iTimedIT sends push notifications to keep you informed while you work — without requiring you to keep the app in the foreground. Notifications are delivered via the standard Web Push protocol using VAPID keys, which means they work in all major browsers and on mobile devices without a native app.
What notifications does iTimedIT send?
iTimedIT sends three categories of push notifications:
- Pomodoro phase transitions — alerts when a work interval ends and a break begins, and when the break ends and the next work interval is ready to start
- Budget alerts — warnings when a project’s tracked time is approaching its budget threshold, and a second alert when the budget has been exceeded
- Timer interruption warnings — a grace period notification when a timer has been interrupted server-side, giving you time to respond before the timer is auto-stopped
Each category can be enabled or disabled independently in Settings.
Enabling push notifications
- Open Settings from the sidebar.
- Go to the Notifications tab.
- Click Enable Notifications.
- When the browser prompt appears, click Allow.
Notifications are now active. iTimedIT registers your browser as a push endpoint using a VAPID key stored securely on the server. This works on both desktop and mobile browsers. On mobile, installing iTimedIT as a PWA (adding it to your home screen) is recommended for the most reliable delivery.
Notification types
| Notification | When it fires | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro: work phase started | A break ends and the next work interval begins | Prompts you to start your next focus session |
| Pomodoro: break started | A work interval ends | Tells you the break duration and type (short or long) |
| Budget threshold reached | A project hits its warning threshold | Shows the project name and percentage of budget used |
| Budget exceeded | A project’s tracked time surpasses its budget | Shows the amount over budget |
| Interruption grace period | A timer interruption is triggered server-side | Warns you how many seconds remain before the timer auto-stops |
Disabling notifications
To turn off all push notifications:
- Open Settings from the sidebar.
- Go to the Notifications tab.
- Click Disable Notifications.
To stop a specific type without disabling all notifications, toggle the individual switches for each notification type in Settings → Notifications.
You can also revoke notification permission entirely in your browser settings (for example, Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications → find app.itimedit.com → Remove or Block). Revoking browser permission overrides the in-app setting.
Notifications on mobile
On mobile browsers, push notifications require:
- The browser to support Web Push (Chrome for Android, Safari on iOS 16.4+, Firefox for Android)
- The site to be added to the home screen as a PWA for reliable background delivery on iOS
On Android, notifications are delivered even if the browser is minimized, as long as the browser app is running in the background.
On iOS, adding iTimedIT to your home screen as a PWA is required for background push delivery. Notifications sent to an in-browser tab on iOS may not arrive if Safari is not the active foreground app.
Troubleshooting notifications
If push notifications are not arriving, work through these checks in order:
- Browser permission — open your browser’s site settings for
app.itimedit.comand confirm notifications are set to Allow, not Block or Ask. - In-app setting — open Settings → Notifications and confirm the toggle is enabled and the relevant notification types are switched on.
- System Do Not Disturb — check that your operating system’s Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is not silencing the browser.
- PWA install on iOS — if you are on an iPhone or iPad, notifications require iTimedIT to be installed as a PWA from Safari’s share menu. In-browser tabs on iOS do not receive background push.
- Re-subscribe — if you previously blocked notifications and then re-allowed them, disable and re-enable notifications in Settings → Notifications to re-register your push subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do notifications work when the browser is closed?
On mobile devices and when iTimedIT is installed as a PWA on your home screen, yes — the operating system delivers push notifications independently of whether the browser is open. On a desktop browser, the browser process must be running (though the iTimedIT tab does not need to be in the foreground). If you quit the browser entirely on desktop, push notifications will not be delivered until the browser is reopened.
Can I choose which notifications to receive?
Yes. In Settings → Notifications, each notification type has its own toggle. You can enable Pomodoro alerts while disabling budget alerts, or any other combination. Changes take effect immediately.
Why am I not receiving Pomodoro notifications?
First, check that your browser has granted notification permission for app.itimedit.com. Second, open Settings → Notifications and confirm both the master Notifications toggle and the Pomodoro-specific toggle are enabled. If both are on and you are still not receiving them, try disabling and re-enabling notifications in-app to refresh your push subscription, then start a new Pomodoro session to test.