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Web Push Notifications Not Working — Service Worker Push API Failures

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Overview

Fix Web Push API notification failures where browser push notifications are not received, blocked by browser settings, or fail to display.

Key Details

  • Web Push uses Service Workers to receive push messages even when the website is not open
  • Push notifications require user permission (Notification.permission) and HTTPS
  • The Push API uses a push service (FCM for Chrome, Mozilla Push for Firefox) to deliver messages
  • VAPID keys (Voluntary Application Server Identification) authenticate the push server
  • Push subscriptions can expire and need to be renewed when the pushsubscriptionchange event fires

Common Causes

  • User denied notification permission or browser default blocks notifications for the site
  • Service Worker not registered or not active, preventing push message reception
  • VAPID public key mismatch between the subscription and the push message
  • Push subscription expired and was not renewed, causing messages to fail delivery

Steps

  1. 1Check notification permission: Notification.permission should return 'granted' in DevTools Console
  2. 2Verify Service Worker is active: DevTools > Application > Service Workers > check status is 'activated'
  3. 3Test push delivery: DevTools > Application > Service Workers > Push button to simulate a push message
  4. 4Check browser notification settings: Chrome > Settings > Privacy > Notifications > ensure the site is allowed
  5. 5Re-subscribe if push subscription expired: call registration.pushManager.subscribe() again

Tags

push-notificationsservice-workerpush-apivapidpermission

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile browsers have stricter notification policies. Chrome Android requires an active Service Worker and the app to be added to the home screen for reliable background push. iOS Safari only supports push in PWAs added to home screen (iOS 16.4+).