I want my android to go nuts if I get email from a specific sender

April 16, 2023 10:38 AM

I use the Gmail app on android. I want to set it up so basically an alarm goes off if I get an email from a specific sender (possibly with trigger words in subject). I don't just want a pop-up notification, I want like the amber alert/tprnado alarm to go off and I want that to happen even if the volume was down. Can I make this happen? How?
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Technology (6 answers total)

Perhaps this IFTTT action with this trigger?
posted by pyro979 at 11:25 AM on April 16, 2023

Response by poster: IFTTT has a delay from trigger to action because it only checks for the trigger every x minutes (x can be as high as 15). I need to know IMMEDIATELY which is why I want to set up an alarm instead of just noticing the next time I look at my phone.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:18 PM on April 16, 2023

could Tasker (automation app available in the Play store) do this for you?
posted by The Vice Admiral of the Narrow Seas at 12:32 PM on April 16, 2023

For Android using Gmail:

1. create a filter for that specific sender in the browser version of Gmail, not the app. To create a universal filter:
   1. highlight a message from the special sender
   2. then click on the 3-dots on the right
   3. select "Filter similar messages".
   4. At the bottom, select "Create filter with this search". Check "Apply the label", then "Choose Label" and then "New label"
   5. Give it a name, click OK. and finally click on "Create Filter".



2. In the Gmail app,
   1. tap on the upper left corner and then on Settings
   2. Select the email account where you're receiving these important emails
   3. ensure Notifications is checked
   4. Scroll down and hit "Manage labels"
   5. select the label you created for the special sender, and then enable "Label notifications" and "Notify for every message".
   6. It may ask you to sync - you can choose 30 days from the list or whatever you prefer
   7. Next is the notification screen: tap on the "Label notifications"
   8. Here you can customize the actual alert sound, vibrate and here you can finally enable the phone to play sound/vibrate when each new message arrives.
   When you back out of this menu check the other labels for if notifications are not turned on. For example, "notify once" might appear under the label, and by default your primary inbox is synced to notify.

posted by zenon at 1:00 PM on April 16, 2023 [5 favorites]

Buzzkill
posted by 0bvious at 5:04 PM on April 16, 2023

One more thing to add to zenon's advice, you should change the app's battery usage. Android will restrict some apps' background usage, and this could lead to delayed email delivery.

(This is for a Pixel 6a, your settings may vary a bit)

Settings>Apps>See all apps>Gmail>App Battery Usage> Choose Unrestricted
posted by wile e at 11:37 PM on April 16, 2023 [1 favorite]