diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 9bec14b..038d87d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   useConversationActions,
   useConversationNavigation,
   useRealtimeAppState,
+  useBrowserNotifications,
 } from './hooks';
 import { AppShell } from './components/AppShell';
 import type { MessageInputHandle } from './components/MessageInput';
@@ -22,6 +23,13 @@ import type { Conversation, RawPacket } from './types';
 export function App() {
   const messageInputRef = useRef<MessageInputHandle>(null);
   const [rawPackets, setRawPackets] = useState<RawPacket[]>([]);
+  const {
+    notificationsSupported,
+    notificationsPermission,
+    isConversationNotificationsEnabled,
+    toggleConversationNotifications,
+    notifyIncomingMessage,
+  } = useBrowserNotifications();
   const {
     showNewMessage,
     showSettings,
@@ -202,6 +210,7 @@ export function App() {
     pendingDeleteFallbackRef,
     setActiveConversation,
     updateMessageAck,
+    notifyIncomingMessage,
   });
   const {
     handleSendMessage,
@@ -237,7 +246,10 @@ export function App() {
     [fetchUndecryptedCount, setChannels]
   );
 
-  const statusProps = { health, config };
+  const statusProps = {
+    health,
+    config,
+  };
   const sidebarProps = {
     contacts,
     channels,
@@ -289,6 +301,21 @@ export function App() {
     onLoadNewer: fetchNewerMessages,
     onJumpToBottom: jumpToBottom,
     onSendMessage: handleSendMessage,
+    notificationsSupported,
+    notificationsPermission,
+    notificationsEnabled:
+      activeConversation?.type === 'contact' || activeConversation?.type === 'channel'
+        ? isConversationNotificationsEnabled(activeConversation.type, activeConversation.id)
+        : false,
+    onToggleNotifications: () => {
+      if (activeConversation?.type === 'contact' || activeConversation?.type === 'channel') {
+        void toggleConversationNotifications(
+          activeConversation.type,
+          activeConversation.id,
+          activeConversation.name
+        );
+      }
+    },
   };
   const searchProps = {
     contacts,
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
index 1537bec..2dbbaaf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
-import { Globe2, Info, Route, Star, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Bell, Globe2, Info, Route, Star, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { toast } from './ui/sonner';
 import { isFavorite } from '../utils/favorites';
 import { handleKeyboardActivate } from '../utils/a11y';
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ interface ChatHeaderProps {
   channels: Channel[];
   config: RadioConfig | null;
   favorites: Favorite[];
+  notificationsSupported: boolean;
+  notificationsEnabled: boolean;
+  notificationsPermission: NotificationPermission | 'unsupported';
   onTrace: () => void;
+  onToggleNotifications: () => void;
   onToggleFavorite: (type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string) => void;
   onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride?: (key: string, floodScopeOverride: string) => void;
   onDeleteChannel: (key: string) => void;
@@ -29,7 +33,11 @@ export function ChatHeader({
   channels,
   config,
   favorites,
+  notificationsSupported,
+  notificationsEnabled,
+  notificationsPermission,
   onTrace,
+  onToggleNotifications,
   onToggleFavorite,
   onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride,
   onDeleteChannel,
@@ -198,6 +206,35 @@ export function ChatHeader({
             <Route className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
           </button>
         )}
+        {notificationsSupported && (
+          <button
+            className="flex items-center gap-1 rounded px-1 py-1 hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+            onClick={onToggleNotifications}
+            title={
+              notificationsEnabled
+                ? 'Disable desktop notifications for this conversation'
+                : notificationsPermission === 'denied'
+                  ? 'Notifications blocked by the browser'
+                  : 'Enable desktop notifications for this conversation'
+            }
+            aria-label={
+              notificationsEnabled
+                ? 'Disable notifications for this conversation'
+                : 'Enable notifications for this conversation'
+            }
+          >
+            <Bell
+              className={`h-4 w-4 ${notificationsEnabled ? 'text-status-connected' : 'text-muted-foreground'}`}
+              fill={notificationsEnabled ? 'currentColor' : 'none'}
+              aria-hidden="true"
+            />
+            {notificationsEnabled && (
+              <span className="hidden md:inline text-[11px] font-medium text-status-connected">
+                Notifications On
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </button>
+        )}
         {conversation.type === 'channel' && onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride && (
           <button
             className="p-1 rounded hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
index 5def504..69dfafc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ConversationPane.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ interface ConversationPaneProps {
   rawPackets: RawPacket[];
   config: RadioConfig | null;
   health: HealthStatus | null;
+  notificationsSupported: boolean;
