How away alerts bring participants back

When a participant has switched to another tab or window, Signal plays a sound and changes their browser tab icon so they notice the moment you post something for them.

When to use it: This happens automatically. It’s useful to know so you can rely on it when you send a comment, ask a question, or open a check-in and want everyone’s eyes back on the session.

What happens

1. You post a comment, broadcast a question, or open a check-in or poll/quiz while your session is running.
2. Any participant who has clicked away hears a short two-note chime.
3. Their browser tab icon changes to the Signal icon with a red bell badge and pulses to catch their eye.
4. Their tab title also shows a count, like (2), of how many items are waiting.
5. When they come back to the tab, the alert clears, except a required check-in or quiz, which keeps nudging until they answer it.

Tip: There’s no setting to switch this on or off. It runs on its own. It only fires when a participant’s tab is in the background or their window isn’t focused; someone actively watching the session won’t be interrupted.

Screenshot: a background browser tab showing the badged Signal favicon and a “(1)” count in the tab title.