> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.deandesk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Push Notifications

> Configure and use push notifications to keep your community engaged.

<Info>
  **School-level feature** — managed within your school portal at `yourschool.deandesk.com`.
</Info>

Push notifications let DeanDesk reach your students and members on their phones the moment something important happens — without them needing to check the app or their email.

## How push notifications work

When a triggering event occurs in DeanDesk, the platform sends a push notification to all users who have the mobile app installed and have push notifications enabled for that event type.

Notifications appear on the device's lock screen and notification center, just like any other app alert.

## What triggers a push notification

| Trigger                      | Who receives it                            |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| New system-wide announcement | All app users                              |
| New course announcement      | Students enrolled in that course           |
| New direct message           | The message recipient                      |
| New assignment posted        | Students enrolled in the course            |
| Event reminder               | Users who have the event on their calendar |
| Course update                | Enrolled students                          |

<Note>
  System-wide announcements trigger push notifications to every user who has the app installed and push notifications enabled. Use them for institution-wide alerts, not routine updates.
</Note>

## How users manage notification preferences

Each user controls which types of notifications they receive and through which channels.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Profile Settings">
    Tap the profile icon in the app or click your avatar in the web portal, then select **Profile Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Notifications">
    Select the **Notifications** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Toggle channels by category">
    For each notification category (Announcements, Messages, Assignments, Events), choose which channels to enable:

    | Channel    | Where it appears                                          |
    | ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Push**   | Device lock screen and notification center (app required) |
    | **In-app** | Notification feed within DeanDesk on the web or app       |
    | **Email**  | Delivered to the user's registered email address          |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set email frequency">
    Under **Email Frequency**, choose:

    * **Immediately** — an email is sent for each event as it happens
    * **Daily digest** — a single email summarizing the day's activity
    * **Weekly digest** — a single email summarizing the week's activity
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Tap or click **Save Preferences**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting: students not receiving push notifications

If a student reports that they are not receiving push notifications, work through these checks in order:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Check device-level app permissions">
    The student's device must grant DeanDesk permission to send notifications. On iOS, go to **Settings → DeanDesk → Notifications** and confirm notifications are allowed. On Android, go to **Settings → Apps → DeanDesk → Notifications**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Check notification settings in DeanDesk">
    The student should verify that **Push** is toggled on for the relevant category in **Profile Settings → Notifications**. It's possible they disabled push for that category.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Confirm the app is installed and they are signed in">
    Push notifications only reach users who have the app installed and are signed in. Ask the student to confirm they can open the app and see their courses.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Check Do Not Disturb settings">
    If the student's device is in **Do Not Disturb** or **Focus** mode, notifications may be silenced at the OS level even if DeanDesk settings are correct.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Reinstall the app">
    If the above steps don't resolve the issue, have the student delete and reinstall the DeanDesk app. This resets the push notification token and often resolves delivery issues.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Tip>
  When you onboard new students, remind them to allow notifications during the app's first-launch prompt. If they dismiss that prompt, they'll need to re-enable notifications manually in their device settings.
</Tip>