Merge pull request #45866 from NousResearch/bb/desktop-notifications

feat(desktop): native OS notifications with per-type toggles

apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs

@@ -5609,11 +5609,30 @@ ipcMain.handle('hermes:api', async (_event, request) => {
 
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:notify', (_event, payload) => {
   if (!Notification.isSupported()) return false
-  new Notification({
+  // Action buttons render only on signed macOS builds; elsewhere they're dropped
+  // and the body click still works.
+  const actions = Array.isArray(payload?.actions) ? payload.actions : []
+  const notification = new Notification({
     title: payload?.title || 'Hermes',
     body: payload?.body || '',
-    silent: Boolean(payload?.silent)
-  }).show()
+    silent: Boolean(payload?.silent),
+    actions: actions.map(action => ({ type: 'button', text: String(action?.text || '') }))
+  })
+  notification.on('click', () => {
+    if (!mainWindow || mainWindow.isDestroyed()) return
+    focusWindow(mainWindow)
+    if (payload?.sessionId) {
+      mainWindow.webContents.send('hermes:focus-session', payload.sessionId)
+    }
+  })
+  notification.on('action', (_actionEvent, index) => {
+    if (!mainWindow || mainWindow.isDestroyed()) return
+    const action = actions[index]
+    if (action?.id) {
+      mainWindow.webContents.send('hermes:notification-action', { sessionId: payload?.sessionId, actionId: action.id })
+    }
+  })
+  notification.show()
   return true
 })
 

apps/desktop/electron/preload.cjs

@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('hermesDesktop', {
     ipcRenderer.on('hermes:window-state-changed', listener)
     return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('hermes:window-state-changed', listener)
   },
+  onFocusSession: callback => {
+    const listener = (_event, sessionId) => callback(sessionId)
+    ipcRenderer.on('hermes:focus-session', listener)
+    return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('hermes:focus-session', listener)
+  },
+  onNotificationAction: callback => {
+    const listener = (_event, payload) => callback(payload)
+    ipcRenderer.on('hermes:notification-action', listener)
+    return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('hermes:notification-action', listener)
+  },
   onPreviewFileChanged: callback => {
     const listener = (_event, payload) => callback(payload)
     ipcRenderer.on('hermes:preview-file-changed', listener)

apps/desktop/src/app/desktop-controller.tsx

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import {
   SIDEBAR_SESSIONS_PAGE_SIZE,
   unpinSession
 } from '../store/layout'
+import { respondToApprovalAction } from '../store/native-notifications'
 import { $filePreviewTarget, $previewTarget, closeActiveRightRailTab } from '../store/preview'
 import {
   $activeGatewayProfile,
@@ -269,6 +270,26 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     }
   }, [])
 
+  // Notification click: the main process already focused the window; jump to its session.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubscribe = window.hermesDesktop?.onFocusSession?.(sessionId => {
+      if (sessionId) {
+        navigate(sessionRoute(sessionId))
+      }
+    })
+
+    return () => unsubscribe?.()
+  }, [navigate])
+
+  // Notification action button (Approve/Reject) — resolve in place, no navigation.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubscribe = window.hermesDesktop?.onNotificationAction?.(({ actionId, sessionId }) => {
+      void respondToApprovalAction(sessionId ?? null, actionId)
+    })
+
+    return () => unsubscribe?.()
+  }, [])
+
   // hermes:// deep links (e.g. a docs "Send to App" button for an automation blueprint).
   // Build the equivalent /blueprint slash command from the payload and drop
   // it into the composer — the user reviews/edits, then sends; the agent (or

apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-message-stream.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { QueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { type MutableRefObject, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
 
 import { readActiveTerminal } from '@/app/right-sidebar/terminal/buffer'
+import { translateNow } from '@/i18n'
 import {
   appendAssistantTextPart,
   appendReasoningPart,
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ import { parseTodos } from '@/lib/todos'
 import { setClarifyRequest } from '@/store/clarify'
 import { refreshBackgroundProcesses } from '@/store/composer-status'
 import { $gateway } from '@/store/gateway'
+import { dispatchNativeNotification } from '@/store/native-notifications'
 import { notify } from '@/store/notifications'
 import { requestDesktopOnboarding } from '@/store/onboarding'
 import { clearAllPrompts, setApprovalRequest, setSecretRequest, setSudoRequest } from '@/store/prompts'
@@ -641,14 +643,14 @@ export function useMessageStream({
         void hydrateFromStoredSession(3, completedState.storedSessionId, sessionId)
       }
 
