FAQ - A Guide to Notification Options on iOS and Android Devices
iOS ONLY OPTIONS
What are Notification Interruption Levels on iOS?
On devices running iOS 15 and later, you can configure the interruption level for your notifications to ensure they are delivered according to your preferences. This feature allows you to choose how notifications are presented and how they interrupt your activities.
Interruption level |
Breaks through Focus |
Overrides Ring/Silent switch on iPhone and iPad |
Default |
No |
No |
Critical Notification |
Yes |
Yes |
Time Sensitive Notification |
Yes - Must be enabled in focus |
No |
Quiet notifications without waking screen |
No |
No |
ANDROID ONLY OPTIONS
What are High Priority Notifications?
Notifications will appear immediately in most cases. However, in some cases (such as when the phone is stationary or when the screen has been turned off for a prolonged period of time), default notifications will not ring the phone until the screen is turned on. High priority notifications are designed to alert you to important events or updates that require your immediate attention, ensuring they are received promptly even in these situations.
What are Sticky Notifications?
Sticky notifications are a type of notification that remain on your device’s notification shade until they are manually dismissed by the user. Unlike regular notifications, which can disappear when they are tapped, sticky notifications ensure that important messages are persistently visible until you actively clear or swipe them away, ensuring that critical information stays visible until addressed.
Notification Channels
What are Notification Channels?
Notification channels are a feature for Android devices only. They allow you to categorize notifications, making it easier to manage and prioritize them. Each channel can have its own settings, such as notification style, sound, vibration, blink light, app icon badges, locked screen, and do not disturb, ensuring that you receive notifications in the manner most appropriate for each type of notification you receive.
How Do I Create a Notification Channel?
Before creating channels, it is best to consider what channels you would like to have for your notifications. This will help you structure it correctly, as once you create a channel, it can be removed but will never be deleted unless you reset your app. Taking the time to consider how you would like it structured will help you in the long run.
Some ideas for a channel structure are as follows:
You could just set the notification type. Emergency, General Notification, Dinner Ready, Time for Bed, Appliance Finished, etc.
Or maybe something like this.
- Critical
- Sound and pop-up.
- Vibrate.
- Blink light.
- Locked screen.
- Ignore Do Not Disturb.
- Description : Notifications for emergency situations (e.g., fire alarm, flood alert, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, security breaches).
- High
- Sound and pop-up.
- Vibrate.
- Locked screen.
- Ignore Do Not Disturb.
- Description : Notifications for reminders (e.g., upcoming appointment, power outage, rubbish reminder).
- General (Default)
- Sound.
- Vibrate.
- Description : Notifications for general updates (e.g., appliance finished, battery low).
- Low
- Silent.
- Vibrate.
- Description : Notifications for less critical updates (e.g., appliance started, unavailable sensor, battery low).
- Minimal
- Silent and minimized.
- Description : Notifications for non-urgent updates (e.g., reminder, Home Assistant update avalible).
To create a new channel, simply enter a name in the input. When your automation sends the first notification, it will create the channel on your device. After the channel is created, you can customize its notification settings to your preference directly on your device.
How Do I Edit a Notification Channel?
There are a few ways to do this:
- On your device, go into Settings > Notifications > Home Assistant and you will see categories. These are your channels. Select the one you would like to customize and make your adjustments.
- When a notification is received, slowly slide it to the left and you will see a settings icon. Click on it, and it will take you to categories. These are your channels. Select the one you would like to customize and make your adjustments.
How Do I Delete a Notification Channel?
I have a blueprint that will help you remove a notification channel. See link below.
Android Notification Channel Manager
Hope this helps to explain some of the settings
Enjoy
Blacky
Back to FAQ: Click Here