Porchlight
How Porchlight works

Notifications and the app

  1. 1Turn them onTap Turn on notifications when Porchlight asks, or on your profile (your picture, top right). Do it on each phone you use.
  2. 2iPhone: add it to your home screen firstIn Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Open Porchlight from there and turn notifications on. iPhones only allow them for apps on the home screen.
  3. 3Android: install the appIn Chrome, tap ⋮, then Install app (or Add to Home screen). Notifications work without it, but installed, Porchlight opens like a regular app and its notifications get their own settings.
  4. 4Check it worksOn your profile, tap Send a test. It goes to the phone you're holding.

Test sent but nothing showed up? (Android)

  • Phone Settings → Apps → Chrome → Notifications (or Porchlight, if you installed it): turn them on, including Sites.
  • In Chrome: ⋮ → Settings → Notifications, and make sure porchlight.tech is allowed.
  • Settings → Apps → Chrome → Battery: set it to Unrestricted so alerts aren't held back.
  • Check Do Not Disturb isn't on, and that the notification isn't set to Silent (long-press one to see).
  • Still nothing? On your profile, tap Turn off here, then turn notifications back on.

What you'll hear about

  • Gatherings: Are you coming? a few days before, a nudge if you haven't answered, and right away if one moves or is cancelled.
  • Things you signed up for: hosting, jobs, rides, meal crews and care calendar meals (the evening before).
  • Sign-ups: a reminder before sign-up closes, a heads-up if you get off the waitlist, and (if leaders send one) a reminder to pay.
  • New in the group: announcements, a new care calendar, Which night works?, and chat messages (mute the chat with its bell; you'll still hear when someone @mentions you).
  • Birthdays and anniversaries in the group, the morning of.
  • Leaders also hear about open spots before a gathering, last-minute dropouts, and a nudge to take attendance.

Email instead, or as well

  • Without notifications on, reminders come by email. On your profile, Also email me? lets you get both, or email only.
  • Chat messages and birthdays are never emailed.
  • Every Sunday afternoon there's a short email with your week ahead: gatherings (and whether you've answered), what's still needed, and birthdays. Turn it off, or preview it, on your profile.