PusharooBrowser push notifications: who supports what
Every major browser supports standard web push today. Here’s the honest support table, the platform quirks worth knowing, and how to test each one.
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Brave and Samsung Internet support web push on desktop and Android.
- Safari supports standard web push on macOS 13 Ventura and later.
- On iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 16.4+), web push works only for sites added to the Home Screen.
- Users can turn notifications off per site in any browser’s settings.
Support table
| Browser | Windows | macOS | Linux | Android | iPhone / iPad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Home Screen* |
| Edge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Home Screen* |
| Firefox | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Home Screen* |
| Safari | — | macOS 13+ | — | — | Home Screen, 16.4+ |
| Opera / Brave / Vivaldi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies | Home Screen* |
| Samsung Internet | — | — | — | Yes | — |
*On iOS every browser uses Apple’s WebKit engine, so the Home Screen rule applies whichever browser the visitor used to add the icon. Brave may need “Use Google services for push messaging” enabled. Browser names are trademarks of their owners.
Platform quirks worth knowing
- Chrome on desktop may show a quieter permission UI (a bell in the address bar) for sites with low opt-in rates. Another reason to use a soft prompt first.
- macOS needs notifications allowed for the browser itself in System Settings → Notifications, and Focus modes can hide them.
- Windows Focus Assist / Do Not Disturb suppresses banners but keeps them in the Notification Center.
- Android battery savers may delay low-priority notifications on some phone brands.
- Large images render in Chrome/Edge on Windows and Android; macOS and iOS show the icon and text.
How to test in each browser
- Open your site in the browser and subscribe through your prompt.
- Send yourself a test (on pusharoo.com, the “Try it” demo does this in ten seconds).
- No banner? Check the OS notification settings and Focus/Do Not Disturb before blaming the code.
- On iPhone, add the site to the Home Screen and open it from the icon first — see the iOS guide.
Browser-by-browser guides
Details for each: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Samsung Internet, Opera, Brave (which needs a setting turned on), ChromeOS and Android.
What each browser displays
| Feature | Chrome / Edge (desktop, Android) | Firefox | Safari (macOS, iOS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title, body, icon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large image | Yes (Windows, Android; not macOS banners) | No | No |
| Action buttons | Yes (up to two) | No | No |
| Badge count on icon | Installed apps (Badging API) | — | Home Screen apps on iOS |
Write so the title and body stand alone; treat images and buttons as extras (rich notifications).
Private windows and blocked prompts
Most browsers don’t allow push subscriptions in private or incognito windows, or drop them when the window closes. Browsers also learn from users: Chrome may show a quieter prompt for sites many people block, and Firefox only shows the dialog after a click. The fix is the same everywhere — ask politely, after engagement, with a clear promise (opt-in guide).
How Pusharoo handles the differences
The Pusharoo snippet detects what each browser supports. iPhone visitors in a regular Safari tab can get a friendly “Add to Home Screen” card instead of a prompt that can’t work. Browsers without push support simply see nothing. Every browser is included — no per-browser upsell.
Questions
Does Safari support web push?
Yes. Safari on macOS 13 Ventura and later supports standard web push. On iPhone and iPad, iOS/iPadOS 16.4+ supports it for websites added to the Home Screen.
Does web push work in incognito or private mode?
Generally no. Most browsers disable push or discard the subscription when a private window closes.
Why don’t I see notifications on my Mac?
Check System Settings → Notifications for your browser, and make sure a Focus mode isn’t active. Then check the site’s permission in the browser.
Do browser notifications work on Linux?
Yes. Chrome, Firefox and Edge on Linux support web push and show notifications through the desktop environment’s notification system.
Can browser notifications work with the browser closed?
On Android and ChromeOS, yes. On Windows and macOS the browser usually needs to be running, often in the background.
Keep reading
Web push on iPhone and iPad, explained honestly
The Home Screen rule, the manifest you need, and how to guide iPhone visitors without friction.
What are web push notifications?
The 60-second explainer: what they are, where they appear, and why visitors actually see them.
How web push works, step by step
Push API, service workers, VAPID keys and encryption — the full technical path of a notification.
The push opt-in prompt, done right
Two-step soft prompts, timing rules, copy that converts, and what never to do on page load.
More in Basics: Push notifications: what the term actually means · Web push vs. email: which to use, and when · Push notifications vs. SMS text messages · Web push vs. mobile app push notifications · All guides
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