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How do I enable alert notifications when guests join from Self Check-in?

Enable sound alerts when guests join your waitlist through Self Check-in. Learn how alert tones and background alerts work, and how browser settings or device permissions may affect when alerts play.

Updated this week

NextMe can play a sound alert when a guest joins your waitlist using Self Check-in. This helps staff notice new arrivals immediately without constantly watching the dashboard.

Depending on your settings and browser permissions, alerts can also play while the NextMe dashboard tab is open in the background.

These alerts are controlled in:

Settings → Self Check-in → Alert Settings

Enable alert sounds for Self Check-in

  1. Open the NextMe dashboard

  2. Click Settings

  3. Select Self Check-in

  4. Locate the Alert Settings section

You will see two options that control alert behavior.

Self Check-in alert settings explained

Play Alert Tones

Enabled by default

When enabled, NextMe will play a sound notification whenever a guest joins the waitlist through Self Check-in.

Disable this option if you prefer to receive notifications without sound alerts.

Background Alerts

Disabled by default

When enabled, alert sounds will play even if the NextMe dashboard tab is not active.

This is helpful if your team:

  • works in multiple browser tabs

  • uses other systems at the same time

  • wants to hear alerts without watching the waitlist screen

When should Background Alerts be enabled?

Enable Background Alerts if:

  • staff multitask across multiple browser tabs

  • the NextMe dashboard is open on a shared workstation

  • your team wants to hear alerts while using another system (POS, CRM, etc.)

  • the waitlist screen is not always visible

Why don’t I hear Self Check-in alert sounds?

If alert sounds are enabled but you do not hear a notification when guests check in, the issue is usually related to browser or device settings.

Common causes include:

  • the browser tab is muted

  • the browser blocks autoplay audio

  • background tabs restrict audio playback

  • device battery optimization limits background activity

  • system sound settings or Do Not Disturb mode

Quick things to check first

Before adjusting browser settings, check the following:

  • Play Alert Tones is enabled

  • Background Alerts is enabled if you want alerts while multitasking

  • the NextMe tab is not muted

  • your device volume is turned up

  • the browser allows sound for the NextMe site

Browser settings that may affect alert sounds

Many browsers restrict audio playback in background tabs to prevent unwanted noise or save resources.

If alerts still do not play, you may need to adjust your browser’s audio or autoplay settings.

Google Chrome troubleshooting

Check that Chrome allows sound for the NextMe site.

  1. Open Chrome Settings

  2. Go to Privacy and security

  3. Select Site settings

  4. Click Sound

  5. Ensure sound is allowed for the NextMe site

You can also:

  • right-click the NextMe tab and select Unmute site

  • confirm Chrome is not blocking autoplay audio

Advanced troubleshooting may include adjusting background tab behavior using:

chrome://flags

Microsoft Edge troubleshooting

  1. Enter the following in the address bar:

edge://flags

  1. Search for Enable Background Audio

  2. Ensure background audio restrictions are disabled

Also confirm the NextMe tab has not been muted.

Mozilla Firefox troubleshooting

  1. Type the following in the address bar:

about:config

  1. Search for:

media.block-autoplay-until-in-foreground

  1. Set the value to false

This allows audio to play even when the tab is inactive.

Safari on Mac (macOS)

Safari may block automatic audio playback.

To allow sound:

  1. Open Safari

  2. Go to Settings

  3. Select Websites

  4. Click Auto-Play

  5. Allow autoplay for the NextMe site

Also confirm the tab has not been muted.

iPhone or iPad (Safari) limitations

If you are using NextMe in Safari on an iPhone or iPad, alert sounds may stop when the browser runs in the background.

This happens because iOS limits background activity for browser tabs.

To improve reliability:

  • keep the NextMe tab visible

  • turn Silent Mode off

  • ensure device volume is turned up

Background alerts may not always play if Safari is minimized.

Android (Chrome) background audio troubleshooting

Android devices may stop background audio to conserve battery.

To allow alerts:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Select Apps

  3. Tap Chrome

  4. Choose Battery

  5. Set battery usage to Unrestricted

This allows Chrome to continue playing audio while running in the background.

Check your computer’s sound settings

If alerts are enabled but you still hear no sound:

  • ensure the computer volume is not muted

  • confirm the correct speaker or audio output device is selected

  • check that Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is not active

  • verify the browser is not muted at the system level

Best setup for host stands or shared workstations

Many teams run NextMe on a front desk or host stand computer.

For reliable alerts:

  • keep the NextMe dashboard open

  • enable Background Alerts

  • ensure the browser allows sound

  • prevent the computer from going to sleep

  • avoid muting the browser tab

This helps staff hear alerts immediately when guests join the waitlist.

When alert sounds will not work

Alert sounds require the NextMe dashboard to be open in a browser tab.

Alerts will not play if:

  • the browser is completely closed

  • the device is muted

  • the browser blocks background audio

  • the device stops background activity

External browser and device settings may change

Browser and operating system settings change frequently as software updates are released.

Because of this, the exact steps for adjusting browser audio or autoplay settings may change over time.

If the instructions above no longer match what you see on your device, you can quickly find updated guidance by searching online.

Try searching for:

  • allow sound for a website in Chrome

  • enable autoplay audio Firefox

  • allow background audio Safari Mac

  • Chrome Android disable battery optimization audio

Most browsers also provide official documentation in their help centers.

Related questions

Why don’t I hear alerts when guests check in?

This usually happens when the browser blocks background audio, the tab is muted, or device sound settings prevent audio playback.

Can NextMe play alerts while I’m using other tabs?

Yes. Enable Background Alerts in Self Check-in settings.

Do alerts work if the browser is minimized?

They may work depending on your browser settings and device permissions.

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