How would you test push notifications?

I start by asking how notifications are triggered (an action in the app, a backend event, a marketing tool) and how I can send one on the test environment.

Delivery and content

• Arrives on time, with the correct title, text, image and badge count.
• Long text is truncated nicely; special characters and emoji display correctly.
• The right user gets it, and only once.

App states

• App in foreground (in-app banner or silent update?), background, and killed.
• Device locked: lock screen preview respects privacy settings.

Tapping the notification

• Opens the right screen (deep link), even from a killed state.
• Works if the user is logged out: login first, then the target screen.

Permissions and settings

• iOS asks permission; Android 13+ asks too, older Android grants by default.
• If permission is denied, the app does not keep nagging, and in-app settings toggles actually stop notifications.

Edge cases

• No notifications after logout or for a deleted account.
• Many notifications at once are grouped sensibly.
• Do Not Disturb, low network, app reinstalled (new push token).

I test on real devices because simulators and emulators do not always match real push behavior.

Learn more: Push Notifications