# Notifications

> Querylab.io can show a system notification when a long query or a Prism AI answer finishes while you work in another window, and on desktop when an AI tool waits for your approval.

Source: https://docs.querylab.io/settings/notifications/

<div class="set-g">Permission: Allowed</div>
    - Long queries (selected): Notify me when a query that ran longer than the time below finishes or fails.
    - Seconds a query must run: 10. Queries that finish sooner do not notify.
    - Prism AI answers (selected): Notify me when Prism AI finishes an answer.
    - MCP approvals (selected): Notify me when an AI tool is waiting for my approval to run a write.

Settings → Notifications.

A notification appears only while Querylab.io is in the background: another app is in front, or on web the Querylab.io tab is hidden or not focused. While you're looking at the app, nothing pops up.

## What notifies

| Event                  | Default | Notification                                                                                                                                      |
| ---------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Long query             | Off     | _Query finished_ or _Query failed_, with the tab name and how long it ran. Only for a query that ran longer than the seconds you set.             |
| Prism AI answer        | On      | _Prism AI is done_ or _Prism AI failed_. An answer you stopped yourself doesn't notify.                                                           |
| MCP approval (desktop) | On      | _Approval needed_ when a connected AI tool waits for **Run** or **Reject** on a write, and _Share results?_ when it waits to share query results. |

**Seconds a query must run** is 10 by default and takes 1 to 3600. A query that was already running when you reloaded the page doesn't notify when it ends.

A notification never contains your SQL, an error message or the AI answer.

## Turning it on

Querylab.io asks for permission only when you turn something on, never when the page loads. There are two ways:

- In **Settings → Notifications**, click **Allow notifications**, or turn on a switch.
- While a query runs past the threshold with **Long queries** off, the status bar shows **Notify me when done**. Click it and allow notifications, and **Long queries** turns on. If you deny the permission, the link doesn't come back.

If notifications are blocked on web, click the lock icon next to the address bar, set Notifications to Allow and reload the page. On desktop, allow Querylab.io in your system notification settings. Android Chrome and iOS Safari don't support them.

## Clicking a notification

On web, clicking a notification brings Querylab.io forward and opens what it is about: the query's tab, the Prism AI panel or the [MCP tab](https://docs.querylab.io/desktop-app/local-mcp-server/#approvals-and-the-mcp-tab). A newer notification for the same tab replaces the older one.

## Title and dock badge

The window title starts with a count, such as _(2) Querylab.io_, of what finished while you were away plus AI-tool requests that wait for you. The count of finished items resets when you come back to the window. The title count works without notification permission.

On macOS, the desktop app's dock icon shows how many AI-tool requests wait for approval.