+  notificationsEnabled: boolean;
+  notificationsPermission: NotificationPermission | 'unsupported';
   favorites: Favorite[];
   messages: Message[];
   messagesLoading: boolean;
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ interface ConversationPaneProps {
   onLoadNewer: () => Promise<void>;
   onJumpToBottom: () => void;
   onSendMessage: (text: string) => Promise<void>;
+  onToggleNotifications: () => void;
 }
 
 function LoadingPane({ label }: { label: string }) {
@@ -69,6 +73,9 @@ export function ConversationPane({
   rawPackets,
   config,
   health,
+  notificationsSupported,
+  notificationsEnabled,
+  notificationsPermission,
   favorites,
   messages,
   messagesLoading,
@@ -92,6 +99,7 @@ export function ConversationPane({
   onLoadNewer,
   onJumpToBottom,
   onSendMessage,
+  onToggleNotifications,
 }: ConversationPaneProps) {
   const activeContactIsRepeater = useMemo(() => {
     if (!activeConversation || activeConversation.type !== 'contact') return false;
@@ -155,10 +163,14 @@ export function ConversationPane({
           conversation={activeConversation}
           contacts={contacts}
           favorites={favorites}
+          notificationsSupported={notificationsSupported}
+          notificationsEnabled={notificationsEnabled}
+          notificationsPermission={notificationsPermission}
           radioLat={config?.lat ?? null}
           radioLon={config?.lon ?? null}
           radioName={config?.name ?? null}
           onTrace={onTrace}
+          onToggleNotifications={onToggleNotifications}
           onToggleFavorite={onToggleFavorite}
           onDeleteContact={onDeleteContact}
         />
@@ -174,7 +186,11 @@ export function ConversationPane({
         channels={channels}
         config={config}
         favorites={favorites}
+        notificationsSupported={notificationsSupported}
+        notificationsEnabled={notificationsEnabled}
+        notificationsPermission={notificationsPermission}
         onTrace={onTrace}
+        onToggleNotifications={onToggleNotifications}
         onToggleFavorite={onToggleFavorite}
         onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride={onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride}
         onDeleteChannel={onDeleteChannel}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RepeaterDashboard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RepeaterDashboard.tsx
index 1982b68..8db61ae 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RepeaterDashboard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RepeaterDashboard.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { toast } from './ui/sonner';
 import { Button } from './ui/button';
-import { Route, Star, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Bell, Route, Star, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { RepeaterLogin } from './RepeaterLogin';
 import { useRepeaterDashboard } from '../hooks/useRepeaterDashboard';
 import { isFavorite } from '../utils/favorites';
@@ -25,10 +25,14 @@ interface RepeaterDashboardProps {
   conversation: Conversation;
   contacts: Contact[];
   favorites: Favorite[];
+  notificationsSupported: boolean;
+  notificationsEnabled: boolean;
+  notificationsPermission: NotificationPermission | 'unsupported';
   radioLat: number | null;
   radioLon: number | null;
   radioName: string | null;
   onTrace: () => void;
+  onToggleNotifications: () => void;
   onToggleFavorite: (type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string) => void;
   onDeleteContact: (publicKey: string) => void;
 }
@@ -37,10 +41,14 @@ export function RepeaterDashboard({
   conversation,
   contacts,
   favorites,
+  notificationsSupported,
+  notificationsEnabled,
+  notificationsPermission,
   radioLat,
   radioLon,
   radioName,
   onTrace,
+  onToggleNotifications,
   onToggleFavorite,
   onDeleteContact,
 }: RepeaterDashboardProps) {
@@ -120,6 +128,35 @@ export function RepeaterDashboard({
           >
             <Route className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
           </button>
+          {notificationsSupported && (
+            <button
+              className="flex items-center gap-1 rounded px-1 py-1 hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+              onClick={onToggleNotifications}
+              title={
+                notificationsEnabled
+                  ? 'Disable desktop notifications for this conversation'
+                  : notificationsPermission === 'denied'
+                    ? 'Notifications blocked by the browser'
+                    : 'Enable desktop notifications for this conversation'
+              }
+              aria-label={
+                notificationsEnabled
+                  ? 'Disable notifications for this conversation'
+                  : 'Enable notifications for this conversation'
+              }
+            >
+              <Bell
+                className={`h-4 w-4 ${notificationsEnabled ? 'text-status-connected' : 'text-muted-foreground'}`}
+                fill={notificationsEnabled ? 'currentColor' : 'none'}
+                aria-hidden="true"
+              />
+              {notificationsEnabled && (
+                <span className="hidden md:inline text-[11px] font-medium text-status-connected">
+                  Notifications On
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </button>
+          )}
           <button
