Threads web push notifications in Safari let you receive alerts for new replies, likes, and follows without opening the app on your iPhone. Safari on macOS and iOS handles notification permissions differently than Chrome or Firefox, which can cause confusion when you try to enable or disable alerts. This article explains how Safari manages Threads notification permissions, how to check and change them, and what to do when the permission prompt does not appear or gets stuck.
Key Takeaways: Safari Notification Permissions for Threads
- Safari Settings > Websites > Notifications: Lists all sites with notification permissions, including Threads, and lets you change between Allow, Deny, and Ask.
- macOS System Settings > Notifications > Safari: Controls whether Safari can display notifications at the system level; must be enabled for web push to work.
- Threads notification toggle in Safari: After permission is granted, you can fine-tune which event types trigger alerts inside Threads settings.
How Safari Handles Web Push Notifications
Safari uses Apple Push Notification Service for web push notifications, which is different from the Push API used by Chrome and Firefox. This means that Safari requires a separate permission flow, and the notification prompt may behave differently depending on your macOS or iOS version.
On macOS, Safari stores per-site notification permissions in the Websites tab of Safari Settings. On iOS, notification permissions are managed per-site in the Settings app under Safari. If Safari’s system-level notification permission is turned off in macOS System Settings or iOS Settings, no web push notifications will appear regardless of the per-site setting.
Threads itself must support web push for Safari. As of 2024, Threads web push works on Safari 16.4 and later on macOS, and on Safari for iOS 16.4 and later. If your browser is older, the notification option will not appear in Threads settings.
Steps to Check and Change Threads Notification Permissions in Safari
Follow the steps for your device to verify that Threads has permission to send notifications through Safari.
On macOS
- Open Safari Settings
Open Safari on your Mac. Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Settings. - Go to the Websites tab
In the Settings window, click the Websites tab. Scroll down in the left panel and click Notifications. A list of websites with notification permissions appears on the right. - Locate Threads
Find threads.net in the list. The current permission appears in the dropdown next to it. Choose Allow if you want notifications, Deny to block them, or Ask to be prompted again the next time Threads requests permission. - Check system-level notification setting
Open System Settings on your Mac. Click Notifications. Scroll down to Safari and make sure the toggle is on. If it is off, Safari cannot display any web push notifications.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open the Settings app
Tap the Settings icon on your home screen. - Scroll to Safari
Scroll down and tap Safari. Then tap Advanced near the bottom of the Safari settings page. - Tap Web Push Notifications
Under Advanced, tap Web Push Notifications. A list of websites that have requested push permission appears. - Find Threads and set permission
Tap threads.net. Choose Allow or Deny as desired. If you want to reset the permission so Threads can ask again, tap Reset Permission. - Verify system notifications for Safari
Go back to the main Settings screen. Tap Notifications. Scroll to Safari and ensure Allow Notifications is enabled.
Common Notification Permission Issues in Safari
Threads notification prompt does not appear
If you click the bell icon or notification toggle in Threads but no Safari permission prompt shows up, the site may already have a stored Deny permission. On macOS, go to Safari Settings > Websites > Notifications and check if threads.net is listed as Deny. Change it to Ask. On iOS, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Web Push Notifications and tap Reset Permission for threads.net. Then reload Threads and try again.
Notifications work on one Mac but not another
Notification permissions are stored per device. If you use Threads on multiple Macs, you must grant permission on each device separately. iCloud does not sync web push notification permissions between devices.
Notifications appear but no sound or badge
Safari web push notifications use the system notification style. To enable sound, go to System Settings > Notifications > Safari and turn on Play sound for notifications. Badges are not supported for web push in Safari; only banners and alerts are available.
Safari vs Chrome: Notification Permission Differences
| Item | Safari | Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Permission storage location | Safari Settings > Websites > Notifications (macOS) or Settings > Safari > Advanced > Web Push Notifications (iOS) | Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Notifications |
| System-level toggle required | Yes, in System Settings > Notifications > Safari | No separate system toggle; Chrome handles its own notifications |
| Supported macOS version | macOS Ventura and later | macOS Monterey and later |
| Badge support | Not supported for web push | Supported |
| Permission reset method | Change dropdown to Ask or tap Reset Permission | Click Reset permission in site settings |
You can now check and adjust Threads notification permissions in Safari on both macOS and iOS. If you still do not receive alerts, verify that you are running Safari 16.4 or later and that Threads notification toggles inside the web app are turned on. For persistent issues, resetting the permission and reloading the site usually resolves the problem.