Bridging the Divide: How to Get iPhone Notifications on Your Android Device

Have you ever found yourself juggling an iPhone and an Android device, wishing you could see all your important notifications in one place? The walled garden approach of Apple and Google often leaves users feeling like they’re missing out, especially when it comes to staying informed across platforms. While direct, seamless mirroring of iPhone notifications onto Android isn’t natively supported, there are several effective workarounds that leverage third-party apps and services to help you achieve a unified notification experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through these methods, providing detailed step-by-step instructions so you can receive iPhone notifications directly on your Android phone or tablet.

Why Mirror iPhone Notifications to Android?

Before diving into the ‘how,’ let’s consider the ‘why.’ There are numerous scenarios where seeing iPhone notifications on your Android device could be incredibly beneficial:

• Dual Device Users: Many people use both an iPhone and an Android for various reasons – perhaps for work, personal use, or different app preferences. Centralizing notifications eliminates the need to constantly switch between devices.
• Simplified Workflow: If your primary focus is on your Android device but you need to stay informed about messages, calls, or app alerts on your iPhone, mirroring notifications allows you to stay connected without constant device juggling.
• Accessibility: For individuals who prefer or are more comfortable using an Android device, having iPhone notifications readily available can improve accessibility and reduce frustration.
• Missing Fewer Alerts: When carrying two devices, it’s easy to miss notifications on one. Mirroring helps ensure you’re aware of everything that’s happening.

Methods for Getting iPhone Notifications on Android

While there isn’t a simple ‘turn it on’ solution, these methods offer practical ways to bridge the notification gap:

1. Using Third-Party Apps (Most Effective):
   • Pushbullet: A popular and versatile choice, Pushbullet excels at sending notifications, links, and files across devices, including mirroring iPhone notifications to Android through its browser extension and app.
   • Join by joaoapps: Similar to Pushbullet, Join is a powerful app designed for pushing notifications and other data across multiple platforms. It also allows for remote actions.
   • AirDroid: While primarily known for its file transfer capabilities, AirDroid also offers notification mirroring and remote access features, including iPhone notifications.
2. Utilizing IFTTT (If This Then That) & Email Notifications:
   • IFTTT Automation: IFTTT can be configured to trigger actions based on events. By using IFTTT recipes, you can configure your iPhone to send email alerts when you receive specific notifications, which your Android device can then monitor through an email client.
3. Using a Smartwatch with Cross-Platform Support:
   • Smartwatch as Notification Hub: Smartwatches with cross-platform compatibility (like some Garmin, Fitbit models or Wear OS devices connected to third-party apps) can receive notifications from your iPhone, which you can then view on your wrist and consequently on your phone.

Detailed Steps: Using Pushbullet for Notification Mirroring

Pushbullet stands out as a user-friendly and effective solution for mirroring iPhone notifications to Android. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

Step 1: Installing Pushbullet on Your Devices

1. Download the Pushbullet App for Android: Open the Google Play Store on your Android device and search for “Pushbullet.” Download and install the app.
2. Install the Pushbullet Browser Extension on Your Computer: Open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) on your computer (Mac or PC) and search for the Pushbullet browser extension. Download and install the extension. You’ll need to be logged into your browser using the same account you will use in the next step on iOS.
3. Download and Install a Web Browser with Extensions on Your iPhone: Because iOS does not allow browser extensions for Safari, you need to use a different browser. Download and Install a browser with extension support such as Firefox or Chrome.

Step 2: Creating a Pushbullet Account

If you do not have one yet:

1. Open the Pushbullet app on your Android device.
2. Sign in: You can sign in with your Google account or create a Pushbullet account. Choose the preferred option, remember the account credentials, and proceed.
3. Sign into the Pushbullet extension on your computer browser: Open the extension and log in using the same credentials you used on Android.
4. Sign into the Pushbullet extension on your iOS Browser (Firefox or Chrome). Open the browser, access the extension settings, and log in using the same credentials you used on Android.

Step 3: Setting Up Notification Mirroring

Pushbullet, unlike some other mirroring solutions, doesn’t directly mirror from iOS due to its operating system limitations. Instead, it uses the computer as an intermediary to relay notifications from your iPhone to your Android device. So the iPhone notifications must be forwarded through the desktop application before going to Android.

