Phone Notifications vs. App Notifications

Two Systems, One Goal

Shipshape uses two different notification systems to keep you informed about your home. Understanding the difference between them helps you set things up so you get the right information at the right time, without being overwhelmed.

The two systems are app notifications (in-app) and phone notifications (push). They work independently, and you can configure each one separately.

App Notifications (In-App)

App notifications live inside the Shipshape app itself. Think of them like an inbox.

When you open the app, tap the bell icon in the top corner. That is your notification center. Every alert, reminder, and update that SAM generates appears here. Items are listed in order from newest to oldest, and unread notifications are highlighted so you can spot them quickly.

Key characteristics of app notifications:

• They are always available when you open the app.
• They do not appear on your phone's lock screen or notification shade.
• They do not make your phone buzz, chime, or light up.
• They accumulate quietly until you check them.
• They are stored in the app, so you can scroll back and review past notifications.

App notifications are your complete record. Even if you dismiss a push notification or miss an email, the app notification will still be there waiting for you.

Phone Notifications (Push)

Phone notifications, also called push notifications, are the alerts that appear on your phone's lock screen, in your notification shade, and sometimes as banners at the top of your screen. These work even when the Shipshape app is closed.

Key characteristics of push notifications:

• They appear outside the app, on your lock screen and in your phone's notification area.
• They can buzz, chime, or light up your screen depending on your phone settings.
• They get your attention immediately, which is why they are ideal for urgent alerts.
• Once you dismiss them, they are gone from your phone (though the corresponding app notification remains in the Shipshape app).
• They require permission from your phone's operating system. If you declined notifications when you first installed Shipshape, push notifications will not work until you enable them in your phone's settings.

Push notifications are your attention-grabber. They are designed for the moments when SAM needs to reach you right away.

How They Work Together

You can have app notifications ON and push notifications OFF. In that setup, SAM still logs everything in your in-app notification center, but your phone stays quiet. You will see alerts when you open the app, but nothing will interrupt your day.

You can also have both ON. In that case, urgent alerts pop up on your phone immediately, and a full history is available inside the app whenever you want to review it.

Here is a simple way to think about it:

| | App Notifications | Phone Notifications | |---|---|---| | Where they appear | Inside the Shipshape app | On your phone's lock screen and notification shade | | When you see them | When you open the app | Immediately, even when the app is closed | | Interrupts you? | No | Yes (buzz, sound, banner) | | Requires phone permission? | No | Yes | | Stays available? | Yes, always in notification center | Disappears when dismissed |

Recommended Setup

Not every notification deserves to interrupt your dinner. Here is a setup that works well for most homeowners:

Critical Alerts (Leaks, Safety, Equipment Failure)

Turn on both push and app notifications. These are the situations where SAM has detected something that could cause damage or pose a safety risk. You want to know about a water leak the moment it is detected, not the next time you happen to open the app.

Examples:

• Water leak detected near your water heater
• Carbon monoxide sensor triggered
• HVAC compressor failure
• Electrical anomaly detected

Maintenance Reminders

Turn on app notifications. Push is optional. Maintenance reminders are important but not urgent. A filter change reminder does not need to buzz your phone at 2 PM on a Tuesday. Seeing it when you open the app is usually enough.

Examples:

• HVAC filter due for replacement
• Annual furnace tune-up reminder
• Water heater flush recommended

Weekly Home Health Summary

Turn on app notification or email delivery. Turn push OFF. The weekly summary is a snapshot of your home's overall health. It is meant to be read at your leisure, not urgently. Email delivery works especially well for this one.

Tips and Updates

Your preference entirely. These are informational updates about home care, seasonal preparation, and energy savings. If you find them helpful, keep them on in-app. If you prefer a quieter experience, turn them off. No judgment either way.

How to Configure Each System

The two notification systems are controlled in two different places. This is because push notifications are managed by your phone's operating system, not just the Shipshape app.

Configuring App Notifications

1. Open the Shipshape app.
2. Tap Menu then Settings then Notifications.
3. Toggle each notification category on or off.

This controls what appears in your in-app notification center (the bell icon).

Configuring Phone (Push) Notifications

1. Open your phone's Settings app (not the Shipshape app).
2. Find Shipshape in your list of apps.
3. Tap Notifications.
4. Make sure the main notification toggle is ON.
5. On iPhone, confirm that Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners are checked.
6. On Android, check that the specific notification channels you want are enabled.

If push notifications are turned off at the phone level, the Shipshape app cannot send them regardless of what your in-app settings say. The phone's settings always take priority.

Troubleshooting Push Notifications

If push notifications have stopped working or never started, work through this checklist:

1. Check phone settings. Go to your phone's Settings, find Shipshape, and confirm notifications are allowed. This is the most common fix.

2. Check in-app settings. Open the Shipshape app, go to Settings, then Notifications, and make sure the categories you care about have push enabled.

3. Check Do Not Disturb. If your phone is in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, notifications may be silenced. You can usually add Shipshape as an exception in your Do Not Disturb settings so critical alerts still come through.

4. Toggle push off and on. In your phone's settings, turn Shipshape notifications off, wait a few seconds, then turn them back on. This resets the connection between the app and your phone's notification system.

5. Update the app. Make sure you are running the latest version of Shipshape. Older versions may have notification bugs that have since been resolved.

6. Restart your phone. A simple reboot clears many notification delivery issues.

7. Contact support. If none of the above works, reach out to Shipshape support. There may be a configuration issue on our end that needs attention.

The Bottom Line

App notifications are your always-available record. Phone notifications are your attention-grabber. Use both strategically, and SAM will keep you informed about your home without becoming a nuisance.

For a full walkthrough of all notification settings, including email preferences and provider access controls, see our guide on How to Change Your Notification Settings.