Q: facebook notifications going missing - can someone test this out?
I think I may have worked out why notifications are not working for Facebook on OSX, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it involves users who access FB through a mobile IOS device as well.
I bought myself a new Mac Mini after a year without a mac (Yes, I know!) and the only real issue I had was that after reinstalling my old time machine backup and configuring my Mac - the onloy thing that didn't seem to work was seeing FB notifications in my Notification Centre. I also noted that they didn't work on my iPhone.
I think as far as FB is concerned Push Notifications are an en masse type thing, and they do not distinguish betweem IOS and OSX. When I went to the notifications settings of the FB app, I noted that all types were UN ticked and an attempt to tick them resulting in a tick appearing then immediately disappearing.
SO...
After trying all the usual steps, I went through my 'allowed apps" list in FB and deleted any mobile apps. I then added a new third party app (I chose Friendly) and installed it. I then went to log in to it, and one of the first things it asks is to switch on Push Notifications. On a whim, I went back to the officaial FB app and noted that not only were all the boxes for notifications in Facebook->Settings->Notifications now ticked (where they were ALL unticked before) - I could also now untick and tick at pleasure. I then deleted Friendly and so far all push notifications are working on my phone!
FB Notifications now work with sound in the official App on my iPhone. A quick phone call to my wife for a look on my Mac Mini seems to suggest they are working there alse - a bunch of FB notifications disappeared as she woke the machine from sleep (obviously cause they were now read on my iPhone). I will confirm this at home tonight when I get in but it seems to make sense that Push notifications are an Account wide, not App wide, setting. If some app had disabled Push Notifications in such a way as to corrupt the settings that would explain why OSX (my Mini) and IOS (My iPhone) both were missing their notifications. A fresh install of a third party app forces FB to re-build the Push Notifications settings and this then works Account wide.
Can someone test this (who has the issue) and confirm?
Thanks
A
Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)
Posted on Jun 9, 2014 4:53 AM