Android 12 introduced several changes to notifications, including the ability to enable a new pop-up style notification. With pop-up notifications, alerts will display as a small pop-up window over whatever app you’re currently using. This allows you to view and take action on notifications without having to leave your current app.
Enabling pop-up notifications in Android 12 only takes a few taps in your system settings. Here, we’ll walk through the steps to turn on this handy new notification option.
What are pop-up notifications?
With pop-up notifications enabled, alerts like new messages or app updates will appear in a small floating window over top of whatever app you’re currently using. For example, if you get a new text message while browsing the web, you’ll see the message preview pop up without having to exit your browser.
This allows you to quickly view notifications and take actions like replying to messages without fully switching apps. Once you’re done with a notification, you can simply dismiss it to keep doing what you were doing.
Pop-up notifications help reduce interruptions by allowing you to interact with alerts without completely shifting contexts. They provide a convenient middle ground between normal full screen notifications and distraction-free modes like Do Not Disturb.
Benefits of pop-up notifications
Here are some of the benefits of using Android 12’s pop-up notifications:
– View alerts without leaving your current app – Saves time switching between apps to see notifications
– Take quick actions like replying to messages – Respond to priority alerts without fully shifting tasks
– Less distracting than full screen notifications – Avoid breaking focus or losing your place in an app
– More visible than notification badges – Important alerts won’t get overlooked or forgotten
– Customizable alert style – Adjust size and position to your liking
– Works with most apps – Support for pop-ups has improved in Android 12
Overall, pop-up notifications give you finer control over how alerts interact with whatever you’re doing on your phone.
How to enable pop-up notifications
Turning on pop-up notifications only takes a few quick settings changes in Android 12. Here are the steps:
1. Open Settings and go to Notifications.
2. Scroll down and tap Notification style.
3. Select Pop-up notification style.
4. Adjust the pop-up position and size if desired.
And that’s it! Now when you receive alerts they’ll appear in a floating window instead of taking over the full screen.
You can toggle pop-ups on or off at any time by returning to the Notification style menu. You can also customize the position and size of the pop-up window to your liking.
Customizing pop-up notifications
Once you have pop-up notifications enabled, you have a few options for customizing them to suit your preferences:
Size
Adjust the size of the pop-up window using the slider in the Notification style settings. Make it smaller for more subtle alerts or larger to see more notification details at a glance.
Position
Choose whether you want pop-ups near the top or bottom of the screen. Set them along the left, center or right as well.
App overrides
Override the system default and disable pop-ups for certain apps. Do this by going to App info > Notifications > Allow pop-up notification.
Snooze settings
Adjust how long pop-up notifications remain on screen before dismissing. Longer snooze settings are great for important alerts.
Interactive actions
Many notifications allow you to take action directly from the pop-up, like replying to messages. Tap supported actions to conveniently respond without leaving your app.
Take some time to play around with the different pop-up customizations to dial in the exact floating notification experience you want.
Troubleshooting pop-up notifications
If you’ve enabled pop-up notifications but still aren’t seeing them for some apps, here are a few troubleshooting tips:
– Check Notification style – Make sure pop-ups are actually turned on
– Update Android System WebView – Old system webview can prevent pop-ups
– Check App info settings – Look for notification overrides for problematic apps
– Try rebooting your device – Power cycling can clear up notification issues
– Make sure notifications aren’t blocked – Check Do Not Disturb and app notification settings
– Enable developer options – There’s a force pop-ups switch in dev settings
– Try another launcher – Some third party launchers have notification bugs
– Wait for an app update – Developers are still updating apps for Android 12
With some tinkering in your system and app settings, you should be able to sort out any stuck notifications. Pop-ups are still slowly rolling out across apps and devices, so bugs are expected.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Android 12’s pop-up notifications:
Do pop-up notifications work with all apps?
Most apps should support pop-up alerts now, but some developers are still updating their apps. System notifications will work, while support in third party apps continues improving.
Can I get pop-ups for calls or other audio?
Unfortunately calls and media apps don’t currently support pop-up notifications, likely due to technical limitations. These alerts will still appear as normal full screen notifications.
How do I customize pop-ups for individual apps?
Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > [App name] > Notifications to find notification controls like pop-ups for each app.
Why do my pop-ups only show for a second?
Try increasing the snooze time which controls how long the pop-up remains on screen before dismissing. You can customize this in Notification style settings.
Can I get pop-ups while using multi-window mode?
Yes, pop-up notifications will still work normally when using split screen or picture-in-picture multi-window modes.
Conclusion
Pop-up notifications provide a handy new way to view and manage alerts in Android 12 without leaving your current app. They help minimize interruptions while still allowing you to immediately interact with important notifications.
Enabling pop-ups only takes a quick settings change. You can then customize aspects like size, position and per-app behavior to your preferences. While app support continues improving, most notifications should now work with pop-ups turned on.
Hopefully this guide has shown you how to successfully turn on floating pop-up notifications in the latest Android release. Let us know if you have any other questions!