1. Ensure all devices are connected to the same WiFi network: Make sure all the devices are connected to the same WiFi network.
2. Install Pushbullet desktop application (optional but recommended): While using the extension is enough, installing the desktop app for your computer (Mac or PC) can provide added flexibility and options. Download and install from the Pushbullet website, and log into the same account.
3. Configure Notification Mirroring on the Computer Extension or desktop app: Go to the Pushbullet browser extension settings or desktop app settings. Ensure that “Mirror notifications” or a similar option is enabled. Pushbullet also provides filtering options to control which specific notifications are forwarded. Configure as needed (recommended only if you have very specific requirements as too much filtering may remove the needed notifications.)
4. Enable Notification Access on your computer (if needed): In some operating systems, you might need to grant Pushbullet access to notifications in your operating system’s settings for it to capture the notifications.
5. Set up Safari/Browser Notification Permissions on your iPhone: On your iPhone, go to Settings, find your browser (Firefox or Chrome), and configure to allow notifications.
6. Configure the Pushbullet extension on your iOS browser (Firefox or Chrome): Go to the Pushbullet extension settings within your selected browser on your iPhone and ensure that “Mirror notifications” or a similar option is enabled. Make sure you are also logged into the same account used on other devices.
7. Test the setup: Send a notification to your iPhone (such as a message or an email) and check that it appears on your computer and Android device. If successful, the notification will first appear on your computer/browser and then on your Android device.

Step 4: Customize Your Notification Preferences (Optional)

Within the Pushbullet app on your Android device, you can further customize how you receive mirrored notifications:

• Notification Sound: Choose a custom sound for your mirrored iPhone notifications.
• Vibration Settings: Control if and how the mirrored notifications vibrate.
• Do Not Disturb: Set up Do Not Disturb rules so that only important notifications get through.
• Clear Notifications: When you clear a notification on your Android device, it should be cleared on the computer as well.

Important Considerations When Using Pushbullet:

• Battery Life: Pushbullet, like any background service, can consume battery power. Be aware of its impact on your devices and adjust usage if needed. On iOS it will use the battery when the browser is open and being used.
• Internet Connection: All devices must be connected to the internet for notifications to be mirrored.
• Pushbullet is not real-time mirroring: The notification must be received by the computer first before being pushed to the android phone. This may result in delays.
• Data Privacy: Be mindful of the security and privacy implications of using third-party services. Pushbullet has a reasonable privacy policy, but it’s advisable to review it.
• Free versus Paid: Pushbullet is free for basic mirroring, but a Pro subscription may be needed for more advanced features or heavy usage.

Detailed Steps: Using Join by joaoapps

Join is another great option for mirroring notifications, offering a wide array of features and customization options. Here’s a breakdown of how to set it up:

Step 1: Install Join on Your Android Device and Computer

1. Download Join App on Android: Head to the Google Play Store and download the ‘Join by joaoapps’ app on your Android device.
2. Install the Join Chrome Extension: Open your Chrome browser on your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for ‘Join by joaoapps’ and install the extension.
3. Install a Web Browser with Extensions on Your iPhone: Because iOS does not allow browser extensions for Safari, you need to use a different browser. Download and Install a browser with extension support such as Firefox or Chrome.

Step 2: Setting up a Join Account

1. Open the Join app on Android: Launch the application on your Android device.
2. Sign in: You’ll be prompted to sign in. You can use a Google account. Select your account.
3. Sign into the Join extension on your computer browser: Open the extension and log in using the same credentials you used on Android.
4. Sign into the Join extension on your iOS Browser (Firefox or Chrome). Open the browser, access the extension settings, and log in using the same credentials you used on Android.

Step 3: Connecting Devices and Enabling Mirroring

Join uses the computer as an intermediary to relay notifications from your iPhone to your Android device. So the iPhone notifications must be forwarded through the desktop application before going to Android.

