Notifications

Overview

C3 can send push notifications to your device, keeping you informed even when the app isn't in the foreground. This is especially useful for permission requests — the agent can continue working while you do other things, and you'll be notified when approval is needed.

Benefits of notifications:

• Don't miss permission requests
• Stay updated on the agent's messages
• Approve tools without keeping the app open
• Monitor multiple projects simultaneously

Notification Types

C3 sends two types of notifications:

Permission Requests (Needs Attention)

When the agent needs approval for a tool (based on your permission settings), you'll receive a notification:

• Title: Project name (or "project-name (branch)" for worktrees)
• Body: "Permission requested: [Tool]: [details]"
• Examples:
  • "Permission requested: Bash: npm run build"
  • "Permission requested: Write: src/index.ts"
  • "Permission requested: WebFetch: https://api.example.com"

Tap the notification to open the app directly to that project's chat screen.

All Messages

Optionally receive notifications when the agent sends new messages:

• Title: Project name
• Body: Preview of the agent's message (truncated to 200 characters)
• Action: Tap to open the chat

Only assistant messages trigger notifications — tool outputs and system messages do not.

Enabling Notifications

Enable notifications for each server profile in Settings:

1. Open the Settings tab
2. Find the server profile you want to configure
3. Toggle the Notifications switch to on
4. Grant notification permissions when prompted by your device

What Happens When You Enable

When you enable notifications for a profile:

• The app requests notification permissions from your device
• A push token is generated and registered with the C3 backend
• Both notification preferences (All Messages and Needs Attention) are enabled by default
• The backend stores your device token securely

Multiple Devices

You can enable notifications on multiple devices. Each device registers separately with the backend, and notifications are sent to all registered devices for that profile.

Notification Preferences

Once notifications are enabled for a profile, you can customize which notifications you receive:

Adjusting Preferences

1. Go to Settings
2. Find the server profile with notifications enabled
3. Toggle All Messages and/or Needs Attention
4. Changes are synced to the backend immediately

Notification Behavior

Smart Suppression

C3 intelligently suppresses notifications when you're already viewing the relevant content:

• Active session: If you're viewing a chat session, notifications for that session are suppressed
• Active project: If you're in a project's chat screen, notifications for that project won't interrupt you

Notification Tapping

Tapping a notification:

• Opens the C3 app
• Navigates directly to the relevant project's chat screen
• If a session ID is included, opens that specific session

Background vs Foreground

• Background: Notifications appear in your device's notification center as normal system notifications
• Foreground: When the app is open, notifications are shown as local notifications (unless suppressed by smart filtering)

Troubleshooting

Not Receiving Notifications

• Check device permissions: Go to your device Settings → Apps → C3 and ensure notifications are allowed
• Check profile settings: Verify notifications are enabled for the server profile in C3 Settings
• Check preference toggles: Make sure "All Messages" or "Needs Attention" is enabled for the type of notification you expect
• Check connection: Ensure the app can connect to the backend
• Check focus mode: DND or focus mode may block notifications

Delayed Notifications

Push notifications may be delayed due to:

• Battery optimization on your device
• Network connectivity issues
• Push service congestion (rare)

Re-enabling Notifications

If notifications stop working, try re-enabling:

1. Go to Settings
2. Find the server profile
3. Toggle notifications off
4. Wait a few seconds
5. Toggle notifications back on

This re-registers your device token with the backend.

Disabling Notifications

To stop receiving notifications for a profile:

1. Go to Settings
2. Find the server profile
3. Toggle the Notifications switch off

This updates the backend to disable all notification preferences for your device and stops sending notifications.