             className="p-1 rounded hover:bg-accent text-lg leading-none transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
             onClick={() => onToggleFavorite('contact', conversation.id)}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/index.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/index.ts
index d6d1c94..571e07f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/index.ts
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ export { useContactsAndChannels } from './useContactsAndChannels';
 export { useRealtimeAppState } from './useRealtimeAppState';
 export { useConversationActions } from './useConversationActions';
 export { useConversationNavigation } from './useConversationNavigation';
+export { useBrowserNotifications } from './useBrowserNotifications';
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useBrowserNotifications.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useBrowserNotifications.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6951883
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useBrowserNotifications.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { toast } from '../components/ui/sonner';
+import type { Message } from '../types';
+import { getStateKey } from '../utils/conversationState';
+
+const STORAGE_KEY = 'meshcore_browser_notifications_enabled_by_conversation';
+const NOTIFICATION_ICON_PATH = '/apple-touch-icon.png';
+
+type NotificationPermissionState = NotificationPermission | 'unsupported';
+type ConversationNotificationMap = Record<string, boolean>;
+
+function getConversationNotificationKey(type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string): string {
+  return getStateKey(type, id);
+}
+
+function readStoredEnabledMap(): ConversationNotificationMap {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+    return {};
+  }
+  try {
+    const raw = window.localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY);
+    if (!raw) {
+      return {};
+    }
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as unknown;
+    if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== 'object') {
+      return {};
+    }
+    return Object.fromEntries(
+      Object.entries(parsed).filter(([key, value]) => typeof key === 'string' && value === true)
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+function writeStoredEnabledMap(enabledByConversation: ConversationNotificationMap) {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+    return;
+  }
+  window.localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(enabledByConversation));
+}
+
+function getInitialPermission(): NotificationPermissionState {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined' || !('Notification' in window)) {
+    return 'unsupported';
+  }
+  return window.Notification.permission;
+}
+
+function shouldShowDesktopNotification(): boolean {
+  if (typeof document === 'undefined') {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return document.visibilityState !== 'visible' || !document.hasFocus();
+}
+
+function getMessageConversationNotificationKey(message: Message): string | null {
+  if (message.type === 'PRIV' && message.conversation_key) {
+    return getConversationNotificationKey('contact', message.conversation_key);
+  }
+  if (message.type === 'CHAN' && message.conversation_key) {
+    return getConversationNotificationKey('channel', message.conversation_key);
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+function buildNotificationTitle(message: Message): string {
+  if (message.type === 'PRIV') {
+    return message.sender_name
+      ? `New message from ${message.sender_name}`
+      : `New message from ${message.conversation_key.slice(0, 12)}`;
+  }
+
+  const roomName = message.channel_name || message.conversation_key.slice(0, 8);
+  return `New message in ${roomName}`;
+}
+
+function buildPreviewNotificationTitle(type: 'channel' | 'contact', label: string): string {
+  return type === 'contact' ? `New message from ${label}` : `New message in ${label}`;
+}
+
+function buildMessageNotificationHash(message: Message): string | null {
+  if (message.type === 'PRIV' && message.conversation_key) {
+    const label = message.sender_name || message.conversation_key.slice(0, 12);
+    return `#contact/${encodeURIComponent(message.conversation_key)}/${encodeURIComponent(label)}`;
+  }
+  if (message.type === 'CHAN' && message.conversation_key) {
+    const label = message.channel_name || message.conversation_key.slice(0, 8);
+    return `#channel/${encodeURIComponent(message.conversation_key)}/${encodeURIComponent(label)}`;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function useBrowserNotifications() {
+  const [permission, setPermission] = useState<NotificationPermissionState>(getInitialPermission);
+  const [enabledByConversation, setEnabledByConversation] =
+    useState<ConversationNotificationMap>(readStoredEnabledMap);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setPermission(getInitialPermission());
+  }, []);
+
+  const isConversationNotificationsEnabled = useCallback(
+    (type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string) =>
+      permission === 'granted' &&
+      enabledByConversation[getConversationNotificationKey(type, id)] === true,
+    [enabledByConversation, permission]
+  );
+
+  const toggleConversationNotifications = useCallback(
