Push notifications are messages that appear on your device without you opening an app
A push notification is a short message sent directly to your phone, tablet, or computer by an app or website, even when you are not using it. The message pops up on your screen, your lock screen, or in a notification center — depending on your device and how you have set things up. Unlike email, which you have to open to read, or text messages that arrive in a specific app, push notifications interrupt whatever you are doing to grab your attention right now.
The word "push" means the sender is pushing the message to you, rather than you pulling it by opening the app yourself. A weather app pushes you a frost warning. A news site pushes you a breaking story. A shopping app pushes you a discount code. The app or website decides when to send it, not you — which is why they can feel intrusive if you have not set boundaries.
Push notifications work because apps and websites have permission to contact your device directly. When you first install an app or visit a website, it usually asks: "Can we send you notifications?" If you tap yes, that app or website gets a direct line to your phone. From that moment on, it can send you messages whenever it wants, unless you change your settings.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are messages sent directly to your device by apps and websites, appearing on your screen even when you are not using them.
- Apps and websites can only send notifications if you have given them permission, usually when you first installed or visited them.
- Push notifications are different from email or text messages because they arrive when ready and interrupt what you are doing.
- You can turn off notifications from individual apps, silence them during certain hours, or disable them entirely on your device.
- Websites can send push notifications through your web browser if you have given permission, separate from app notifications.
Why apps and websites send push notifications
Apps and websites send push notifications because they work. A notification on your screen is far more likely to get your attention than an email sitting in your inbox. Companies use them to remind you to open their app, alert you to something time-sensitive, or encourage you to buy something. A fitness app sends you a notification to remind you to log your workout. A bank sends you a notification about unusual activity. A retailer sends you a notification about a flash sale.
From the business side, push notifications keep you engaged with their app or website. Every time you tap a notification and open the app, that counts as an active user. The more active users, the more valuable the app is to advertisers or investors. This is why some apps send notifications constantly — not because the information is urgent, but because they want you opening the app repeatedly.
Some notifications are genuinely useful: a delivery app telling you your order has arrived, a calendar app reminding you of an appointment, a security alert telling you someone logged into your account from a new location. Others are designed to manipulate you into spending time or money. Learning the difference is the first step to controlling them instead of letting them control you.
How push notifications reach your device
Push notifications travel through a system that connects the app or website, your device, and the company that runs the notification service. When you give an app permission to send notifications, your device generates a unique token — a long string of characters that acts like your home address. The app sends this token to its servers, which store it in a database.
When the app or website wants to send you a notification, it tells its servers to send a message to your device using that token. The message travels through a notification service — Apple uses APNs (Apple Push Notification service) for iPhones and iPads, Google uses FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) for Android devices, and web browsers use their own systems. The notification service delivers the message to your device, which displays it on your screen.
This system is why you can receive notifications even when the app is closed. The notification does not come from the app running on your phone — it comes from the company's servers, delivered through the notification service, and displayed by your device's operating system. You do not need to have the app open, or even be using your phone, for the notification to arrive.
The difference between app notifications and web notifications
App notifications come from programs you have installed on your phone or tablet. Web notifications come from websites you visit in your browser. Both work the same way — you give permission, the sender gets a token, and they can push messages to you — but they are controlled separately.
If you turn off notifications for an app in your phone's settings, that app can no longer send you notifications. But a website can still send you web notifications through your browser, because web notifications are managed by your browser, not your phone's operating system. You might turn off notifications from a news app but still receive them from the news website in Chrome or Safari.
Web notifications are newer than app notifications, and not all browsers support them equally. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all support web notifications. Safari on iPhone does not. This is why some websites ask you to install their app instead — they want to send you notifications, and the only way to do that on iPhone is through an app.
What happens when you tap "allow" or "don't allow"
When an app or website asks for permission to send notifications, you have two choices: allow or don't allow. If you tap "allow," the app or website gets permission to send you notifications whenever it wants. If you tap "don't allow," it cannot send you notifications — at least not until you change your mind in settings.
Some apps ask for notification permission the first time you open them. Others ask later, after you have used them a few times. Some websites show a banner asking for permission the first time you visit. The timing varies, but the choice is always yours.
If you tap "don't allow" and later change your mind, you can go into your device settings and turn notifications back on for that app or website. If you tap "allow" and later regret it, you can turn them off the same way. Changing your mind does not require reinstalling the app or clearing your browser — it is a straightforward settings change.
Why some notifications feel more urgent than others
Not all notifications are treated the same by your device. Some appear silently in your notification center without a sound or vibration. Others make a noise, vibrate your phone, and display a banner across the top of your screen. Some even bypass your do-not-disturb settings and reach you anyway.
Apps can mark notifications as "critical" or "urgent," which tells your device to treat them differently. A security alert from your bank might be marked critical, so it reaches you even if you have do-not-disturb turned on. A promotional message from a shopping app is usually marked as low priority, so it arrives silently. Your device respects these priority levels, which is why some notifications feel intrusive and others barely register.
You can control how urgent a notification feels by adjusting your notification settings for each app. You can silence notifications entirely, allow them only during certain hours, or let them through with sound and vibration. The app cannot override these choices — your device always respects your settings over what the app requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an app send me notifications if I never gave it permission?
No. An app cannot send you notifications without your permission. If you see notifications from an app you do not remember approving, you may have tapped "allow" without realizing it, or the app may have asked for permission under a different name. Check your notification settings to see which apps have permission and turn off any you do not recognize.
Do push notifications use my data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per notification. They do use some battery because your device has to wake up to display the message, but the impact is minimal unless you receive hundreds of notifications per day. If you are concerned about battery life, turning off notifications from apps you do not need will help more than managing data.
What is the difference between a notification and an alert?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically an alert is a notification that demands your when ready attention — it might lock your screen or require you to tap a button to dismiss it. Most notifications are less intrusive and sit in your notification center until you swipe them away or they expire.
Can I get notifications from a website without installing an app?
Yes, if your browser supports web notifications. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all allow websites to send you notifications through your browser. Safari on iPhone does not support web notifications, so websites on iPhone can only send notifications if you install their app.
If I turn off notifications for an app, will it still work?
Yes. Turning off notifications does not affect how the app works. The app will function normally — it just will not send you messages. You can still open the app, use its features, and see information inside it. You straightforward will not be interrupted by notifications when you are not using it.