Notification Settings

Stay informed without being overwhelmed. Customize your notification preferences to get the right alerts at the right time.

Types of Notifications

Sentuent sends notifications for:

Messages:

• New message received
• Someone replies to you
• Unread message reminders

Sessions:

• Session starting soon (15 min, 1 hour, 24 hours before)
• Session scheduled or confirmed
• Session rescheduled or cancelled
• Session completed (rate your experience)

Bookings:

• New booking request
• Booking confirmed
• Cancellation received

Payments:

• Credits purchased
• Payment received (tutors)
• Low credit balance warning

Platform Updates:

• New features or improvements
• Important policy changes
• Scheduled maintenance

Notification Channels

Email Notifications

Default: Enabled for all important events

Configure: Settings > Notifications > Email

Options:

• Immediate - Email sent right away
• Digest - Daily summary at 8 AM
• Off - No email notifications

Push Notifications

Platforms:

• Browser - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
• Mobile app - iOS and Android
• Desktop app - macOS and Windows

Configure: Settings > Notifications > Push

Enabling browser push:

Benefits:

• Instant delivery
• Receive even when Sentuent isn't open
• Rich notifications with action buttons

SMS Notifications

Premium feature: $2/month

Best for:

• Session reminders
• Urgent messages
• Critical updates

Configure: Settings > Notifications > SMS > Add Phone Number

SMS limitations:

• Standard messaging rates apply
• Not available in all countries
• Opt-out anytime by replying STOP

In-App Notifications

Always enabled

Appear as:

• Red badge on bell icon (unread count)
• Notification center dropdown
• Toast messages (bottom right)

Mark as read:

• Click notification to open
• Click "Mark all as read"
• Auto-read after 24 hours

Customizing Notifications

By Event Type

Configure each event separately:

For each event, choose:

• Email: On/Off
• Push: On/Off
• SMS: On/Off (if subscribed)
• In-app: Always on

Quiet Hours

Set do-not-disturb hours:

Settings > Notifications > Quiet Hours

Configure:

• Start time (e.g., 10:00 PM)
• End time (e.g., 8:00 AM)
• Days (weekdays, weekends, specific days)

During quiet hours:

• In-app notifications still appear
• Email/push delayed until quiet hours end
• SMS never sent
• Emergency notifications bypass (session starting in 15 min)

Notification Grouping

Prevent notification overload:

Settings > Notifications > Grouping

Options:

• Individual - Each event = one notification
• Grouped - Similar events bundled
• Summary - Periodic summaries only

Message Notifications

New Messages

When you receive a message:

Immediate notification (default):

• Push notification with preview
• Email with message content
• In-app badge update

Options:

• Preview on - See message text in notification
• Preview off - Just see sender name (privacy)

Message Threading

Smart threading:

• Multiple messages from same person = one notification
• Grouped into conversation
• Click notification to open thread

Unread Reminders

If you don't respond:

• Reminder after 24 hours
• "You have X unread messages"
• Helps you stay responsive

Disable: Settings > Notifications > Unread Reminders > Off

Session Notifications

Session Reminders

Default schedule:

• 24 hours before - Email reminder
• 1 hour before - Push notification
• 15 minutes before - Push + notification badge

Customize timing: Settings > Notifications > Session Reminders

Options:

• 1 week, 3 days, 1 day, 12 hours, 6 hours, 1 hour, 30 min, 15 min, 5 min
• Multiple reminders (e.g., 1 day + 15 min)
• Different reminders for different session types

Session Changes

Notification when:

• Session is scheduled
• Session is rescheduled (new time)
• Session is cancelled
• Session details updated (length, subject, etc.)

These are always sent (can't be disabled for important updates)

Post-Session

After each session:

• "Rate your experience" notification
• Session summary email
• Credit usage update (students)
• Payment received notice (tutors)

Timing: 5 minutes after session ends

Booking Notifications

For Tutors: Booking Requests

When a student books:

• Instant booking - "New session confirmed with [Student]"
• Approval required - "New booking request from [Student]"

Notification includes:

• Student name and profile
• Requested date/time
• Subject
• Quick actions (Approve/Decline)

Critical: Respond within 24 hours or request auto-declines

For Students: Booking Confirmations

When tutor confirms:

• "Your session with [Tutor] is confirmed!"
• Date, time, and meeting link
• Calendar invite attached

Payment Notifications

For Students

Credit balance:

• Low balance warning (< 2 credits remaining)
• Credits purchased successfully
• Payment method issue
• Subscription renewal coming up

For Tutors

Earnings:

• Payment received for session
• Weekly payout summary
• Payout sent to bank
• Payment failed (update bank info)

Configure: Settings > Notifications > Payments

Managing Notification Overload

Too Many Notifications?