+    async (type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string, label: string) => {
+      const conversationKey = getConversationNotificationKey(type, id);
+      if (enabledByConversation[conversationKey]) {
+        setEnabledByConversation((prev) => {
+          const next = { ...prev };
+          delete next[conversationKey];
+          writeStoredEnabledMap(next);
+          return next;
+        });
+        toast.success(`${label} notifications disabled`);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (permission === 'unsupported') {
+        toast.error('Browser notifications unavailable', {
+          description: 'This browser does not support desktop notifications.',
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (permission === 'denied') {
+        toast.error('Browser notifications blocked', {
+          description: 'Allow notifications in your browser settings, then try again.',
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const nextPermission = await window.Notification.requestPermission();
+      setPermission(nextPermission);
+
+      if (nextPermission === 'granted') {
+        setEnabledByConversation((prev) => {
+          const next = {
+            ...prev,
+            [conversationKey]: true,
+          };
+          writeStoredEnabledMap(next);
+          return next;
+        });
+        new window.Notification(buildPreviewNotificationTitle(type, label), {
+          body: 'Notifications will look like this. These require the tab to stay open, and will not be reliable on mobile.',
+          icon: NOTIFICATION_ICON_PATH,
+          tag: `meshcore-notification-preview-${conversationKey}`,
+        });
+        toast.success(`${label} notifications enabled`);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      toast.error('Browser notifications not enabled', {
+        description:
+          nextPermission === 'denied'
+            ? 'Permission was denied by the browser.'
+            : 'Permission request was dismissed.',
+      });
+    },
+    [enabledByConversation, permission]
+  );
+
+  const notifyIncomingMessage = useCallback(
+    (message: Message) => {
+      const conversationKey = getMessageConversationNotificationKey(message);
+      if (
+        permission !== 'granted' ||
+        !conversationKey ||
+        enabledByConversation[conversationKey] !== true ||
+        !shouldShowDesktopNotification()
+      ) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const notification = new window.Notification(buildNotificationTitle(message), {
+        body: message.text,
+        icon: NOTIFICATION_ICON_PATH,
+        tag: `meshcore-message-${message.id}`,
+      });
+
+      notification.onclick = () => {
+        const hash = buildMessageNotificationHash(message);
+        if (hash) {
+          window.open(`${window.location.origin}${window.location.pathname}${hash}`, '_self');
+        }
+        window.focus();
+        notification.close();
+      };
+    },
+    [enabledByConversation, permission]
+  );
+
+  return {
+    notificationsSupported: permission !== 'unsupported',
+    notificationsPermission: permission,
+    isConversationNotificationsEnabled,
+    toggleConversationNotifications,
+    notifyIncomingMessage,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useRealtimeAppState.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useRealtimeAppState.ts
index 122da47..eb61835 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useRealtimeAppState.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useRealtimeAppState.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ interface UseRealtimeAppStateArgs {
   pendingDeleteFallbackRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>;
   setActiveConversation: (conv: Conversation | null) => void;
   updateMessageAck: (messageId: number, ackCount: number, paths?: MessagePath[]) => void;
+  notifyIncomingMessage?: (msg: Message) => void;
   maxRawPackets?: number;
 }
 
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ export function useRealtimeAppState({
   pendingDeleteFallbackRef,
   setActiveConversation,
   updateMessageAck,
+  notifyIncomingMessage,
   maxRawPackets = 500,
 }: UseRealtimeAppStateArgs): UseWebSocketOptions {
   const mergeChannelIntoList = useCallback(
@@ -180,18 +182,19 @@ export function useRealtimeAppState({
           activeConversationRef.current,
           msg
         );
+        let isNewMessage = false;
 
         if (isForActiveConversation && !hasNewerMessagesRef.current) {
-          addMessageIfNew(msg);
+          isNewMessage = addMessageIfNew(msg);
         }
 
         trackNewMessage(msg);
 
         const contentKey = getMessageContentKey(msg);
         if (!isForActiveConversation) {
-          const isNew = messageCache.addMessage(msg.conversation_key, msg, contentKey);
+          isNewMessage = messageCache.addMessage(msg.conversation_key, msg, contentKey);
 
-          if (!msg.outgoing && isNew) {
+          if (!msg.outgoing && isNewMessage) {
             let stateKey: string | null = null;
             if (msg.type === 'CHAN' && msg.conversation_key) {
               stateKey = getStateKey('channel', msg.conversation_key);
@@ -203,6 +206,10 @@ export function useRealtimeAppState({
             }
           }
         }
+
+        if (!msg.outgoing && isNewMessage) {
+          notifyIncomingMessage?.(msg);
+        }
       },
       onContact: (contact: Contact) => {
