# macOS notification permissions

Solo can send native macOS notifications when events happen while you're away from the app. macOS requires you to grant notification permission before those alerts will appear.

## Checking permission status

1. Open **Settings**. The default macOS shortcut is `Cmd+,`; a custom Hotkeys binding for **Open settings** takes precedence.
2. Go to **Notifications**.
3. The **System notifications** row shows your current status.

## Enabling notifications

- If notifications haven't been requested yet, click **Enable notifications**.
- If notifications were previously denied, click **Open system settings** and enable Solo there.
- Use **Send test** to verify delivery after granting permission.

macOS controls the final presentation style after permission is granted.

## When notifications appear

Native notifications are most useful when Solo isn't the active window. Common examples include terminal or [script notifications](./triggering-from-scripts.md), crash alerts, [auto-restart paused alerts](./auto-restart-notifications.md), and `solo.yml` [sync-needed alerts](../projects/yml-change-notifications.md).

Under the normal focus-aware policy, Solo relies on in-app toasts while the app is focused. Explicit native-channel actions such as **Send test** still use native delivery while Solo is focused. If you're already viewing the process that emitted a terminal notification, Solo suppresses that terminal alert entirely. See [In-app toast notifications](./in-app-toasts.md).

## Notification Center settings

Alert style, lock-screen behavior, and Notification Center presentation are configured in macOS **System Settings > Notifications > Solo**, not inside Solo. Normal Solo native notifications request no system notification sound; configure **Bell sound** in Solo's **Settings > Notifications** for separate audible event feedback.

## Privacy

Native notifications may include project or process context and a short message body, depending on the event type.

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Are you a human? Read this doc on the web: https://soloterm.com/docs/notifications/macos-permissions