Manage Your Notifications

IN THIS ARTICLE

• Notification Settings in Spruce
• Managing Notifications on Your Computer
• Managing Notifications on iOS Devices
• Managing Notifications on Android
• Managing Notifications with a Schedule
• Activity Reminders

Introduction to Notifications

Notifications keep you up to date on new activity in Spruce so you never miss a message.

When notifications are enabled, you'll get alerts like you do for other apps on your device. For security, message content will not be shown in the notification,  you'll just know if it's a new patient message, voicemail, or colleague message.

Notification Settings in Spruce

Managing Notifications on Different Devices

When you’re logged into Spruce on your mobile phone or computer, the top notification settings card determines whether or not you’ll receive notifications for that platform. Keep reading for how to manage your notifications on different platforms.  

Managing Notifications for Different Activity Types

You can choose what types of activity to receive notifications for: 

• Inbox notifications - Notifies you of new activity in your inbox by filter type.
• Team conversations - Notifies you of new activity in your team chats by filter type.
• Pages - Notifies you of new @ pages.
• Internal notes - notifies you when a teammate posts an internal note in any conversation.

Changes to these notification settings will be applied everywhere you’re logged into Spruce, including web browsers, mobile apps, and the desktop app.

Managing Notifications on Your Computer

On your computer, Spruce notifications are managed both inside the Spruce app and through your browser or device system settings. Make sure both are set up so you do not miss alerts.

In the Spruce App

Inside Spruce, you can control if you receive notifications for when you’re logged into Spruce in a web browser or the desktop app and which types of notifications you want to receive. 

Important: To receive notifications, the Spruce app must be open and running (it can run in the background). If Spruce is not open, you will not receive notifications on your computer. 

• In the Spruce app, go to Settings > Notifications

• Turn on Receive Notifications for your Web Browser or Desktop App
• Choose what you want to receive notifications for by inbox filter, team, or message type. These settings apply to all devices you use Spruce on. 

In Your Web Browser Settings

To enable notifications in your web browser:

• Check your browser settings
  • Click the padlock or settings icon in the address bar.
  • Set Notifications to Allow.
  • Refresh the page after making changes.
• Check your system settings to make sure your browser can send notifications
  • You can find detailed OS-level notification setup steps in Troubleshooting Spruce Notifications on Windows and macOS.

In Your System Settings 

For detailed steps on setting up notifications for the Spruce Desktop App in your System Settings, read Troubleshooting Spruce Notifications on Windows and macOS.

Managing Notifications on iOS Devices

On iPhone and iPad, Spruce notifications are managed both inside the Spruce app and through your device’s system settings. Make sure both are set up so you do not miss alerts.

In the Spruce App on Your iPhone or iPad

Inside Spruce, you can control if you receive notifications on your device and which types of notifications you want to receive.

• In the Spruce app, go to Settings > Notifications.

• Turn Spruce notifications ON for your phone.
• Choose if you want to see badge icons (red dots showing the number of new messages).
• Choose what you want to receive notifications for by inbox filter, team, or message type. Note: These settings apply to all devices you use Spruce on. 

In iPhone or iPad Settings

Even if Spruce is set up correctly inside the app, your device can still block alerts if your system notification settings are not configured. 

• Go to iPhone Settings > Spruce > Notifications.
• Toggle Allow Notifications ON.
• Choose where notifications appear: Lock Screen, Notification Center, or Banners.
• Turn Sounds ON if you want an alert tone.
• Turn Badges ON if you want the red number count on the Spruce icon.

Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch can mirror Spruce notifications from your iPhone. For security, alerts will not include message details.

• On your iPhone go to: Watch App > Notifications.
• Scroll to “Mirror iPhone Alerts From.”
• Find Spruce and toggle it ON (green).

Managing Notifications on Android

On Android, Spruce notifications are managed both inside the app and through your phone’s system settings. Be sure both are set up so you do not miss alerts.

Check App Status

The App Status screen in Spruce helps you quickly find and fix anything that might block your notifications.

• In Spruce, go to Settings > App Status.
• Review the list of permissions and configurations.
• If something is not set up correctly, you will see a Fix button.
• Tap Fix and follow the prompts to resolve the issue.

In the Spruce App on Your Android Phone

Inside Spruce, you can control if you receive notifications on your device and which types of notifications you want to receive.

• In the Spruce app, go to Settings > Notifications.
• Turn all Spruce notifications ON for your phone.
• Choose what you want to receive notifications for inbox filter, team, or message type. Note: These settings apply to all devices you use Spruce on.

In Android System Settings

Even if Spruce is set up correctly inside the app, your device can still block alerts if your system notification settings are not configured. 

To access your system settings:

• In the Spruce app, go to Settings > Notifications.
• Tap System Notification Settings.

Make sure your system settings are correct:

• Notifications are ON for Spruce.
• Spruce is allowed to show alerts on your Lock Screen, in the status bar, and with sounds or vibrations.
• If you want alerts during Do Not Disturb (DND), turn on the DND Override option.

Still Having Issues on Android?

If notifications are still not working, review our Troubleshooting Spruce Notifications on Android article or contact our support team for help.

Managing Notifications with a Schedule

Some customers prefer to have Spruce notifications turn on or off at certain times of the day. You can do this using your phone’s built-in scheduling tools.

On iPhone or iPad

You can use Focus to control when Spruce notifications are allowed.

To set up Focus for Spruce:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Focus.
3. Choose an existing Focus (such as Work or Personal) or create a new one.
4. Select which People (Contacts) and Apps can send you notifications while this Focus is on.
   • To receive incoming calls during a Focus, you must have your Spruce number saved as a contact in your phone's Contacts app. Then add the Spruce number to the allowed list in the Focus. 
   • To receive notifications for new message activity , add the Spruce app. 

To customize how Focus works:

• Tap Options to:
  • Show or hide notifications on the Lock Screen.
  • Dim the Lock Screen when Focus is active.
  • Hide red notification badges on app icons.
• You can also choose a different Lock Screen or Home Screen layout for when Focus is on.

To share Focus across devices:

• At the bottom of the Focus screen, turn Share Across Devices ON.
• This works if you are signed in with the same Apple ID on all Apple devices.

To schedule Focus automatically:

1. Go to Settings > Focus.
2. Select the Focus you want to schedule.
3. Tap Add Schedule.
4. Choose to turn it on based on:
   1. Time (specific hours)
   2. Location (when you arrive somewhere)
   3. App usage (when you open certain apps)
5. You can also turn on Smart Activation, which lets your iPhone automatically choose when to activate Focus based on your patterns.

On Android

You can use Focus Mode to temporarily pause Spruce notifications when you do not want to be disturbed.

To set a schedule for Focus Mode:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Go to Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls.
3. Select Focus Mode.
4. Tap Turn On Now to start immediately, or choose Set a Schedule to create automatic times.
5. Select which apps to pause. Choose Spruce if you want to stop notifications from appearing.

While Focus Mode is on:

• Paused apps will look grayed out on your Home screen and app list.
• If you try to open Spruce, you will see two options:
  • Use app for 5 minutes (temporarily access the app)
  • OK (close the app without opening it)
• To take a break from Focus Mode:
  • Swipe down from the top of your screen to open quick settings.
  • Tap Take a break to pause Focus Mode for a short time, or Turn off for now to stop it entirely.

Activity Reminders

For instances where a teammate or patient receives a notification but still doesn't view the activity in Spruce, we offer the ability to send reminders via email or SMS after some amount of time has passed. You can read more about activity reminders here.