Guide: Test a notification
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/notifications/test-a-notification
Topic: Notifications and the phone app
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Anyone on your team
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/settings/notifications?tab=device
Result when done: You know your notifications work before you rely on them.
Context: Two tests, and they answer different questions. Send a test notification uses the real push channel. Show one on screen now uses the browser directly, which tells you whether the browser itself is allowed to display anything.

Before you start:
1. The push test proves the whole path, including the service that delivers it.
2. The on-screen test proves only that the browser may show a notification.
3. A device must have opened the app at least once after being turned on.

Steps:
Step 1 of 3: Send a real test.
Where: Send a test notification, under the switches on This device.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/settings/notifications?tab=device (Open This device)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/device.en.webp (Test, beside a device.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/device-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: Notifications are on arrives within a few seconds.

Step 2 of 3: If nothing arrives, try the on-screen one.
Where: Show one on screen now, beside it. It asks the browser to display a notification directly, without the push service.
You should see: If this one appears and the push one did not, the problem is delivery rather than permission.

Step 3 of 3: Answer the question it asks.
Where: The page asks whether a notification appeared, with Yes and No. Answering points you at the right fix for your platform.
You should see: The next step for your device, rather than a generic message.

If something is off:
Problem: The browser refused to show it
Fix: Its notification permission for this site is off. Allow it and test again.
Problem: The on-screen one works but the push does not
Fix: The device may not have opened the app since being turned on. Open it and test again.
Problem: Nothing at all appears
Fix: The system is blocking notifications for the browser or the app. Check your operating system settings.

Common questions:
Question: What is the difference between Send a test notification and Show one on screen now?
Answer: Send a test notification uses the real push channel and proves the whole path, including the service that delivers it. Show one on screen now asks the browser to display a notification directly, so it proves only that the browser is allowed to show one.
Question: How long does a test notification take to arrive?
Answer: A few seconds. Notifications are on arrives through the same channel every real alert uses, so a test that lands means the path real alerts take is working.
Question: What happens when I answer Yes or No after a test?
Answer: The page points you at the right fix for your platform, rather than a generic message. If the on-screen one appeared and the push one did not, the problem is delivery rather than permission.

Related guides:
- Notifications do not arrive: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/notifications/notifications-do-not-arrive
- Turn on push notifications: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/notifications/turn-on-push-notifications
- Choose which pushes you get, per device: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/notifications/choose-which-pushes-you-get-per-device

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/notifications/test-a-notification.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt