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

# Notifications

> Configure app-level and user-level notification preferences with multi-tier notification resolution

## Overview

The Notifications feature provides a comprehensive system for managing when and how users receive notifications about activities in your apps. The platform uses a multi-level resolution system that checks both app-level permissions and individual user preferences before sending any notification.

<Info>
  App-level and user-level notification settings apply to **email notifications only**. In-app notifications are not affected by these settings.
</Info>

Email notifications are batched and sent every 5 minutes rather than individually, reducing inbox noise while keeping users informed of recent activity.

***

## How Notification Resolution Works

The platform uses a three-tier system to determine whether notifications are sent:

1. **Organization-Level Check**: The system checks if notifications are enabled organization-wide
2. **App-Level Check**: If allowed by the organization, the system checks if the notification type is enabled at the app level
3. **User-Level Check**: If allowed by both organization and app, the system checks the individual user's preferences
4. **Final Decision**: Notifications are only sent if all three levels approve the notification type

**Resolution Flow:**

```
Notification Event Occurs
    ↓
Organization Settings: Are notifications enabled organization-wide?
    ↓ NO → Notification Blocked
    ↓ YES
App Settings: Is this notification type enabled?
    ↓ NO → Notification Blocked
    ↓ YES
User Settings: Does the user want this notification?
    ↓ NO → Notification Blocked  
    ↓ YES
Notification Sent (with Organization Branding)
```

<Warning>
  If any level (organization, app, or user) blocks a notification type, the notification will not be sent, regardless of the other levels' settings.
</Warning>

***

## Organization-Level Notification Controls

Before app and user settings take effect, organization-wide controls can override notification behavior.

### Enable Organization-wide Notifications

Organization administrators can disable all notifications across the entire organization from <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elementum/TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg/images/icons/settings.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg&q=85&s=3ffc43e8a0875412cc27335241aeb4c8" alt="Settings icon" className="inline-ui-icon" width="24" height="24" data-path="images/icons/settings.svg" /> **Organization Settings** → **General**.

* **Enable Notifications**: Controls whether email notifications are sent for the entire organization.
  * When disabled, no notifications are sent regardless of app or user settings
  * Useful for maintenance periods or organization-wide notification pauses

<Warning>
  When the Enable Notifications toggle is turned off, all app-level and user-level notification settings are overridden. No notifications will be sent until this toggle is re-enabled.
</Warning>

### Communication Customization

Control how email notifications appear to users through <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elementum/TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg/images/icons/settings.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg&q=85&s=3ffc43e8a0875412cc27335241aeb4c8" alt="Settings icon" className="inline-ui-icon" width="24" height="24" data-path="images/icons/settings.svg" /> **Organization Settings** → **Communication**.

* **Custom Organization Banner**: Enable branded email headers
* **Banner Color**: Customize the banner color (e.g., #29b5e8)
* **Banner Logo Position**: Control logo placement (Left, Right, Center)
* **Banner Image**: Upload custom organization logo or image

**Communication Preview:**
The settings include a live preview showing how emails will appear to recipients, including:

* Organization branding elements
* Email layout and formatting
* Banner positioning and colors
* Logo integration and sizing

<Info>
  Communication settings apply to all email notifications sent by the platform, including system notifications, automation emails, and user-generated communications.
</Info>

***

## App-Level Notification Configuration

App administrators control which notification types are available to users within their app.

### Access Notification Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Notifications">
    Open your app, element, or task and select <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elementum/a_wCf9kV4GK3wL4U/images/icons/bell-outline.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=a_wCf9kV4GK3wL4U&q=85&s=d1fe9ef4decf375baf57d7245632906d" alt="Notifications icon" className="inline-ui-icon" width="24" height="24" data-path="images/icons/bell-outline.svg" /> **Notifications** under **Configuration** in the left navigation menu.

    <Info>
      Notification settings require admin permissions and control what notification types are available to all users of the app, element, or task.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Notification Categories">
    App notification settings are organized into three main categories:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Assignment">
        * **Users are assigned a record**: Notify when individual users are assigned to records
        * **Teams are assigned a record**: Notify when entire teams are assigned to records
        * **Users are added as watchers**: Notify when users are added to watch records
        * **Teams are added as watchers**: Notify when teams are added to watch records
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Mentions">
        * **Users are mentioned in a comment**: Notify when individual users are @mentioned
        * **Teams are mentioned in a comment**: Notify when entire teams are @mentioned
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Updates">
        * **Assignee or Assignment Group is changed**: Notify when assignments change
        * **Watchers are added**: Notify when new watchers are added to records
        * **Comments are added**: Notify when new comments are posted
        * **All other updates**: Notify for any other record modifications
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable or Disable Notification Types">
    Each notification type has a toggle to enable or disable it for the app. When a type is disabled at the app level, no users in the app receive that notification regardless of their personal preferences.

    <Tip>
      Start with essential notifications enabled and add more based on user feedback and workflow needs.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## User-Level Notification Preferences

Individual users control their personal notification preferences for notifications that are enabled at the app level.

