Chat Notification

Tonya W

Hello - I am looking for a setting that would allow me to receive an email notification if someone posts or replies to a chat message. Does this exist? I did not know chat existed and when I stumbled on it recently, I found an inquiry from a year ago! I looked under the profile settings for notifications, but there isn't one for chat/messages.

Thank you

SantaNinfa

Hi @Tonya W Click your profile image while in Community and go to account and privace settings. Look for notifications on the right. At the top you should see this:

Make sure the boxes for Private Messages are checked.

As for the Chat feature in the main FamilySearch page, I also do not see a notification option for those, though the Chat Icon changes - a red dot appears - if there's a new chat message.

Perhaps you can click the Give Chat Feedback option found under the 3 dots from within the Chat Window and make the suggestion that an email be sent.

Nyx773

I think a significant amount of users do not see the illogically teeny-tiny red dot on the vague icon. Anyone with significant vision problems certainly would not see it.

Whereas, the icon on the Community page is significantly larger with a number inside. This size and presentation makes it more obvious and is consistent with other platforms I am active on.

SantaNinfa

@Nyx773 I do not disagree at all. Just answering OP's question with the way it is - not the way we'd like it to be. And, I might add, the tiny red dot does tend to come and go of its own volition.

Alan E. Brown

@Tonya W

The one way I know of to be notified of incoming chat messages is to install the Family Tree mobile app (either for iOS or Android). Once you installed the app, sign in, and enable notification permission, you will receive a push notification whenever a new chat has been sent to you.

I know this is not precisely what was asked for, but for many users, it provides a way to receive chat notifications.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Tonya W If you are using a PC for with Google Chrome (my choice - no exp with Firefox, other browsers etc) you can add email notification to your profile — community members or admin @Alan E. Brown with more tech experience can explain the process/steps better Best wishes, Mary

Alan E. Brown

@maryellenstevensbarnes1 It sounds like you are talking about how to get email notifications for communications here on Community. That was helpfully addressed by @SantaNinfa in the first response in this discussion. But I'm pretty sure that the OP was asking about the Chat feature on the main FamilySearch site.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Alan E. Brown No, I'm talking about Chat notifications by email and I think tonight after several hours trying to fix something I didn't do to one of my relatives, I found the answer: Chat Notifications can be sent to your personal email if you adjust your profile — I leave it to those of you who are more skilled at explaining the how-to parts —- I admire and use your community answers everyday 😎

Alan E. Brown

@maryellenstevensbarnes1 No one on this thread has the answer to how to get email notifications of chat messages. As far as I know it can't be done. So if you are confident you "found the answer" then please share a link to that answer.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Alan E. Brown the way I found what I think is the answer is by trying it out on My Profile and I don't think I should screenshot that snip here besides no one has responded to the Chats I did earlier yesterday & today

Sorry much as I enjoy FS and community, it's past my pill-time 😂so Goodnight and thanks again

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Alan E. Brown Send me a chat now and I'll wait up to see if it shows up in my email

Alan E. Brown

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/632891#Comment_632891

I just sent you a Chat message as you requested. Please report back how you are notified of that new message.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Alan E. Brown Yes, I was notified in my email that you sent a Chat and now I see that my Google Chrome used for FS and community is not picking up my recent Chats. Can you tell me what might be wrong at my end — then I can fix my computer. Thanks for your patience with me 😎

Alan E. Brown

@maryellenstevensbarnes1

Just to be clear, you're saying that you were notified of the chat message itself (not of my Community comment where I told you that I had sent you a chat message). If that's true, could you please take a screen shot of that email (redacting any private info) and either post on this thread, or send me a direct message. This is quite mysterious, and it would help a lot to see the actual notification email.

Nyx773

@maryellenstevensbarnes1
If you can't take a screenshot, can you copy-paste the words used in the email?
Did it contain "Alan E. Brown mentioned you in …"? If so, that is not a chat message notification. It is a notification of being someone using the @ symbol before your name here in the Community forum.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

@Alan E. Brown and @Nyx773 You're both correct, I am not receiving notification of the chat message in my personal/public email. But here's a screenshot of where I'm not receiving Any chat messages - I am using Google Chrome for any FamilySearch work The 24 red bells are already accounted for and so is the 1 red envelope. @Alan E. Brown there is no Chat showing up from you. I've already restarted and refreshed my computer. Can either of you suggest anything — I know how to fix my Google Chrome and I have an excellent computer tech when I don't.

Nyx773

@maryellenstevensbarnes1
The "messages" envelope icon here on the Community forum is a different communication method than what the OP is inquiring about.

The "chat" we are referring to is on the main FamilySearch webpages.

The chat's teeny-tiny barely visible red dot on the rectangular speech bubbles indicates there is one or more unread chats received.

There currently is no way to receive an email or web browser notification of new chats.

maryellenstevensbarnes1

Thank you