Set up notifications

Crate can send reminder alerts to your phones and browsers while Obsidian is closed. Your server must be running, and the reminder must have reached it through sync or the web app.

There are two controls: Obsidian manages whether the vault sends alerts, and each receiving device grants notification permission.

Enable alerts for your vault

1. In Obsidian, open Settings → Crate → Reminders and check that Enable reminders is on.
2. Expand Notifications and turn on Push notifications.
3. Check the displayed notification folder and timezone. To use this device’s reminders folder and timezone, select Use this device’s settings under Notification folder and timezone.
4. For reminders with a date but no time, set All-day notification time. Leave it empty to receive alerts only for reminders with an explicit time.

These settings apply to all subscribed devices. The saved notification timezone does not change just because another device opens Crate or you travel.

Connect each receiving device

1. Open the Crate web app on the device.
2. On iPhone or iPad, add it to your Home Screen and open the installed app first.
3. Open the app’s Settings → Reminders and select Enable beside Push notifications.
4. Allow notifications when the browser or device asks. Wait until Crate shows On.

Repeat on each device where you want alerts. Off for vault means this device is registered, but Reminders or the vault’s notification setting is paused; check Reminders and Notifications in Obsidian.

Check that it works

In Obsidian, open Settings → Crate → Notifications. Under Notification devices, select Refresh and check that your device appears. Select Send test under Test notification to send to all enabled devices.

Then create a reminder a few minutes in the future and sync it. This checks scheduling as well as delivery. An all-day reminder needs an all-day notification time; its date alone does not enable an alert.

Turn alerts off

What you want	What to do
Stop alerts everywhere, keep using reminders	Turn off Settings → Crate → Notifications → Push notifications in Obsidian.
Stop alerts on one device	Turn off notifications for Crate in that device’s browser or system settings.
Stop only date-only alerts	Select Turn off beside All-day notification time, or clear its time. Timed reminders still qualify for alerts.
Pause the entire Reminders feature	Turn off Reminders → Enable reminders. This also stops notification processing.

Use Notification devices → Remove notification subscription to remove an obsolete registration. To remove a device’s access to Crate as well, disconnect its session.

What to expect

Device permissions, Focus modes, network access, and your hosting provider can affect delivery. Crate cannot schedule a reminder that exists only on an offline Obsidian device. A Docker host must stay awake and online.

Turning alerts back on does not guarantee that old missed reminders will be replayed. For a missed reminder that still matters, choose a new future time and sync it.

If an alert does not arrive, follow Notification troubleshooting.