Desktop app

# Desktop notifications and updates

Get native notifications for chat messages and alerts, follow the unread badge, and keep the desktop app up to date.

Updated 4 October 2026

Transportial Desktop tells you about new chat messages and new alerts with your computer's own notifications, even when the window is closed to the tray. It also shows the number of unread items on the app icon and updates itself in the background.

## What you are notified about

| Event             | Notification                                                            | Click opens        |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ |
| New chat message  | The conversation title (or **New message**) and the text of the message | That conversation  |
| New alert         | **New alert** with the alert's name                                     | Your notifications |
| Finished download | **Download complete** with the file name                                | The app window     |

Alerts that are solved, ignored or fall outside your filters do not raise a notification. When many arrive at once, Transportial shows a few and then sums up the rest, for example **5 new messages**, so your screen is not flooded.

## Notifications while you are working in the app

By default you only get desktop notifications when no Transportial window is in front; while you are working in the app you see the messages there. Switch on **Notify me even when the app is in front** to always get them.

## Choose your notifications

1. Open the side menu (☰) and choose **Settings**, then the **Desktop app** tab. You can also use Cmd/Ctrl+, or **Desktop settings** in the tray menu.
2. Under **Desktop notifications**, switch **Show desktop notifications** on or off.
3. Choose **Notify me about new chat messages** and **Notify me about new alerts**.
4. Choose whether to **Play a sound** and **Bounce the icon for attention**.
5. Switch **Show the unread count on the app icon** on or off.

The sub-options are greyed out while **Show desktop notifications** is off.

Your computer also has to allow notifications from Transportial. If none appear, check the notification settings of macOS, Windows or your Linux desktop, and any focus or do-not-disturb mode. Which events notify you inside the app itself is set on the **Notifications** tab, see [Notifications](/en/help/notifications).

## The unread badge

The number on the dock or taskbar icon is your unread chat messages plus your unread notifications. The tray icon tooltip shows it too, and the tray menu shows **Messages** with the unread count. After you log out the badge is cleared.

## Automatic updates

The app checks for a new version shortly after it starts and then every few hours, and downloads it in the background. When the update is ready you see **Update ready**:

* **Restart now** installs the update and restarts the app. Anything unsaved in an open form is lost, so save first.
* **Later** keeps you working. The update is then installed the next time you quit the app.

The app never restarts by itself in the middle of your work.

## Check for updates yourself

1. Choose **Check for updates…** in the app menu, the **Help** menu or the tray menu.
2. Wait for the result: **Transportial is up to date.**, or the update downloads and you see **Update ready**.

You can also click **Check for updates** under **About** on the **Desktop app** settings tab. The status appears below the button, for example **Checking for updates…**, **Downloading the update…**, **Update ready — restart to install** or **You are up to date**. **About** also shows the installed **Version**.

## Update settings

* **Check for updates automatically**: switch off to only check when you ask.
* **Download updates in the background**: switch off if you do not want the app to download updates on its own. A check then only reports that an update is available.

## Related articles

* [Desktop settings and environments](/en/help/desktop-settings-and-environments)
* [Chat with colleagues and drivers](/en/help/messages-and-chat)
* [Handle alerts](/en/help/alerts)
* [View and manage notifications](/en/help/notifications)

## Still need help?

Our support team is happy to answer any question about Transportial.

[Contact support](/en/contact)[Report an issue](/en/report-issue)

---
Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en/help/desktop-notifications-and-updates