PusharooChrome push notifications: a complete guide
Chrome is where most web push subscribers live. It supports the full feature set — images, action buttons, Android lock-screen delivery — and also has the strictest rules about how sites may ask.
- Chrome supports web push on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS and Android; on iPhone it follows Apple’s Home Screen rule.
- Chrome may show a quieter permission UI (a small icon) for sites with low acceptance rates.
- Images and up to two action buttons are supported on Windows, Android and ChromeOS.
- On desktop, Chrome must be running (it can run in the background) to receive notifications.
How sites ask for permission in Chrome
When a site calls the permission API, Chrome shows a small dialog under the address bar: “yoursite.com wants to show notifications — Allow / Block”. A user’s decision sticks for that site until they change it in settings. If a site asks in a way Chrome considers spammy, or few users accept, Chrome may replace the dialog with a quieter UI: a crossed-out bell icon in the address bar that most people never click.
The fix is to ask politely: your own soft prompt first, then the browser dialog only after a click. Pusharoo does this by default (two-step opt-in).
Chrome notification settings
| Where | Path |
|---|---|
| Desktop — all sites | chrome://settings/content/notifications (Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications) |
| Desktop — one site | Click the tune/lock icon left of the address → Site settings → Notifications |
| Android | Chrome menu → Settings → Site settings → Notifications |
| Android — system level | Android Settings → Apps → Chrome → Notifications (Android 13+ asks for this once) |
Chrome lets people choose between “Sites can ask”, “Use quieter messaging” and “Don’t allow sites to send notifications”. Readers who want to turn notifications off can follow our step-by-step guide.
What Chrome notifications can show
| Feature | Windows | macOS | Android | ChromeOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title, body, icon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large image | Yes | No (banner) | Yes, expanded | Yes |
| Action buttons | Up to 2 | Via Options menu | Up to 2 | Up to 2 |
| Badge icon | — | — | Status bar | — |
Details and sizes in rich push notifications.
Delivery when Chrome is closed
- Android: notifications arrive with Chrome closed; Android wakes the service worker.
- Windows/Linux: Chrome must be running. The setting “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” keeps it alive after windows close.
- macOS: Chrome must be running, and Chrome must be allowed in System Settings → Notifications.
- Messages sent while the device is offline wait at Google’s push service until their time-to-live expires (TTL).
For developers: Chrome specifics
- Push subscriptions use endpoints on
fcm.googleapis.com; you send with standard VAPID — no Firebase project needed (why). userVisibleOnly: trueis required: every push must show a notification.- If your worker fails to show one, Chrome may display a generic “This site has been updated in the background” message.
- DevTools → Application → Service workers has a Push button to fire a test event (testing guide).
Questions
Why does Chrome show a bell with a line through it instead of asking?
That is Chrome’s quieter permission UI, used when a user enabled it or when a site’s prompts are rarely accepted. Asking only after a click on your own prompt helps avoid it.
Do Chrome push notifications work on iPhone?
Chrome on iOS uses Apple’s WebKit engine, so the iPhone rule applies: the site must be added to the Home Screen on iOS 16.4+ and opened from there.
Does Chrome need Firebase for web push?
No. Chrome’s push service is built on Firebase Cloud Messaging infrastructure, but websites send to it using the standard Web Push protocol and VAPID keys.
Keep reading
Browser push notifications: who supports what
Support table for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Samsung Internet — desktop, Android and iPhone.
Microsoft Edge push notifications
Edge’s Chromium-based push support, quiet requests, settings and Windows notification tips.
Web push notifications on Android
Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox and Edge on Android, the Android 13 permission and battery savers.
Web push notifications not working? Fix it by symptom
Symptom-by-symptom fixes: no prompt, blocked permission, nothing arrives, iPhone issues and worker caching.
More in Browsers & devices: Firefox push notifications: how they work · Safari push notifications on the Mac · PWA push notifications on iOS and Android · How to test web push notifications · How to turn off website notifications · All guides
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