Help & Setup Guide

Reliable messages start with complete Android alerts

Phone readiness

Prepare YAFOY once. Keep every alert readable.

Android menu names can vary slightly by phone and app version. Choose the closest matching option and keep message content visible.

Setup instructions

23 guides
Notification accessGive YAFOY permission to read message alerts and their reply actions.
  1. 1Open Android Settings.
  2. 2Choose Apps or Special app access. On some phones, first choose Security & privacy.
  3. 3Open Special app access › Notification access.
  4. 4Turn YAFOY on and confirm Allow.
  5. 5Return to YAFOY. New message alerts can now appear in your inbox.

Important: This is different from YAFOY's ordinary notification permission. Both should be on.

Battery: keep YAFOY runningStop the phone from putting the message listener to sleep.
  1. 1Open Android Settings › Apps › YAFOY › Battery.
  2. 2Choose Unrestricted or Don't optimize. Do not choose Restricted.
  3. 3Samsung: also open Battery › Background usage limits and remove YAFOY from Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps.
  4. 4Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO: turn on Autostart, choose No restrictions, and lock YAFOY in Recent apps.
  5. 5Pixel: choose App battery usage › Allow background usage, then Unrestricted.
  6. 6If your phone has its own battery saver or app cleaner, add YAFOY to its protected/allowed list.

Important: If messages stop after the screen has been off for a while, battery restrictions are usually the cause.

Lock screen & message previewsShow the sender and words in alerts so YAFOY can read them.
  1. 1Open Android Settings › Notifications › Notifications on lock screen.
  2. 2Choose Show conversations, default and silent, or Show all notification content.
  3. 3Turn off Hide sensitive content for the messaging apps you use.
  4. 4Open Settings › Apps › each messaging app › Notifications and choose Alerting, not Silent.
  5. 5Allow notification dots, pop-ups/banners and lock-screen display where offered.

Important: When Android hides sensitive content, YAFOY may receive only “New message” with no sender or text.

Do Not Disturb & Data SaverAllow message apps to alert and use background data.
  1. 1Open Android Settings › Notifications › Do Not Disturb › Apps.
  2. 2Add YAFOY and your messaging apps as exceptions if you use Do Not Disturb.
  3. 3Open Settings › Network & internet › Data Saver › Unrestricted data.
  4. 4Allow YAFOY and every connected messaging or mail app.
  5. 5For each app, open Mobile data & Wi-Fi and keep Background data on.
YAFOYKeep YAFOY's own alerts and phone permissions enabled.
  1. 1Open Android Settings › Apps › YAFOY › Notifications and turn Allow notifications on.
  2. 2Set its notification categories to Alerting and allow lock-screen display.
  3. 3Under Permissions, allow Microphone for voice notes and Camera for photos when needed.
  4. 4Return here after updates or a phone restart and use the Quick Test below.
WhatsAppEnable full message alerts, previews and reply actions.
  1. 1In WhatsApp, open Settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Under Messages, turn High priority notifications on.
  3. 3Turn Reaction notifications on so reaction activity is not silently suppressed.
  4. 4In Android Settings › Apps › WhatsApp › Notifications, allow all message categories and choose Alerting.
  5. 5Show full notification content on the lock screen.
TelegramLet private chats and groups show their message text.
  1. 1In Telegram, open Settings › Notifications and Sounds.
  2. 2Turn Notifications for private chats on; enable groups and channels if you want those in YAFOY.
  3. 3Turn Message Preview on.
  4. 4In Android app notification settings, set Telegram categories to Alerting and allow pop-ups/banners.
SignalSignal must expose both the sender and message content.
  1. 1In Signal, open Settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Open Show or Display.
  3. 3Choose Name and content — not Name only or No name or content.
  4. 4In Android Settings › Apps › Signal › Notifications, keep Messages on and Alerting.
SMS / Google MessagesUse alerting conversation notifications with complete previews.
  1. 1In Google Messages, tap your profile picture › Messages settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Turn Incoming messages on and choose Alerting, not Silent.
  3. 3Open each important conversation's Details › Notifications and confirm Default or Priority, not Silent.
  4. 4Allow full message text on the lock screen.
ViberShow new-message text in Viber's Android alerts.
  1. 1In Viber, open More › Settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Turn Show message preview on.
  3. 3Keep New message notifications and in-app notification sounds on.
  4. 4In Android notification settings, set Messages to Alerting and allow lock-screen content.
LINEEnable message notifications and previews.
  1. 1In LINE, open Home › Settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Turn Notifications on, then turn Message notifications on.
  3. 3Turn Show previews on.
  4. 4In Android Settings, keep LINE's message notification channel Alerting.
Facebook MessengerTurn off floating Chat Heads/Bubbles so standard alerts keep their text.
  1. 1In Messenger, tap Menu or your profile picture › Settings.
  2. 2Open Bubbles or Chat heads and turn it off. This step is crucial.
  3. 3Open Notifications & sounds and turn message previews on.
  4. 4In Android Settings › Apps › Messenger › Notifications, allow all message categories and choose Alerting.
  5. 5Turn off Android notification minimising/adaptive suppression for Messenger if offered.

Important: With Chat Heads or Bubbles active, Messenger may hide the standard notification text YAFOY needs.