### Access User Notification Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to User Notification Settings">
    Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner of Elementum, then select <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elementum/a_wCf9kV4GK3wL4U/images/icons/bell-outline.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=a_wCf9kV4GK3wL4U&q=85&s=d1fe9ef4decf375baf57d7245632906d" alt="Notifications icon" className="inline-ui-icon" width="24" height="24" data-path="images/icons/bell-outline.svg" /> **Notifications**.

    <Info>
      User notification settings only apply to notification types that are enabled at the app level.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Personal Preferences">
    User notification preferences mirror the app-level categories. Each toggle can be enabled or disabled independently:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Assignment">
        * **You're now the assignee**: Notified when you are assigned to a record
        * **Your team is now the assignee**: Notified when your team is assigned to a record
        * **You're now a watcher**: Notified when you are added as a watcher on a record
        * **Your team is now a watcher**: Notified when your team is added as a watcher on a record
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Mentions">
        * **You've been mentioned in a comment**: Notified when you are @mentioned in a comment
        * **Your team has been mentioned in a comment**: Notified when your team is @mentioned in a comment
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Updates">
        * **Assignee or Assignment Group is Changed**: Notified when the assignee or assignment group changes on a record you are associated with
        * **Watchers are added**: Notified when new watchers are added to a record you are associated with
        * **Comments are added**: Notified when new comments are posted on a record you are associated with
        * **All other updates**: Notified for any other changes to records you are associated with
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Best Practices

### App-Level Configuration

<Tip>
  **Start Conservative**: Begin with only essential notifications enabled and expand based on user needs and feedback.
</Tip>

**Recommended Approach:**

1. **Enable essential notifications first** -- Assignment notifications for task management, mention notifications for communication, and comment notifications for collaboration.
2. **Monitor usage patterns** -- Track which notifications users find valuable, identify which cause noise or confusion, and adjust settings based on actual usage and feedback.
3. **Align with workflows** -- Match notification settings to your business processes, consider the roles and responsibilities of your users, and ensure notifications support rather than disrupt productivity.

***

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Notifications Not Being Received" icon="bell-slash">
    **Possible Causes:**

    * App-level notifications disabled for that type
    * User-level preferences blocking notifications
    * Email delivery issues (if using email notifications)
    * User not properly assigned or watching the record

    **Solutions:**

    1. **Check App Settings**: Verify the notification type is enabled at the app level
    2. **Check User Settings**: Confirm the user has enabled that notification type
    3. **Verify Assignments**: Ensure the user is properly assigned or watching the record
    4. **Test Delivery**: Send test notifications to verify delivery channels work
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Too Many Notifications" icon="bell">
    **Possible Causes:**

    * Too many notification types enabled at app level
    * Users haven't customized their preferences
    * High activity levels generating excessive notifications
    * Lack of notification filtering or batching

    **Solutions:**

    1. **Review App Settings**: Disable unnecessary notification types
    2. **User Education**: Help users customize their preferences
    3. **Workflow Optimization**: Reduce unnecessary activities that trigger notifications
    4. **Batching Options**: Implement notification batching if available
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Inconsistent Notification Delivery" icon="mail-question">
    **Possible Causes:**

    * Mixed app and user settings across the organization
    * Different users having different preferences
    * System performance issues affecting delivery
    * Integration problems with external notification systems

    **Solutions:**

    1. **Standardize Settings**: Establish consistent app-level notification policies
    2. **User Guidance**: Provide clear recommendations for user settings
    3. **System Monitoring**: Monitor notification system performance
    4. **Integration Testing**: Regularly test external notification integrations
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Notification Debugging

If notifications aren't working as expected, check each level of the resolution chain:

1. **Check Organization Settings** -- Verify the Enable Notifications toggle is turned on in <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elementum/TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg/images/icons/settings.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=TFCVHNVI8zhq54sg&q=85&s=3ffc43e8a0875412cc27335241aeb4c8" alt="Settings icon" className="inline-ui-icon" width="24" height="24" data-path="images/icons/settings.svg" /> Organization Settings and that communication settings are properly configured.
2. **Verify App Settings** -- Confirm the notification type is enabled at the app level and review which notification categories are active.
3. **Check User Preferences** -- Verify the user has enabled the specific notification type and review their overall notification preferences.
4. **Test the Flow** -- Create a test scenario that should trigger the notification, then verify it is generated and delivered correctly.
5. **Review System Logs** -- Check system logs for notification generation events, monitor delivery attempts, and identify any patterns in notification issues.

***

## Feature-Specific Notification Behavior

### Automation Notifications

* **Approval Processes**: Approval activities generate notifications that users cannot opt out of

### Communication Features

* **Microsoft Teams**: Teams integration can extend notification delivery beyond email
* **Public Attachment Links**: Attachments on records can be [made public](/workflows/file-uploads-attachments#public-attachment-links) so notification recipients can access them without logging in

### User Management

* **Regional Settings**: User regional preferences may affect notification timing