Web push notifications on iOS

Apple added support for web push notifications on iPhones and iPads starting with iOS 16.4 (released March 2023). This means Firepush can now reach your customers on Apple mobile devices.

Requirements

For your customers to receive push notifications on an iPhone or iPad, they need:

• iOS 16.4 or later (iPhone) or iPadOS 16.4 or later (iPad)
• Safari as their browser
• Your store must be added to the Home Screen as a web app

How customers subscribe on iOS

1. Customer visits your store in Safari on their iPhone or iPad
2. They tap the Share button (the square with an arrow)
3. They select Add to Home Screen
4. They open your store from the Home Screen icon
5. The Firepush opt-in prompt appears, and they can subscribe

Note: The browser notification prompt will not appear in regular Safari — only after the store is added to the Home Screen.

Learn more about collecting push subscribers

What to tell your customers

Since iOS web push requires an extra step (adding to Home Screen), you may want to encourage your customers to do this. Consider adding a note on your website or in your marketing messages:

Limitations on iOS

• Only works through Safari — Chrome and Firefox on iOS do not support web push
• The store must be added to the Home Screen first
• Older iOS versions (before 16.4) do not support web push at all
• Hero images may not display on all iOS notification styles

See our supported browsers article for complete compatibility details.

macOS (desktop)

On Mac computers, Safari has supported push notifications since macOS Ventura (13.0). No Home Screen step is needed — the browser prompt works normally, just like Chrome or Firefox.