Notification Logger - User Manual

1. Introduction

Welcome to Notification Logger! This manual will guide you through the features and functionality of the application.

Notification Logger is a powerful tool for Windows 10/11 that creates a persistent history of all your notifications. Whether you've accidentally dismissed an important alert or need to find a specific message from days ago, this app has you covered.

2. Getting Started

Installation

Notification Logger can be installed from the Microsoft Store.

Permissions

For the app to function, it needs permission to access your Windows notifications. Upon first launch, you may be prompted, or you can set it manually:

Windows Notification Settings
  1. Go to Windows Settings.
  2. Navigate to Privacy & security > Notifications.
  3. Ensure "Allow apps to access your notifications" is toggled On.
  4. In the list of apps, find Notification Logger and toggle it On.

Once enabled, the app will immediately begin logging all new incoming notifications.

3. The Main Window

The main window is where you'll interact with your notification history. It consists of a powerful grid view with several key components:

  • Search Bar: Quickly find notifications by typing keywords. The search covers the content of all your logged notifications.
  • Filters: Filter by app name, notification text, date and time, and ID to find needed information faster.
  • Notification Grid: This is the central part of the app, displaying your notifications. You can see the sending application, the notification title, the content, and the date it was received.
  • Favorites: A column or icon (e.g., a star) allows you to mark specific notifications as favorites for easy access later.
  • Toolbar: Contains buttons for key actions like Refresh, Export, Settings, and filtering for Favorites.

4. Key Features

4.1. Searching and Filtering

You can instantly find any notification using the Search Bar at the top. For more advanced filtering, you can use the date range selector to only show notifications from a specific period.

4.2. Grouping Notifications

To better organize your view, you can group notifications. Click on a "Group" button, and this will collapse your notifications into expandable groups, making it easy to see all notifications from a single app.

4.3. Favorites

If you receive a notification you know you'll need later, mark it as a Favorite. You can then click the "Favorites" filter button in the toolbar to instantly see only your starred notifications. Favorite notifications will never be deleted in the future. If you want to delete a favorite notification, you need to unfavorite it first.

4.4. Exporting Your History

You can export your notification history for backup or analysis.

  1. Click the Export button in the toolbar.
  2. An "Export" dialog will appear. You can press the Copy button to save the exported CSV file path to the clipboard.
  3. Click Save.

5. Settings

You can access the settings by clicking the Settings (gear) icon. Here you can configure:

  • Language: Switch between one of the 15 world's most popular languages.
  • Theme: Switch between a light and dark theme to match your preference.
  • Auto-refresh: If enabled, the notification grid will be refreshed automatically in the specified amount of seconds. If not, please use the Refresh button to update the notifications grid.
  • Regular expressions: The option enables regular expressions filtering in the Search Bar.
  • Copy cell text to clipboard: This option enables text copying to the clipboard on cell double-click.
  • Data Retention: Set the number of days you want to keep notification history in the "Clean notification older than __ days" field. Please note that notifications marked as favorites will never be deleted.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Notification Logger?
A: Notification Logger is a Windows 10/11 application that automatically saves all your system and application notifications. It allows you to view, search, and manage your notification history, so you never miss important information again.
Q: Does Notification Logger work on my computer?
A: Notification Logger supports Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Q: Is Notification Logger secure and private?
A: Yes. Your privacy is a top priority. All notification data is stored locally on your device in an internal database. The app does not collect or transmit your data anywhere.
Q: How do I install Notification Logger?
A: You can download and install Notification Logger directly from the Microsoft Store.
Q: I've installed the app, but the notification list is empty. How can I fix this?
A: You need to grant Notification Logger permission to access your notifications. In Windows 10/11, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Notifications. Ensure "Allow apps to access your notifications" is turned On. Then, in the list below, find Notification Logger and make sure it is also turned On. New notifications will start appearing in the app after this is enabled.
Q: Can I see notifications that I received *before* I installed the app?
A: No, Notification Logger can only save and display notifications that arrive *after* it has been installed and granted the necessary permissions. It cannot recover a history of past notifications.
Q: Will I be able to see a notification in the app even if I dismiss it from the Windows Action Center?
A: Yes, absolutely! That is the primary purpose of the app. Once a notification is captured by Notification Logger, it remains in your history regardless of whether you dismiss it from the Windows Action Center.
Q: Does the app need to be running all the time to work?
A: No, Notification Logger works in the background to catch notifications, even if you have closed the application.
Q: How long does the app store my notifications?
A: By default, the app stores notifications for a set period. You can configure this duration in the app's settings. The default retention period is 14 days, but you can adjust it to your needs.
Q: What does the "Group" feature do?
A: The "Group" feature allows you to organize your notification history by the application that sent them. This makes it easier to navigate and find specific types of notifications.
Q: How do I use "Favorites"?
A: You can mark important notifications as "Favorites". This provides a quick way to filter your list and view only the notifications that you have flagged as important, so you can easily find them later without having to search. Additionally, notifications flagged as important are stored indefinitely and cannot be deleted.
Q: Can I change the location where exported csv files are saved?
A: No, but when you choose to export your notifications, the application will open an "Export" dialog box where you can see and copy a folder on your computer where notifications will be exported in CSV format.
Q: Can Notification Logger re-display my old notifications as new pop-ups?
A: No. Notification Logger is designed to be a historical log for you to review past notifications. It does not re-issue or re-create pop-up alerts for notifications it has already logged.

Thank you for using Notification Logger!