InstagramAllow direct-message and message-request alerts.
  1. 1In Instagram, open Profile › Menu › Settings and activity › Notifications.
  2. 2Open Messages and calls.
  3. 3Set Messages and Message requests to On (From everyone where that choice appears).
  4. 4In Android app notification settings, allow Instagram Direct/message categories and choose Alerting.
XTurn on push alerts for Direct Messages.
  1. 1In X, open Settings and privacy › Notifications › Preferences › Push notifications.
  2. 2Open Direct Messages and turn message notifications on.
  3. 3In Android Settings › Apps › X › Notifications, allow Direct Messages and set them to Alerting.
  4. 4Allow full lock-screen previews.
DiscordKeep direct-message and mention push alerts enabled.
  1. 1In Discord, open your profile › Settings › Notifications.
  2. 2Turn on system/push notifications and Direct Messages.
  3. 3For each server you need, open Notification Settings and allow All Messages or Mentions as preferred.
  4. 4In Android notification settings, set Direct messages and Calls to Alerting and show previews.
SlackNotify for direct messages and mentions with visible banners.
  1. 1In Slack, open You › Notifications.
  2. 2Under Notify me about, choose Direct messages, mentions & keywords or All new messages.
  3. 3Set Notify me on mobile to Always if desktop activity delays phone alerts.
  4. 4In Android notification settings, keep Direct messages and Mentions Alerting with pop-up banners.
Microsoft TeamsEnable chat and mention banners without desktop-only suppression.
  1. 1In Teams, tap your profile picture › Notifications.
  2. 2Open Chat and set messages, mentions and replies to Banner and feed or On.
  3. 3Open Meetings/Calls and enable the alerts you want YAFOY to capture.
  4. 4In Android Settings, allow Teams notification categories and choose Alerting.
Google ChatAllow every needed chat or space to notify through Chat or Gmail.
  1. 1In Google Chat, tap your profile picture › Chat notifications and turn notifications on.
  2. 2For a conversation or space, open its name › Notifications and choose Notify always when needed.
  3. 3If Chat alerts arrive through Gmail: Gmail › Settings › your account › Chat notifications › On.
  4. 4In Android settings for Google Chat or Gmail, keep Chat/message categories Alerting with previews.
LinkedInEnable push notifications for incoming messages.
  1. 1In LinkedIn, open Me › Settings & Privacy › Notifications.
  2. 2Choose Messaging › Messages received and turn Push on.
  3. 3Enable message requests if you want them in YAFOY.
  4. 4In Android notification settings, set Messages to Alerting and show full content.
GmailInstall the Gmail app and allow its notifications — YAFOY reads email from them, no sign-in.
  1. 1Install Gmail from the Play Store and sign in there (YAFOY never signs in to your mailbox).
  2. 2Allow Gmail notifications when Android asks, or in Settings › Apps › Gmail › Notifications.
  3. 3In Gmail, open Menu › Settings › choose each connected account.
  4. 4Open Email notifications and choose All, not High priority only.
  5. 5Open Inbox notifications and turn Notify for every message on when available.
  6. 6In Android app notification settings, allow Mail for every account and show full previews.
OutlookInstall the Outlook app and allow its notifications — YAFOY reads email from them, no sign-in.
  1. 1Install Outlook from the Play Store and add your accounts there (YAFOY never signs in to your mailbox).
  2. 2Allow Outlook notifications when Android asks, or in Settings › Apps › Outlook › Notifications.
  3. 3In Outlook, tap your profile picture › Settings › Notifications.
  4. 4For Mail, choose All email or All new emails — not Focused/High priority only.
  5. 5Turn message previews on and enable notifications for every connected account.
  6. 6In Android app notification settings, open each per-account Email channel, turn it on and choose Alerting.
Yahoo MailInstall the Yahoo Mail app, allow its notifications, and show the sender and a snippet.
  1. 1Install Yahoo Mail from the Play Store and allow its notifications.
  2. 2In Yahoo Mail, open the menu → Settings → Notifications.
  3. 3Choose All new emails for each mailbox, not only People you know.
  4. 4Turn Message preview on so the sender and first line appear in the alert.
  5. 5In Android app notification settings, allow Mail for every account and show full previews.
Proton MailProton hides mail content in alerts by default — turn the preview on.
  1. 1In Proton Mail, open Settings → App settings → Notifications.
  2. 2Turn on message preview (notification content) — without it Proton only says “New message” and YAFOY cannot read the sender or the snippet.
  3. 3Enable notifications for every Proton account you use.
  4. 4In Android app notification settings, set the mail channel to Alerting and allow sensitive content on the lock screen.

Troubleshooting

Not receiving notifications?

First check Notification access, then battery restrictions. Confirm the original app itself shows an alert containing the sender and message. If the original app shows nothing, YAFOY has nothing to capture.

Sender name says Unknown?

Turn on full message previews and show sensitive content. Open the app's notification categories and make sure conversation alerts are not silent, minimised or grouped without detail.

Reply box does not send directly?

YAFOY replies silently while Android still has that app's live reply action. Otherwise it opens the original conversation with your words ready to finish there. Keep the contact number, username or email saved for the best hand-off.

Messages stop after a restart or overnight?

Set YAFOY to Unrestricted battery use, allow background data, remove it from sleeping-app lists, then reopen YAFOY once. Notification access should remain on after a restart.

Pictures or voice notes show only a label?

Most apps give Android only “Photo” or “Voice message,” not the actual file. YAFOY can show media only when the original app includes a preview in its notification.

Your messages remain local

These permissions let YAFOY read alerts on this phone. Message content remains in your on-device YAFOY database and is not uploaded to a YAFOY message server.