-      if (document.hidden && sessionId === activeSessionIdRef.current) {
-        void window.hermesDesktop?.notify({
-          title: 'Hermes finished',
-          body: text.slice(0, 140) || 'The response is ready.'
-        })
-      }
+      dispatchNativeNotification({
+        body: text.slice(0, 140) || translateNow('notifications.native.turnDoneBody'),
+        kind: 'turnDone',
+        sessionId,
+        title: translateNow('notifications.native.turnDoneTitle')
+      })
     },
-    [activeSessionIdRef, hydrateFromStoredSession, refreshSessions, updateSessionState]
+    [hydrateFromStoredSession, refreshSessions, updateSessionState]
   )
 
   const failAssistantMessage = useCallback(
@@ -957,6 +959,13 @@ export function useMessageStream({
           if (sessionId) {
             updateSessionState(sessionId, state => ({ ...state, needsInput: true }))
           }
+
+          dispatchNativeNotification({
+            body: question,
+            kind: 'input',
+            sessionId,
+            title: translateNow('notifications.native.inputTitle')
+          })
         }
       } else if (event.type === 'approval.request') {
         // Dangerous-command / execute_code approval. The Python side is blocked
@@ -965,17 +974,31 @@ export function useMessageStream({
         // Park it per-session (like clarify) so a *background* profile's turn can
         // raise it and wait — the sidebar flags "needs input" and the inline bar
         // surfaces once the user focuses that chat.
+        const command = typeof payload?.command === 'string' ? payload.command : ''
+        const description = typeof payload?.description === 'string' ? payload.description : 'dangerous command'
+
         setApprovalRequest({
           // false only when a tirith warning forbids it; backend omits the field otherwise.
           allowPermanent: payload?.allow_permanent !== false,
-          command: typeof payload?.command === 'string' ? payload.command : '',
-          description: typeof payload?.description === 'string' ? payload.description : 'dangerous command',
+          command,
+          description,
           sessionId: sessionId ?? null
         })
 
         if (sessionId) {
           updateSessionState(sessionId, state => ({ ...state, needsInput: true }))
         }
+
+        dispatchNativeNotification({
+          actions: [
+            { id: 'approve', text: translateNow('notifications.native.approveAction') },
+            { id: 'reject', text: translateNow('notifications.native.rejectAction') }
+          ],
+          body: command || description,
+          kind: 'approval',
+          sessionId,
+          title: translateNow('notifications.native.approvalTitle')
+        })
       } else if (event.type === 'sudo.request') {
         // Sudo password capture (tools/terminal_tool.py). Blocked on
         // sudo.respond {request_id, password}.
@@ -987,6 +1010,13 @@ export function useMessageStream({
           if (sessionId) {
             updateSessionState(sessionId, state => ({ ...state, needsInput: true }))
           }
+
+          dispatchNativeNotification({
+            body: translateNow('notifications.native.inputBody'),
+            kind: 'input',
+            sessionId,
+            title: translateNow('notifications.native.inputTitle')
+          })
         }
       } else if (event.type === 'secret.request') {
         // Skill credential capture (tools/skills_tool.py). Blocked on
@@ -994,16 +1024,26 @@ export function useMessageStream({
         const requestId = typeof payload?.request_id === 'string' ? payload.request_id : ''
 
         if (requestId) {
+          const envVar = typeof payload?.env_var === 'string' ? payload.env_var : ''
+          const promptText = typeof payload?.prompt === 'string' ? payload.prompt : ''
+
           setSecretRequest({
             requestId,
-            envVar: typeof payload?.env_var === 'string' ? payload.env_var : '',
-            prompt: typeof payload?.prompt === 'string' ? payload.prompt : '',
+            envVar,
+            prompt: promptText,
             sessionId: sessionId ?? null
           })
 
           if (sessionId) {
             updateSessionState(sessionId, state => ({ ...state, needsInput: true }))
           }
+
+          dispatchNativeNotification({
+            body: promptText || envVar || translateNow('notifications.native.inputBody'),
+            kind: 'input',
+            sessionId,
+            title: translateNow('notifications.native.inputTitle')
+          })
         }
       } else if (event.type === 'terminal.read.request') {
         // read_terminal tool: serialize the renderer's xterm buffer and answer
@@ -1037,6 +1077,13 @@ export function useMessageStream({
           clearAllPrompts(sessionId)
         }
 
