for `inbox.messagedesk.com` in your browser | Whether MessageDesk is allowed to send notifications at all |
| **2. Browser-wide setting** | Your browser's Notifications settings page | Whether the browser lets *any* site send notifications, and which sites are allowed or blocked |
| **3. Operating system** | macOS System Settings or Windows Settings | Whether your Mac or PC shows the browser's notifications and **plays a sound** |

> [!NOTE]
>
> The most common "I see the pop-up but hear nothing" case is layer 3. On macOS, **Allow notifications** and **Play sound for notifications** are two separate toggles.

> [!TIP]
>
> Before you start, make sure you've chosen a notification rule in **Account → Settings → Notification Preferences**. See [Notification Preferences](https://docs.messagedesk.com/settings/my-settings/notification-preferences.md). If you're set to **Don't send me notifications**, no layer below will help.

***

## Layer 1: Allow notifications for the MessageDesk site

### Chrome

1. Log in to MessageDesk in Chrome at `inbox.messagedesk.com`.
2. Click the **site settings** icon to the left of the URL in the address bar.
3. Toggle **Notifications** to **On**.
4. For more options, click **Settings** in that same menu to open the full site settings page. Make sure **Notifications** is set to **Allow** and **Sound** isn't set to **Mute**.

![Notifications Chrome Browser Pn](https://mintcdn.com/messagedesk/1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz/images/notifications-chrome-browser.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz\&q=85\&s=e5348ffbffd344b7746e36f0a9385e38)

> [!NOTE]
>
> If you never saw Chrome's "Allow notifications?" prompt when you first logged in, Chrome may have blocked it quietly. Setting the permission manually here fixes that. If you'd previously clicked **Block**, click **Reset permissions** in the site settings menu, reload MessageDesk, and click **Allow** when prompted.

### Chrome App (installed PWA)

If you [installed MessageDesk as a Chrome App](https://docs.messagedesk.com/get-started/install-apps.md#how-to-install-messagedesk-as-an-app-on-chrome), open the app, click the **More** menu (three dots) in the app's title bar, then **App info → Settings**. Toggle **Notifications** on.

![Notifications Chrome Settings Pn](https://mintcdn.com/messagedesk/1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz/images/notifications-chrome-settings.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz\&q=85\&s=dfcf84154664d2f4a40266b3020dc448)

### Microsoft Edge

Edge is built on Chromium, so the steps match Chrome: click the **lock** or **site settings** icon in the address bar, then set **Notifications** to **Allow**.

***

## Layer 2: Check your browser's notification settings

Even with the site allowed, a browser-wide block stops every notification.

### Chrome

1. Open **Chrome → Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications**. You can also paste `chrome://settings/content/notifications` into the address bar.
2. Under **Default behavior**, select **Sites can ask to send notifications**.
3. Scroll to **Customized behaviors**. Make sure `inbox.messagedesk.com` is under **Allowed to send notifications**, not **Not allowed to send notifications**. If it's blocked, click the **three dots** next to it and choose **Allow**.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Chrome's **Use quieter messaging** option suppresses permission prompts. If it's on, Chrome won't ask you to allow notifications, so you need to add MessageDesk to the allowed list manually.

### Microsoft Edge

1. Open **Edge → Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Notifications**.
2. Turn on **Ask before sending**.
3. Make sure `inbox.messagedesk.com` is under **Allow**, not **Block**.

***

## Layer 3: Allow the browser to notify you at the OS level

This is the layer that controls **sound**. Your operating system plays notification sounds, not MessageDesk or the browser.

### macOS

1. Open **System Settings → Notifications**.
2. In the app list, select **Google Chrome** (or **Microsoft Edge**). If you use the installed Chrome App, look for **MessageDesk** instead.
3. Turn on **Allow notifications**.
4. Choose **Banners** or **Alerts** as the style. **None** hides notifications entirely.
5. Turn on **Play sound for notifications**. This is a separate toggle from **Allow notifications**, and it's the one most often missed.
6. Optional: turn on **Show in Notification Center** and **Badge application icon**.

The Safari App panel below shows the same toggles you'll see for Chrome or Edge.