         setContacts((prev) => mergeContactIntoList(prev, contact));
@@ -259,6 +266,7 @@ export function useRealtimeAppState({
       trackNewMessage,
       triggerReconcile,
       updateMessageAck,
+      notifyIncomingMessage,
     ]
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/chatHeaderKeyVisibility.test.tsx b/frontend/src/test/chatHeaderKeyVisibility.test.tsx
index 04952dc..8074164 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/chatHeaderKeyVisibility.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/test/chatHeaderKeyVisibility.test.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ const baseProps = {
   contacts: [],
   config: null,
   favorites: [] as Favorite[],
+  notificationsSupported: true,
+  notificationsEnabled: false,
+  notificationsPermission: 'granted' as const,
   onTrace: noop,
+  onToggleNotifications: noop,
   onToggleFavorite: noop,
   onSetChannelFloodScopeOverride: noop,
   onDeleteChannel: noop,
@@ -120,6 +124,26 @@ describe('ChatHeader key visibility', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText('Regional override active: Esperance')).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it('shows enabled notification state and toggles when clicked', () => {
+    const conversation: Conversation = { type: 'contact', id: '11'.repeat(32), name: 'Alice' };
+    const onToggleNotifications = vi.fn();
+
+    render(
+      <ChatHeader
+        {...baseProps}
+        conversation={conversation}
+        channels={[]}
+        notificationsEnabled
+        onToggleNotifications={onToggleNotifications}
+      />
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Notifications On'));
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Notifications On')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(onToggleNotifications).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
   it('prompts for regional override when globe button is clicked', () => {
     const key = 'CD'.repeat(16);
     const channel = makeChannel(key, '#flightless', true);
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/conversationPane.test.tsx b/frontend/src/test/conversationPane.test.tsx
index 9f35335..5e62899 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/conversationPane.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/test/conversationPane.test.tsx
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ function createProps(overrides: Partial<React.ComponentProps<typeof Conversation
     rawPackets: [],
     config,
     health,
+    notificationsSupported: true,
+    notificationsEnabled: false,
+    notificationsPermission: 'granted' as const,
     favorites: [] as Favorite[],
     messages: [message],
     messagesLoading: false,
@@ -122,6 +125,7 @@ function createProps(overrides: Partial<React.ComponentProps<typeof Conversation
     onLoadNewer: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     onJumpToBottom: vi.fn(),
     onSendMessage: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    onToggleNotifications: vi.fn(),
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/repeaterDashboard.test.tsx b/frontend/src/test/repeaterDashboard.test.tsx
index 797b070..5cb5b1f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/repeaterDashboard.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/test/repeaterDashboard.test.tsx
@@ -99,10 +99,14 @@ const defaultProps = {
   conversation,
   contacts,
   favorites,
+  notificationsSupported: true,
+  notificationsEnabled: false,
+  notificationsPermission: 'granted' as const,
   radioLat: null,
   radioLon: null,
   radioName: null,
   onTrace: vi.fn(),
+  onToggleNotifications: vi.fn(),
   onToggleFavorite: vi.fn(),
   onDeleteContact: vi.fn(),
 };
@@ -190,6 +194,21 @@ describe('RepeaterDashboard', () => {
     expect(mockHook.loadAll).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
+  it('shows enabled notification state and toggles when clicked', () => {
+    render(
+      <RepeaterDashboard
+        {...defaultProps}
+        notificationsEnabled
+        onToggleNotifications={defaultProps.onToggleNotifications}
+      />
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Notifications On'));
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Notifications On')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(defaultProps.onToggleNotifications).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
   it('shows login error when present', () => {
     mockHook.loginError = 'Invalid password';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/useBrowserNotifications.test.ts b/frontend/src/test/useBrowserNotifications.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00eb4ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/test/useBrowserNotifications.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import { act, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { useBrowserNotifications } from '../hooks/useBrowserNotifications';
+import type { Message } from '../types';
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  toast: {
+    success: vi.fn(),
+    error: vi.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+vi.mock('../components/ui/sonner', () => ({
+  toast: mocks.toast,
+}));
+
+const incomingChannelMessage: Message = {
+  id: 42,
+  type: 'CHAN',
+  conversation_key: 'ab'.repeat(16),
+  text: 'hello room',
+  sender_timestamp: 1700000000,
+  received_at: 1700000001,
+  paths: null,