+        dispatchNativeNotification({
+          body: errorMessage,
+          kind: 'turnError',
+          sessionId,
+          title: translateNow('notifications.native.turnErrorTitle')
+        })
+
         if (looksLikeProviderSetup) {
           requestDesktopOnboarding(errorMessage)
         } else if (isActiveEvent) {

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/appearance-settings.tsx

@@ -2,15 +2,11 @@ import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { useState } from 'react'
 
 import { LanguageSwitcher } from '@/components/language-switcher'
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { SegmentedControl } from '@/components/ui/segmented-control'
-import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@/components/ui/select'
 import { useI18n } from '@/i18n'
-import { COMPLETION_SOUND_VARIANTS, previewCompletionSound } from '@/lib/completion-sound'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
-import { Check, Download, Loader2, Palette, Play, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { Check, Download, Loader2, Palette, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { $completionSoundVariantId, setCompletionSoundVariantId } from '@/store/completion-sound'
 import { $activeGatewayProfile, $profiles, normalizeProfileKey } from '@/store/profile'
 import { $toolViewMode, setToolViewMode } from '@/store/tool-view'
 import { $translucency, setTranslucency } from '@/store/translucency'
@@ -18,7 +14,7 @@ import { useTheme } from '@/themes/context'
 import { installVscodeThemeFromMarketplace } from '@/themes/install'
 import { isUserTheme, removeUserTheme, resolveTheme } from '@/themes/user-themes'
 
-import { CONTROL_TEXT, MODE_OPTIONS } from './constants'
+import { MODE_OPTIONS } from './constants'
 import { ListRow, SectionHeading, SettingsContent } from './primitives'
 
 function ThemePreview({ name }: { name: string }) {
@@ -139,7 +135,6 @@ function VscodeThemeInstaller() {
 export function AppearanceSettings() {
   const { t, isSavingLocale } = useI18n()
   const { themeName, mode, availableThemes, setTheme, setMode } = useTheme()
-  const completionSoundVariantId = useStore($completionSoundVariantId)
   const toolViewMode = useStore($toolViewMode)
   const translucency = useStore($translucency)
   const profiles = useStore($profiles)
@@ -304,52 +299,6 @@ export function AppearanceSettings() {
             description={a.toolViewDesc}
             title={a.toolViewTitle}
           />
-
-          <ListRow
-            action={
-              <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-end gap-2">
-                <Select
-                  onValueChange={value => {
-                    const variantId = Number.parseInt(value, 10)
-
-                    setCompletionSoundVariantId(variantId)
-                    previewCompletionSound(variantId)
-                    triggerHaptic('selection')
-                  }}
-                  value={String(completionSoundVariantId)}
-                >
-                  <SelectTrigger className={cn('min-w-56', CONTROL_TEXT)}>
-                    <SelectValue />
-                  </SelectTrigger>
-
-                  <SelectContent>
-                    {COMPLETION_SOUND_VARIANTS.map(variant => (
-                      <SelectItem key={variant.id} value={String(variant.id)}>
-                        {variant.name}
-                      </SelectItem>
-                    ))}
-                  </SelectContent>
-                </Select>
-
-                <Button
-                  className="gap-1.5"
-                  onClick={() => {
-                    previewCompletionSound()
-                    triggerHaptic('crisp')
-                  }}
-                  size="sm"
-                  type="button"
-                  variant="outline"
-                >
-                  <Play className="size-3.5" />
-
-                  {a.completionSoundPreview}
-                </Button>
-              </div>
-            }
-            description={a.completionSoundDesc}
-            title={a.completionSoundTitle}
-          />
         </div>
       </div>
     </SettingsContent>

