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Do we get notifications when we get private messages?
- Thread starter Sheryl
- Start date
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
I asked the same question when I got here.
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
Yes, it's automatically here and by email.
If you want to change it, go into your account details, then go down to the preferences section, there should be some options for alert notifications. I took a screenshot below of the default settings, and circled the one that concerns PM's by email:
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
If you scroll down, there is actually a whole checklist of various things that you can edit.
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
PMs... That's more like it in my opinion. Every forum I've been on since IPB 1.0 they were called Private Messages, or PMs for short. What's with this Direct Message stuff? I must have scrolled up and down that page 20 times before I saw that...
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
I checked all the right boxes to receive email notifications, or so I thought, but it's never worked for me.
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
I sent you a couple of "Direct Messages"...
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Thanks, Axel. Received your messages and got the bell notification, but no email.
There are two possible places to check. One right below Enable Push Notifications, and the second at the very bottom of the page. Too many combinations and not enough messages to sort it out. I just realized you can send yourself a private message, but I didn't even get a bell notification for that.
I can live without it. The last forum I was on, it was hit or miss. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
Maybe it's just a tech issue or a glitch. The forum is fairly new...
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
The forum software is the same as the Senior Forums, just set up slightly differently. But after I turned on Push Notifications, which I normally don't anywhere else because typically they are most annoying to say the least, it finally started working for me. So here's the options on that Preferences page about notifications that I have checked.
Under Email Options:, I checked "Receive email when a new direct message is received."
I originally had this checked, but after decades of having my email running all day, I don't pay that much attention to it anymore, maybe twice a week at the most. So I unchecked this option later.
Under Push notifications:, I checked "Receive push notification when a new direct message is received."
That appears to be the Master On / Off Switch for them.
Under Receive a notification when someone… I checked "Reacts to your message."
I figured out that you need to have both Alerts and Push checked there, or you get no notifications when someone "reacts" to your posts.
All the rest of that stuff I don't have checked, as it's a bit much in my opinion.
I hope this helps you sort it out, Nancy...
Under Email Options:, I checked "Receive email when a new direct message is received."
I originally had this checked, but after decades of having my email running all day, I don't pay that much attention to it anymore, maybe twice a week at the most. So I unchecked this option later.
Under Push notifications:, I checked "Receive push notification when a new direct message is received."
That appears to be the Master On / Off Switch for them.
Under Receive a notification when someone… I checked "Reacts to your message."
I figured out that you need to have both Alerts and Push checked there, or you get no notifications when someone "reacts" to your posts.
All the rest of that stuff I don't have checked, as it's a bit much in my opinion.
I hope this helps you sort it out, Nancy...
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
Great guide. Thank you for posting.The forum software is the same as the Senior Forums, just set up slightly differently. But after I turned on Push Notifications, which I normally don't anywhere else because typically they are most annoying to say the least, it finally started working for me. So here's the options on that Preferences page about notifications that I have checked.
Under Email Options:, I checked "Receive email when a new direct message is received."
I originally had this checked, but after decades of having my email running all day, I don't pay that much attention to it anymore, maybe twice a week at the most. So I unchecked this option later.
Under Push notifications:, I checked "Receive push notification when a new direct message is received."
That appears to be the Master On / Off Switch for them.
Under Receive a notification when someone… I checked "Reacts to your message."
I figured out that you need to have both Alerts and Push checked there, or you get no notifications when someone "reacts" to your posts.
All the rest of that stuff I don't have checked, as it's a bit much in my opinion.
I hope this helps you sort it out, Nancy...
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
Jus' trying to help folks, ya know. 
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
@Axel Slingerland: One more question. Do you ever log out? Under the push notification bar it says if you log out, you'll have to check the setting again when you log back in. I always log out when I'm done. (It's just always been my M.O.)
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
Not usually. I just close the tab. I don't think there's any difference, and it's less of a hassle because I don't have to log back in again.
Every member who has the the box ticked on the "receive emails" should get emails.
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
Thank you for the clarification.
Axel Slingerland
Wordy Blues Rocker
Nope, I never do. I don't see any point in it, as even if you log out, everything you've ever said on the forum is right there for all to see. Unless the Forum Administrator has set up the forum so that only members who are logged in can see the forums list. That is possible, but it's a royal pain in the petunias to do in all forum software I've ever used, but I don't know about XenForo, as I've never seen it's innerds.
Although, I do have to say I think that was a very weird decision of the forum programmer's part.
Cpvr
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2024
- Messages
- 488
If it don’t check that box and close the browser, it will log you out.
It’s a pain tbh, but every site is designed like that. Unless you’re using the pwa(app) on your phone, then you’ll stay logged in no matter what or if you don’t ever close the tab.
Schwallenstutter
Super Member
It sure is a pain. We just gotta live with it.