1. Ensure all devices are connected to the same WiFi network: Make sure all the devices are connected to the same WiFi network.
2. Enable Notification Mirroring on the Chrome Extension: Go to the Join Chrome extension settings and check the box next to “Mirror Notifications.”
3. Enable Notification Access on your computer (if needed): In some operating systems, you might need to grant Join access to notifications in your operating system’s settings for it to capture the notifications.
4. Set up Safari/Browser Notification Permissions on your iPhone: On your iPhone, go to Settings, find your browser (Firefox or Chrome), and configure to allow notifications.
5. Configure the Join extension on your iOS browser (Firefox or Chrome): Go to the Join extension settings within your selected browser on your iPhone and ensure that “Mirror notifications” or a similar option is enabled. Make sure you are also logged into the same account used on other devices.
6. Test the setup: Send a notification to your iPhone (such as a message or an email) and check that it appears on your computer and Android device. If successful, the notification will first appear on your computer/browser and then on your Android device.

Step 4: Customizing Notification Preferences (Optional)

Join offers a robust set of settings for customization:

• Notification Channels: Create and customize notification channels for specific app notifications, which helps you to only mirror important notifications.
• Customizable Sounds: You can choose custom notification sounds for mirrored alerts.
• Vibration Patterns: Set different vibration patterns for various notification types.
• Do Not Disturb: Configure Do Not Disturb rules to filter out distractions.
• Remote Actions: Join allows you to take actions on your phone remotely from your computer and vice versa.

Important Considerations When Using Join by joaoapps:

• Battery Use: While generally efficient, monitor battery usage on all your devices.
• Real-Time Limitations: Due to the intermediate computer, notification mirroring isn’t instantaneous.
• Internet Connection Required: All devices must be online for Join to function.
• Security: Review the privacy policies of Join before use.
• Pricing: Join is a paid app with a trial period.

Detailed Steps: Using IFTTT and Email Notifications

While not as direct as apps like Pushbullet or Join, using IFTTT (If This Then That) can be a viable workaround. This method involves setting up an IFTTT applet that triggers an email when a notification occurs on your iPhone, which your Android device then monitors.

Step 1: Set up IFTTT on iPhone and Android

1. Download IFTTT for both Android and iPhone. You can get it on the Google Play Store for Android and the App Store for iOS.
2. Create an IFTTT account. If you don’t have an account, sign up for a free one using your preferred email. Make sure to use the same email account on both devices.
3. Login to the IFTTT app on both Android and iPhone using the same account credentials.

Step 2: Create the IFTTT Applet on your iPhone

1. Open the IFTTT app on your iPhone.
2. Click on “Create”.
3. Tap on “If This”.
4. Search for and select “Notifications”.
5. Select “New notification from any app”. (Or select “New notification from app” to only mirror specific apps)
6. Tap on “Then That”.
7. Search and select “Email”.
8. Select “Send me an email”.
9. Configure the email. You can customize what the email will contain. Usually keeping it simple is the best method. For example, set the subject as “iPhone Notification” and the body to {{NotificationText}} or whatever is better for your use case.
10. Confirm and save the recipe.

Step 3: Configure Email on your Android Device

1. Add the email account to your Android email app. Make sure the account you configured for IFTTT is properly configured and working.
2. Set up notification rules (Optional). Depending on your email app, you might need to set up filtering rules to avoid spamming yourself with every IFTTT email. For example, creating a specific folder or a custom sound just for IFTTT emails.

Important Considerations When Using IFTTT and Email:

• Notification Delays: Email notifications are not instantaneous, so there will be a delay between the notification on your iPhone and when you receive it on your Android.
• Not real-time: Email is not real-time, this may not be a suitable method for all use cases.
• Limited Customization: Customization options are limited to what you can configure on IFTTT and your email provider.
• Can Be Cluttered: Your email inbox may become cluttered with notification emails.
• Reliability: This may not be the most reliable method and you may experience issues if either IFTTT or your email provider has issues.

Conclusion

While achieving seamless, native iPhone notification mirroring on Android might still be a challenge, the methods outlined in this guide offer effective solutions. Pushbullet and Join provide user-friendly and feature-rich options for forwarding notifications through a computer intermediary. IFTTT offers an alternative, but requires some email configuration. Select the method that best aligns with your needs and enjoy a more streamlined notification experience across your Apple and Android devices. With a little bit of setup and configuration, you can stay connected and informed, no matter which platform you’re using.