Parents Aren't Receiving Notifications

Overview

Push notifications are how Squadd keeps parents informed — availability requests, training reminders, goal alerts, and match results all arrive via notification. If a parent isn't receiving them, work through the checklist below.

Quick link to send to parents: the step-by-step parent walkthrough lives at Android: How to Turn On Squadd Notifications. Copy that URL and WhatsApp it to any parent whose notifications aren't arriving on Android — it covers Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus and Xiaomi specifically.

Checklist: Most Common Causes

1. The parent hasn't granted notification permission

This is the most common reason. When a parent installs Squadd for the first time, the app asks for permission to send notifications. If they tapped Don't Allow, no notifications will ever arrive — even if everything else is set up correctly.

Fix:

• On iPhone: Settings → Scroll to Squadd → Notifications → Allow Notifications ✅
• On Android: Settings → Apps → Squadd → Notifications → Allow all ✅

2. The parent isn't linked to a player

Parents only receive availability requests and match reminders if they are linked as a guardian to at least one active player. If a parent joined the team but hasn't been linked yet, they won't receive per-player notifications.

Fix: Approve the guardian link request, or link them directly via Squad → [Player] → Edit → Guardians → + Add guardian.

3. The parent joined but their player is deactivated

If a player has been deactivated (removed from the squad), their guardians stop receiving notifications for that player.

Fix: Check the player's status. If they should still be active, contact support@squadd.co.uk to reactivate them.

4. The parent hasn't opened the app since installing

Squadd registers a push token the first time the app is opened after installation. A parent who installed the app but never opened it properly won't have a token registered yet.

Fix: Ask the parent to open the app, sign in fully, and navigate to at least one screen. The token registers automatically on first proper load.

5. The parent is using a browser or tablet that doesn't support push

Squadd on the web browser (squadd.co.uk accessed in a browser) does not support push notifications — only the native iOS and Android apps do.

Fix: Make sure the parent has downloaded the Squadd app from the App Store or Google Play, not just bookmarked the website.

6. Notification permissions are enabled but Do Not Disturb is on

Notifications may be arriving but silently suppressed by Focus Mode (iPhone) or Do Not Disturb (Android).

Fix: Check the parent's Focus/DND settings and add Squadd as an allowed app, or ask them to check their notification history.

7. The parent changed devices recently

Push tokens are device-specific. If a parent got a new phone and reinstalled the app, the old token is no longer valid. The new token registers automatically when they open Squadd on the new device.

Fix: Ask the parent to open Squadd on their new phone and navigate through at least one screen. The token updates automatically.

What Notifications Parents Should Expect

Quick Test: Sending a Manual Reminder

To check whether a specific parent's notifications are working, trigger an availability reminder:

1. Open a fixture that the parent hasn't responded to
2. Tap Nudge X unresponded (visible to coaches only)

If the parent receives the nudge, their notifications are working. If they don't, work back through the checklist above.

If Nothing Works

If a parent has checked all the above and is still not receiving notifications, ask them to:

1. Sign out of Squadd (Settings → Sign out)
2. Sign back in
3. Accept the notification permission prompt if it appears again

If the problem persists, contact support@squadd.co.uk with the parent's name and email address and we'll investigate.

Related Articles

• Getting Started as a Parent
• Adding Players to Your Squad
• Inviting Members to Your Team