Push notification content

Send push notifications to your App channel.

See also the Push notifications feature guide.

Creating content

When creating messages, you configure its appearance in the Content step. In the Delivery step, you can configure content-related features that do not affect the appearance of the message.

Silent push notifications do not have visual content. In the Content step, click Silent Push Notification, then click Delivery in the header and complete the remaining steps in the composer.

The remainder of this section applies to regular push notifications.


In the Content step, click Push Notification then Add content:

Now you can configure the body of the message:

  1. Enter the message text. If you are using HandlebarsHandlebars is Airship’s templating language for personalization. Handlebars expressions use double curly braces wrapped around a content template, ranging from a simple variable, e.g., {{first_name}}, to complex evaluations of personalization data., you can test how the content will appear. See Previewing personalized content.

  2. Select an ActionA configurable behavior that occurs when a user interacts with your message, e.g., opening a web page.:

    • Home
    • Message Center
    • Landing Page
    • Deep Link
    • Adaptive Link
    • Web Page
    • Share
  3. (Optional) Set and/or remove tags when the user interacts with your message.

    1. Click Configure options.
    2. Select Add tag or Remove tag, then search for tags that exist in the system, or create a new tag.
    3. (Optional) Click Configure another option and repeat the previous step.
     Tip

    Setting one or more tags when a user interacts with a message can help you track user interactions for follow-on retargeting campaigns. For example, if you set a tag responded-campaign1, you can target users bearing the responded-campaign1 tag with another message at a later date, knowing that they are active users. Alternatively, you can re-engage users with this tag using an automated message if they are inactive for a period of time.

  4. (Optional)iOS SDK 20+Android SDK 20+ Emit a custom event when the user interacts with your message. You can select an existing event or name a new one.

    You can also assign an event value and specify string, number, or boolean property values that you can use later when filtering Custom Events. If you want to use properties, you must define the event and its properties in your project in advance. See Manage Events.

    1. Select Configure options.
    2. Under Options, select Emit custom event and search for an event. If no result is found, select Use <event name> to add the event to your project.
    3. (Optional) Set an event value and/or specify property values to filter by in segments and triggers:
      1. Select Add event properties, then:
        • For a value, select Add event value and enter a numeric value for the event.
        • For properties, select Add property, then Search for properties, and then search for a string, number, or boolean event property and enter or select a value.
      2. Select Save.
  5. Configure optional features:

Now you are ready to complete the remaining steps in the composer.

Media

Enter a URL to add media to your notifications. See also Media guidelines.

If using a personalized media URL for an App push notification, you must specify the media type after entering the URL:

 Note

When you enable both the iOS platform and one or more of Android and Fire OS, and you do not enter a static image in the initial URL field, a Static Image field is added to the media settings. Enter a URL, or use the Upload option.

If your Airship plan includes CDN support, you can also upload media or select from previously uploaded media:

  1. Select Upload and click Insert Media.
    1. (To use an existing file) Select a file row.
    2. (To upload media) Select Choose files and then and select one or more files to upload.
    3. (Optional for uploaded media) Select each uploaded file and add or edit keywords to help organize your media. Enter text in the search field below the preview, and then select from returned matches or select Add keyword: [entered text]. Select the X icon to remove a keyword. Changes are applied immediately.
    4. (Required for uploaded media) Select the file you want use, then Insert selected media.

    For additional information, see Media library.

    Summary

    Add a summary line as supplemental text displayed with the notification.

    • iOS: The summary appears below the push notification title.
    • Android and Fire OS: The summary appears below the main notification text in most cases. This is the only visible text other than the title when Android Picture is visible in expanded mode, as the main notification text is suppressed.