![Notifications Safari Pn](https://mintcdn.com/messagedesk/1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz/images/notifications-safari.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=1v-CCcnPqwOHf1Tz\&q=85\&s=5acc5cab2c4beba52abdfcbd59ef8624)

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Focus and Do Not Disturb silence everything.** Check **System Settings → Focus** and the Focus icon in your menu bar. If a Focus mode is on, either turn it off or add your browser to that Focus mode's **Allowed Apps**.

### Windows 10 and 11

1. Open **Settings → System → Notifications**.
2. Turn on the main **Notifications** toggle at the top.
3. Scroll to **Notifications from apps and other senders** and turn on **Google Chrome** (or **Microsoft Edge**).
4. Click the app's name to open its detail page. Turn on **Show notification banners** and **Play a sound when a notification arrives**.
5. Check **Do not disturb** (Windows 11) or **Focus assist** (Windows 10) is off, or that your browser is on the priority list.

***

## Safari and Firefox

* **Safari (installed app, macOS Sonoma and later):** [Install MessageDesk as a Safari App](https://docs.messagedesk.com/get-started/install-apps.md), allow notifications when the app asks, then manage sound and style in **System Settings → Notifications → MessageDesk** (the screenshot above).
* **Safari (browser tab):** Not covered by this guide. Use the installed Safari App instead for reliable notifications.
* **Firefox:** Not covered by this guide. MessageDesk supports Chrome, Edge, and the installed Safari App for browser notifications.

***

## Test it

1. **Restart the browser** after changing any of the settings above. If notifications still don't appear, restart your computer. macOS and Windows sometimes don't apply notification changes to a running app.
2. Keep MessageDesk open in a tab or in the installed app, and stay signed in.
3. **Have someone text your MessageDesk number** from their phone. Sending a message from MessageDesk yourself won't trigger a notification. Notifications only fire for **inbound** messages (and for [@mentions](https://docs.messagedesk.com/inbox/comments-mentions.md) in comments).
4. You should see a banner and hear your system's notification sound.

> [!TIP]
>
> If you're set to **Only notify me about conversations assigned to me**, make sure the test conversation is assigned to you, or switch to **Notify me about every new message** while you test.

***

## Quick checklist

Work through these in order when a teammate says "I don't hear notifications":

1. **Notification Preferences** in MessageDesk isn't set to **Don't send me notifications**.
2. **Site permission** for `inbox.messagedesk.com` is **Allow** (layer 1).
3. **Browser settings** allow sites to send notifications, and MessageDesk isn't on the blocked list (layer 2).
4. **OS settings** allow the browser to notify, with **Play sound** on and the style set to Banners or Alerts (layer 3).
5. **Focus / Do Not Disturb** is off.
6. **Browser restarted** after changes.
7. **Tested with an inbound text**, not an outbound send.
8. Your computer's **volume is up** and not muted.

***

## FAQ

**Why do I see the notification but don't hear a sound?**\
Your OS controls notification sounds. On macOS, turn on **Play sound for notifications** for Google Chrome (or MessageDesk) under **System Settings → Notifications**. On Windows, turn on **Play a sound when a notification arrives** for your browser under **Settings → System → Notifications**.

**I changed the settings and still get nothing.**\
Restart the browser, then the computer if needed. Then test with an inbound text from another phone.

**I never got asked to allow notifications.**\
Your browser may have suppressed the prompt. Set the permission manually using the steps in Layer 1 and Layer 2.

**Does this apply to the mobile app?**\
No. Mobile push sound is controlled by your phone's settings. See [Configure mobile push](https://docs.messagedesk.com/settings/my-settings/notification-preferences.md).

**Can MessageDesk change the notification sound?**\
No. The sound comes from your operating system's notification settings for the browser.

***

## Related articles

* [Notification Preferences](https://docs.messagedesk.com/settings/my-settings/notification-preferences.md)
* [Download & Install Apps](https://docs.messagedesk.com/get-started/install-apps.md)
* [Troubleshoot app sync and lag](https://docs.messagedesk.com/resources/troubleshooting-app-sync.md)
* [Contact support](https://docs.messagedesk.com/resources/support.md)


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