It some time happens to me that I do expect a email from my friends when I am busy with some other work. Usually, I do keep open my Gmail in-box and refresh the page to check for new messages. OOPS!! That is not so convenient. It seems that the time is now to forget that habit as Gmail has recently introduced the Desktop notifications facility for email and chat messages in Gmail account. Despite the fact that there are many desktop email notification tools are available, why should you use those if the facility comes along with your Gmail account?
Tip: Manage Multiple Email Accounts From one Email Account.
How Gmail Desktop notifications work
Google has currently made this facility available for the users who are using Google Chrome as their browser. So, if you are using Google chrome, you do not need to head up to the Gmail account window repeatedly to see if any new message has arrived or not. Whenever an email arrives to your in-box, you will be notified by a pop-up window with mailer address and the subject line.
This is also quite impressive when you chat with your friends. You would never miss your important chat conversations as they will appear in the pop-up window if your Gmail window is not currently in front of your eye.
Please note: The Desktop notifications service has not available for Google apps account.
How to enable desktop notifications for your account
Sign into your Gmail account and click on the “Settings” link from the top-right corner of the account window. If you’re using Google Chrome browser, you should find the option to enable the desktop notifications for your account under the “General” tab. Click on the link saying “Click here to enable Desktop notification for Gmail” to enable it.
At the top right corner of your browser, you should watch an “Allow” button; click on it.
You can just enable the option to get only the chat message notifications or both the chat and email message notifications. If you use the priority in-box for your email messages, you can also choose the option to get notified about your important email messages.
As Gmail desktop notifications is supported only with Google chrome. It does not work in other browsers like Firefox, Safari. You should see the option in other browsers as below.
Though Google has announced that they are trying to make this facility for all standard web platform [source], we have no other choice than Google chrome to enjoy the Desktop notifications in this time.
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