+  txt_type: 0,
+  signature: null,
+  sender_key: 'cd'.repeat(32),
+  outgoing: false,
+  acked: 0,
+  sender_name: 'Alice',
+  channel_name: '#flightless',
+};
+
+describe('useBrowserNotifications', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    window.localStorage.clear();
+    window.location.hash = '';
+    vi.spyOn(window, 'open').mockReturnValue(null);
+
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'visibilityState', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: 'hidden',
+    });
+    vi.spyOn(document, 'hasFocus').mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    const NotificationMock = vi.fn().mockImplementation(function (this: Record<string, unknown>) {
+      this.close = vi.fn();
+      this.onclick = null;
+    });
+    Object.assign(NotificationMock, {
+      permission: 'granted',
+      requestPermission: vi.fn(async () => 'granted'),
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(window, 'Notification', {
+      configurable: true,
+      value: NotificationMock,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('stores notification opt-in per conversation', async () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBrowserNotifications());
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.toggleConversationNotifications(
+        'channel',
+        incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key,
+        '#flightless'
+      );
+    });
+
+    expect(
+      result.current.isConversationNotificationsEnabled(
+        'channel',
+        incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key
+      )
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.current.isConversationNotificationsEnabled('contact', 'ef'.repeat(32))).toBe(
+      false
+    );
+    expect(window.Notification).toHaveBeenCalledWith('New message in #flightless', {
+      body: 'Notifications will look like this. These require the tab to stay open, and will not be reliable on mobile.',
+      icon: '/apple-touch-icon.png',
+      tag: `meshcore-notification-preview-channel-${incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key}`,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('only sends desktop notifications for opted-in conversations', async () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBrowserNotifications());
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.toggleConversationNotifications(
+        'channel',
+        incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key,
+        '#flightless'
+      );
+    });
+
+    act(() => {
+      result.current.notifyIncomingMessage(incomingChannelMessage);
+      result.current.notifyIncomingMessage({
+        ...incomingChannelMessage,
+        id: 43,
+        conversation_key: '34'.repeat(16),
+        channel_name: '#elsewhere',
+      });
+    });
+
+    expect(window.Notification).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(window.Notification).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, 'New message in #flightless', {
+      body: 'hello room',
+      icon: '/apple-touch-icon.png',
+      tag: 'meshcore-message-42',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('notification click deep-links to the conversation hash', async () => {
+    const focusSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'focus').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBrowserNotifications());
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.toggleConversationNotifications(
+        'channel',
+        incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key,
+        '#flightless'
+      );
+    });
+
+    act(() => {
+      result.current.notifyIncomingMessage(incomingChannelMessage);
+    });
+
+    const notificationInstance = (window.Notification as unknown as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mock
+      .instances[1] as {
+      onclick: (() => void) | null;
+      close: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+    };
+
+    act(() => {
+      notificationInstance.onclick?.();
+    });
+
+    expect(window.open).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      `${window.location.origin}${window.location.pathname}#channel/${incomingChannelMessage.conversation_key}/%23flightless`,
+      '_self'
+    );
+    expect(focusSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(notificationInstance.close).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/useRealtimeAppState.test.ts b/frontend/src/test/useRealtimeAppState.test.ts
index 63beaf8..f723f08 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/useRealtimeAppState.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/test/useRealtimeAppState.test.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ function createRealtimeArgs(overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof useRealtimeAppS
       pendingDeleteFallbackRef: { current: false },
       setActiveConversation: vi.fn(),
       updateMessageAck: vi.fn(),
+      notifyIncomingMessage: vi.fn(),
       ...overrides,
     },
     fns: {
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ describe('useRealtimeAppState', () => {
       `contact-${incomingDm.conversation_key}`,
       true
     );
+    expect(args.notifyIncomingMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(incomingDm);
   });
 
   it('deleting the active contact clears it and marks fallback recovery pending', () => {