Group Alerts FAQ

A Group Alert is a one-way message you send to a group of people at a scheduled time. When the time arrives, everyone in the group gets the same notification on their phone — no group chat, no replies, no clutter. Think of it as a broadcast: you write the message, set the time, and it goes out to everyone at once. Group Alerts are sent through The Notifier app. Recipients need the app installed and must have joined your group (via a link or QR code). You never see their phone numbers or email addresses — and they never see yours. That's one of the main benefits: you can reach people without sharing contact details.

Group Alerts are one-way broadcasts; texts and emails typically require contact info and allow replies.

Use Group Alerts when you want to:

• Announce something — Class cancelled, venue changed, event starting in 10 minutes.
• Remind people at a specific time — “Meeting in 5 minutes,” “Check-in opens now.”
• Keep contact info private — Coaches, teachers, organizers who don't want to share personal numbers.
• Avoid reply chaos — One-way updates instead of “OK,” “Thanks,” and long threads.
• Reach people on their own schedule — Message is delivered when you choose, not when you hit Send.

Stick with texts or email when:

• You need a reply or two-way conversation.
• People prefer to stay in their usual messaging app.
• You're reaching people who don't use smartphones or won't install an app.

Use Group Alerts when you:

• Want to send one message at a specific time (e.g., “Doors open at 7 PM”).
• Don't want a constant stream of replies or reactions.
• Need to reach people who aren't glued to a chat app — they'll get a push notification like an alarm.
• Want to schedule reminders in advance (e.g., “Session starts tomorrow at 9 AM”).

Use group chat when:

• You want ongoing discussion, questions, and collaboration.
• People need to react, reply, or coordinate in real time.

1) Open Push Settings (or the Group / Alert tab). 2) Tap to create or edit your group name (e.g., “Soccer Team,” “Math 101”). 3) You'll receive 3 free Alert Credits to start. Each Group Alert uses 1 credit. 4) Invite people: tap Share invite link or Show QR code, then share the link or display the QR for people to scan. 5) When someone joins, they appear in your group. You need at least one member (besides yourself) to send a Group Alert. 6) Go to the Schedule screen (plus button). Create a new alert, write your message, pick the date and time, and turn Group (or Push) on. 7) Tap Schedule Alert. The message will be sent to everyone in the group at the chosen time.

Option 1 — Share a link: In Push Settings, tap Share invite link. Use your phone's share menu to copy the link or send it via any app (Messages, WhatsApp, email, etc.). Recipients tap the link. If they have The Notifier, they'll be asked to join the group. Option 2 — QR code: In Push Settings, tap Show QR code. Hold up your phone or print the QR code. Others open The Notifier and scan the code to join. Everyone who joins must have The Notifier installed. They'll receive a prompt to join your group by name.

You start with 3 free Alert Credits. Each Group Alert you send costs 1 credit. When you run out, you can buy more in the app. Deleted or cancelled Group Alerts do not refund credits. There is also an optional Backup purchase, which lets you restore your group and credits if you get a new phone.

Yes. The personal version of The Notifier supports up to 100 members per group. If you need larger groups, multiple groups, or advanced management (e.g., sub-groups), there is a The Notifier Pro option with more features.

1) Someone sends you an invite link or a QR code. 2) Tap the link or open The Notifier and scan the QR code. 3) A screen will show the group name and ask if you want to join. 4) Tap Join. You'll then receive Group Alerts from that group. You need The Notifier installed and notification permissions enabled.

You can Pause a group. In My Groups, open the group and tap Pause. You'll stop getting alerts from that group, but you remain a member. Other members are not affected. Tap Resume whenever you want to start receiving alerts again.

In My Groups, open the group and tap Leave. You'll stop receiving Group Alerts from that group and will be removed from the group. You can always rejoin later if someone sends you a new invite link.

Yes. You can join as many groups as you like. Each group appears in My Groups, and you can Pause or Leave any of them independently.

1) Tap the plus (Schedule) button. 2) Enter your message and optionally a note or link. 3) Choose the date and time when the alert should be sent. 4) Turn Group (or Push) on. 5) Tap Schedule Alert. The message will be delivered to all active members at that time. Make sure you have at least one Alert Credit.

No. A Group Alert is either: Notification only — A push notification at the scheduled time, or Alarm — A louder, more attention-grabbing alert on your own device. When scheduling, you choose one or the other. Group Alerts are notifications; the alarm option applies to alerts you set for yourself (e.g., from a calendar event).

They receive a push notification on their phone with your message, similar to a text or app notification. They can tap it to open The Notifier and see the full message, note, and any link you included.

No. You schedule the alert in advance. When the time comes, The Notifier's servers send the message to all group members. You don't need to have the app open or be online at that moment.

No. Group Alerts are pushed to their devices. As long as they have notifications enabled and have joined the group, they'll receive it when it's sent, even if the app was closed.

No. When you join a group, the owner does not receive your phone number or email. The app uses tokens to deliver notifications without exposing contact details.

When you leave, you stop receiving alerts from that group. Your membership is removed from the group's list. The Notifier does not retain your contact information for that group after you leave.

Check that: 1) The Notifier is installed and up to date. 2) Notification permissions are enabled for The Notifier. 3) You have an internet connection. 4) The invite link or QR code is valid and from the correct group. If it still doesn't work, ask the group owner to send a fresh invite link.

Common causes: 1) No credits — Purchase more Alert Credits in Push Settings. 2) No group name — Create and save a group name in Push Settings. 3) No members — You need at least one other person in the group. Invite people via the link or QR code.

After tapping Pause, it can take a moment for the change to apply. Pull down to refresh on the My Groups screen. If you still receive alerts, try leaving and rejoining the group, or contact support.

Yes, if you've purchased the Backup feature. When you set up The Notifier on your new phone, use the Restore option and sign in with the same Apple ID or Google account you used for the backup purchase. Your group names, memberships, and credits can be restored.