Get visit alerts: add Porchlight to your Home Screen
It takes about 30 seconds and you only do it once. After that, Porchlight opens like any other app on your phone and can send you alerts when a visit starts, when a report card is ready, or when a request needs a decision.
Why this step is needed
Apple only lets websites send notifications once they are installed on the Home Screen, and only on iOS 16.4 or newer. If you open Porchlight in a Safari tab, your iPhone will not deliver alerts, even if you tap Allow. Android phones can do both, but installing the app makes alerts more reliable there too.
iPhone or iPad (Safari)
- Open porchlight.pet in Safari and sign in.
- Tap the Share button, the square with an arrow pointing up, at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. If you do not see it, tap Edit Actions or scroll further.
- Tap Add in the top right corner.
- Close Safari and open Porchlight from the new icon on your Home Screen.
- When Porchlight asks to send notifications, tap Turn on alerts, then tap Allow.
Your iPhone needs iOS 16.4 or newer. To check, open Settings, tap General, then About. If it is older, tap General, then Software Update.
Android (Chrome)
- Open porchlight.pet in Chrome and sign in.
- Tap the three dots menu in the top right corner.
- Tap Install app. On some phones it says Add to Home screen instead.
- Tap Install to confirm.
- Open Porchlight from your Home screen or app drawer.
- When Porchlight asks to send notifications, tap Turn on alerts, then tap Allow.
If alerts do not show up
- Open the app from the Home Screen icon, not from Safari. That is the only place iPhone allows alerts.
- Open Settings, tap Notifications, find Porchlight in the list, and make sure Allow Notifications is on.
- Turn off Focus or Do Not Disturb, or add Porchlight to the apps that may notify you.
- Still stuck? Email support@porchlight.pet.