PushPulse Desktop App
Getting Started with the PushPulse Desktop App
The PushPulse desktop app is a lightweight application for receiving and triggering emergency alerts directly from your Windows or Mac computer. It runs quietly in the background and is ready the moment an alert comes in — no browser tab to keep open, no page to refresh. This guide covers installing it, signing in, and using it day to day.
Before you start
You'll need:
A PushPulse account. Desktop access is included on all plans.
A supported operating system:
Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
macOS macOS 11+ (Big Sur) or later, on either Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) or Intel
What you're able to do in the app depends on your role — see What your role can do below. Receiving and acknowledging alerts is available to everyone; sending and managing alerts requires specific roles.
Step 1 — Download the app
Go to the PushPulse download page at https://pushpulse.com/download. The page detects your operating system and highlights the right download automatically. You can still choose manually if you're installing for a different machine.
Choosing the right Mac version. Macs come in two types that need different installers. If you're not sure which you have:
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Choose About This Mac.
Look at the chip line: if it says Apple M1/M2/M3/M4 choose Apple Silicon; if it says Intel choose Intel.
Windows users have a single download — click Download for Windows.
Step 2 — Install the app
Windows
Open the downloaded
.exefile from your browser or your Downloads folder.The installer will offer a few options, including the install location and whether to create a desktop shortcut. We recommend accepting the defaults.
When it finishes, PushPulse opens and is ready to sign in.
macOS
Open the downloaded
.dmgfile.Drag the PushPulse icon into your Applications folder.
Open PushPulse from Applications or Launchpad.
Step 3 — Sign in
Enter your PushPulse email address and password, then sign in. If you've forgotten your password, use the Forgot password link on the sign-in screen to reset it.
Finding your way around
When you open PushPulse, you land on your alert feed — a running list of alerts for your location. Each alert shows its severity (such as High or Critical), a color-coded marker, when it was sent, and a short preview. Alerts that need your confirmation show a prompt.
The shield icon in the top-right is how you trigger an alert, and the gear icon opens Settings.
Receiving and acknowledging alerts
When an alert is sent to you, the desktop app brings it to your attention right away, even if it's running in the background. How an alert appears on screen — full screen, a banner, a toast, or a ticker — depends on how your organization has configured that alert, so what you see may vary between alerts.
Responding. Many alerts ask you to respond, and the response can take two forms, depending on how your administrator set up that alert:
A simple acknowledgement — confirming you've seen it. These show a Please Confirm - Acknowledge prompt; select it to let the sender know you've received the alert.
A choice between answers — for example, Safe or Not Safe. Select the option that applies to you, and your response is sent back so the sender knows your status.
Some alerts don't require any response at all. Whether an alert asks for a simple acknowledgement, a choice of answers, or nothing is decided by your administrator for each alert.
Opening an alert. Select any alert to see its full details — the complete message, where it came from, who sent it, and when. From here you can respond, and depending on your role, add a note, post a status update, or resolve it.
Triggering an alert
If you need to send an emergency alert from your computer:
Click the red shield icon in the top-right corner.
Confirm your location. The app shows your current location at the top — use Change if you need to send for a different one.
Add any additional details in the text box if applicable. This is optional.
Choose your alert template by clicking it (for example, a configured template button). This starts the send.
A countdown protects against accidental sends. After you choose a template, PushPulse shows a short countdown before the alert goes out. You can click SEND NOW to send immediately, or CANCEL NOTIFICATION to stop it. The alert isn't sent until the countdown finishes or you confirm.
Drills vs. active alerts. If you're a location or global admin, you can choose between sending an Active Alert and a Drill before sending. Other roles send active alerts only.
What your role can do
PushPulse uses roles to control who can send and manage alerts. Receiving alerts and responding to them — whether that's a simple acknowledgement or choosing an answer like Safe / Not Safe — is available to everyone, including the User role. The actions below require a higher role:
Receive and respond to alerts
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Trigger an alert
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Add a note to an alert
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Post a status update
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Resolve an alert
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Choose Drill vs. Active when sending
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If a button described in this guide isn't visible to you, it most likely isn't available for your role. You can check your role anytime in Settings.
Settings
Open Settings with the gear icon in the top-right. From here you can:
See your name, email, and role.
Auto Launch on Startup — have PushPulse open automatically when your computer starts (recommended, so you're always ready to receive alerts).
Dark Mode — switch between light and dark appearance.
Play Sounds for Alerts and Volume — control whether and how loudly alerts sound.
Override System Volume for Critical Alerts — let critical alerts play at full volume even if your computer is muted or turned down.
Quit or Log out.
Your app version is shown at the bottom of Settings — useful to have on hand if you contact support.
Staying ready
Because PushPulse is an emergency tool, it's most effective when it's always running:
Turn on Auto Launch on Startup (in Settings) so the app opens with your computer.
Keep it running in the background while you work.
Leave sounds on, and consider enabling Override System Volume for Critical Alerts so an urgent alert can reach you even if your volume is down.
Updates
The PushPulse desktop app keeps itself up to date, but you stay in control of when an update is applied — so an update can never interrupt you during an active situation.
Here's how it works:
When a new version is available, it downloads quietly in the background. You don't need to revisit the download page or reinstall anything.
Once it's downloaded, an Update available banner appears at the top of the app letting you know a new version is ready to install, along with a Restart button.
You choose when to install it. Click Restart when you're ready, and the app restarts on the new version. Until you do, you keep working on your current version with no interruption.
Because installing requires you to click Restart, an update will never restart the app on its own — including during an active alert. You decide the moment it's safe to apply.
Troubleshooting
I'm not receiving alerts.
Make sure the app is open and you're signed in.
Check that your computer is connected to the internet.
Confirm Play Sounds for Alerts is on and your Volume is up in Settings if you're not hearing them.
I'm not hearing critical alerts when my computer is muted.
Turn on Override System Volume for Critical Alerts in Settings.
The app won't open or closed unexpectedly.
Reopen the app. If it continues, reinstall the latest version from https://pushpulse.com/download.
An update doesn't seem to apply.
Fully quit and reopen the app to let a downloaded update install.
Still need help? Contact PushPulse support at https://pushpulse.com/contact.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the desktop app if I already have the mobile app? They work well together — the desktop app is ideal when you're at a computer, and mobile keeps you reachable when you're away from your desk. Many users run both.
Does the desktop app work offline? PushPulse needs an internet connection to send and receive alerts in real time.
Can I change which location I send alerts for? Yes — when triggering an alert, use Change next to the location to select a different one (subject to your role and assigned locations).
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