Quick fixes:

Recommended Settings

For active students:

• Messages: Push + In-app
• Session reminders: Email (1 day) + Push (15 min)
• Bookings: Push
• Everything else: Email digest

For tutors:

• Messages: Push + In-app (respond quickly)
• New bookings: Push + Email (don't miss opportunities)
• Session reminders: Push (15 min only)
• Payments: Email (weekly summary)

For minimal notifications:

• Messages: In-app only
• Session reminders: 15 min before (Push)
• Bookings: Email only
• Disable all others

Notification Preferences by Device

Desktop Computer

Best setup:

• Browser push for immediate awareness
• Email for detailed information
• In-app for when you're actively using Sentuent

Mobile Phone

Best setup:

• Mobile app push (more reliable than browser)
• Critical SMS for session reminders
• Email as backup

Multiple Devices

Synced notifications:

• Read on one device → marked read everywhere
• Dismiss on phone → dismissed on desktop
• Actions taken anywhere update all devices

Smart delivery:

• If you're active on desktop, push goes to desktop
• If mobile app is open, notification appears there
• Prevents duplicate notifications across devices

Testing Notifications

Send test notifications:

Settings > Notifications > Send Test

What it tests:

• Email delivery
• Push notification permission
• SMS (if enabled)
• Notification sound

Troubleshooting: If test doesn't arrive:

• Check spam folder (email)
• Verify browser permissions (push)
• Check phone number (SMS)
• Disable ad blockers

Opting Out

Unsubscribe from Emails

Option 1: Click "Unsubscribe" at bottom of any email Option 2: Settings > Notifications > Email > Off

Note: Some emails are transactional and can't be unsubscribed (booking confirmations, payment receipts, etc.)

Disable Push Notifications

Browser:

1. Click lock icon in address bar
2. Notifications > Block

Mobile:

• iOS: Settings > Sentuent > Notifications > Off
• Android: Settings > Apps > Sentuent > Notifications > Off

Pause All Notifications

Going on vacation?

Settings > Notifications > Pause All

While paused:

• No emails, push, or SMS sent
• In-app notifications still appear (when you log in)
• Critical session-related notifications still send
• Unpause anytime

Advanced Settings

Custom Notification Sounds

Set different sounds for different events:

Settings > Notifications > Sounds

Available for:

• Messages (ding, chime, bell, etc.)
• Session reminders (alert, reminder, etc.)
• Bookings (success, notification, etc.)

Upload custom: MP3 files up to 1 MB

Notification Actions

Quick actions in notifications:

Platform support:

• Chrome/Edge: Full support
• Firefox: Limited support
• Safari: Basic support
• Mobile apps: Full support

Privacy & Notification Content

What's Included in Notifications

Default:

• Sender name
• Message preview (first 50 characters)
• Event type (session, booking, etc.)

Privacy mode:

Settings > Notifications > Privacy > On

When enabled:

• No message previews
• Generic text like "You have a new message"
• Protects content if others can see your screen

Shared Devices

Using a shared computer?

Recommendations:

• Enable privacy mode
• Disable push notifications
• Use email only
• Log out when done

Troubleshooting

Not Receiving Notifications

Email:

• Check spam/junk folder
• Add noreply@sentuent.com to contacts
• Verify email address is correct (Settings > Account)
• Check email forwarding rules

Push:

• Verify browser permission granted
• Check browser notification settings
• Disable ad blockers
• Try different browser

SMS:

• Verify phone number is correct
• Check SMS subscription is active
• Ensure carrier doesn't block short codes
• Try re-subscribing

Receiving Too Many Duplicate Notifications

Causes:

• Multiple devices
• Email and push both enabled
• Multiple browser tabs open

Fix:

• Use smart notification delivery (Settings > Advanced)
• Disable duplicate channels
• Close extra tabs

Notifications Delayed

Possible reasons:

• Poor internet connection
• Email server delay
• Browser in background (desktop)
• Battery saver mode (mobile)

Improve delivery:

• Keep app open
• Disable battery optimization for Sentuent (Android)
• Use mobile app instead of browser

Need Help?

• Contact support@sentuent.com
• Check system status at status.sentuent.com
• Report notification issues in-app (Help > Report Issue)