    Title

    Enter a title to create a heading that appears above the notification text in:

    • iOS Notification Center
    • Apple Watch Looks
    • Android and Fire OS Notification Area/Drawer

    Default notification character limits

    The following tables outline the maximum character counts for default notification display.

    iOS

    DeviceDisplayLock screen PortraitLock screen LandscapeNotification CenterBanner styleAlert view
    iPhone 14 Pro Max6.7 in (170 mm)
    2796 x 1290 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 14 Pro6.1 in (154 mm)
    2556 x 1179 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 146.1 in (154 mm)
    2532 x 1170 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 14 Plus6.7 in (170 mm)
    2778 x 1284 px at 458 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 13 Pro Max6.7 in (170 mm)
    2778 x 1284 px at 458 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 13 Pro6 in (152 mm)
    2532 x 1170 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 136.1 in (152 mm)
    2340 x 1080 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 13 mini5.4 in (127 mm)
    2340 x 1080 px at 476 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 12 Pro Max
    6.6 in (169 mm)
    2532 × 1170 px at 470 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 12 Pro
    6.6 in (169 mm)
    2532 × 1170 px at 470 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 126 in (154 mm)
    2532 x 1170 px at 460 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 12 mini5.4 in (137 mm)
    2340 x 1080 px at 476 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone SE
    (2nd generation)
    4.7 in (119 mm)
    1334 × 750 px at 326 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 11 Pro Max6.4 in (164 mm)
    2688 x 1242 px at 458 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 11 Pro5.8 in (148 mm)
    2436 x 1125 px at 458 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 116 in (154 mm)
    1792 x 828 px at 326 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone XS Max6.5 in (165 mm)
    2688 x 1242 px at 458 ppi
    150 charsn/a150 charsn/an/a
    iPhone 6/6S/7 Plus5.5 in (140 mm)
    1920 x 1080 px at 401 ppi
    156 charsn/a156 chars98 chars1,283 chars,
    scroll for more
    iPhone 6/6S/74.7 in (120 mm)
    1334 x 750 px at 326 ppi
    148 charsn/a148 chars89 chars1,217 chars,
    scroll for more
    iPhone 5/5C/5S
    iPod touch
    (5th/6th generation)
    4 in (100 mm)
    1136 x 640 px at 326 ppi
    119 charsn/a119 chars74 chars1,013 chars, no scroll
    iPhone 4/4S
    iPod touch (4th generation, A1367)
    3.5 in (89 mm)
    960 x 640 px at 326 ppi
    114 charsn/a166 chars43 chars153 chars, no scroll
    iPad Air (3rd generation)10.5 in (267 mm)
    2224 x 1668 px at 264 ppi
    220 charsn/a220 charsn/an/a
    iPad mini (1st generation, A1432)7.9 in (200 mm)
    1024 x 768 px at 163 ppi
    211 chars220 chars229 chars124 charsPortrait: 1,957 chars, Landscape: 1,417 chars

    Android

    DeviceDisplayLock screen PortraitLock screen LandscapeNotification drawer
    Default notification
    Big text style
    Notification drawer
    System notification
    Nexus 9 tablet8.9 in (230 mm)
    2048 x 1536 px at 287 ppi
    44 chars44 chars536 chars44 chars
    Nexus 7 tablet 2013 version7.02 (178 mm)
    1920 x 1200 px at 323 ppi
    42 charsn/a509 chars42 chars
    Nexus 6P phone5.7 in (140 mm)
    1440 x 2560 px at 518 ppi
    37 charsn/a444 chars37 chars
    Nexus 5X phone5.2 in (130 mm)
    1080 x 1920 px at 423 ppi
    46 charsn/a562 chars46 chars
    Nexus 6 phone5.96 in (151 mm)
    1440 x 2560 px at 493 ppi
    37 charsn/a444 chars37 chars
    Nexus 5 phone4.95 in (126 mm)
    1080 x 1920 px at 445 ppi
    37 charsn/a444 chars37 chars
    Nexus 4 phone4.7 in (120 mm)
    768 x 1280 px at 320 ppi
    40 charsn/a482 chars40 chars