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/index.tsx

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { getHermesConfigDefaults, getHermesConfigRecord, saveHermesConfig } from '@/hermes'
 import { useI18n } from '@/i18n'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
-import { Archive, Globe, Info, KeyRound, Settings2, Sparkles, Wrench, Zap } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { Archive, Bell, Globe, Info, KeyRound, Settings2, Sparkles, Wrench, Zap } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 
 import { useRouteEnumParam } from '../hooks/use-route-enum-param'
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { SECTIONS } from './constants'
 import { GatewaySettings } from './gateway-settings'
 import { KEYS_VIEWS, KeysSettings, type KeysView } from './keys-settings'
 import { McpSettings } from './mcp-settings'
+import { NotificationsSettings } from './notifications-settings'
 import { PROVIDER_VIEWS, ProvidersSettings, type ProviderView } from './providers-settings'
 import { SessionsSettings } from './sessions-settings'
 import type { SettingsPageProps, SettingsView as SettingsViewId } from './types'
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ const SETTINGS_VIEWS: readonly SettingsViewId[] = [
   'gateway',
   'keys',
   'mcp',
+  'notifications',
   'sessions',
   'about'
 ]
@@ -101,6 +103,12 @@ export function SettingsView({ gateway, onClose, onConfigSaved, onMainModelChang
               />
             )
           })}
+          <OverlayNavItem
+            active={activeView === 'notifications'}
+            icon={Bell}
+            label={t.settings.nav.notifications}
+            onClick={() => setActiveView('notifications')}
+          />
           <div className="my-2 h-px bg-border/30" />
           <OverlayNavItem
             active={activeView === 'providers'}
@@ -225,6 +233,8 @@ export function SettingsView({ gateway, onClose, onConfigSaved, onMainModelChang
             <KeysSettings view={keysView} />
           ) : activeView === 'mcp' ? (
             <McpSettings gateway={gateway} onConfigSaved={onConfigSaved} />
+          ) : activeView === 'notifications' ? (
+            <NotificationsSettings />
           ) : (
             <SessionsSettings />
           )}

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/notifications-settings.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
+
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@/components/ui/select'
+import { Switch } from '@/components/ui/switch'
+import { useI18n } from '@/i18n'
+import { COMPLETION_SOUND_VARIANTS, previewCompletionSound } from '@/lib/completion-sound'
+import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
+import { Bell, Play } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { $completionSoundVariantId, setCompletionSoundVariantId } from '@/store/completion-sound'
+import {
+  $nativeNotifyPrefs,
+  NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS,
+  sendTestNativeNotification,
+  setNativeNotifyEnabled,
+  setNativeNotifyKind
+} from '@/store/native-notifications'
+import { notify } from '@/store/notifications'
+
+import { CONTROL_TEXT } from './constants'
+import { ListRow, SectionHeading, SettingsContent } from './primitives'
+
+const CAPTION = 'text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] text-(--ui-text-tertiary)'
+
+function Caption({ children, className }: { children: ReactNode; className?: string }) {
+  return <p className={cn(CAPTION, className)}>{children}</p>
+}
+
+function ToggleRow(props: {
+  checked: boolean
+  description: string
+  disabled?: boolean
+  label: string
+  onChange: (on: boolean) => void
+}) {
+  return (
+    <ListRow
+      action={
+        <Switch
+          aria-label={props.label}
+          checked={props.checked}
+          disabled={props.disabled}
+          onCheckedChange={on => {
+            triggerHaptic('selection')
+            props.onChange(on)
+          }}
+        />
+      }
+      description={props.description}
+      title={props.label}
+    />
+  )
+}
+
+export function NotificationsSettings() {
+  const { t } = useI18n()
+  const prefs = useStore($nativeNotifyPrefs)
+  const completionSoundVariantId = useStore($completionSoundVariantId)
+  const copy = t.settings.notifications
+
+  const runTest = async () => {
+    triggerHaptic('open')
+    const ok = await sendTestNativeNotification(copy.testTitle, copy.testBody)
+    notify({ kind: ok ? 'info' : 'error', message: ok ? copy.testSent : copy.testUnsupported })
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <SettingsContent>
+      <SectionHeading icon={Bell} title={copy.title} />
+      <Caption className="mb-2 leading-(--conversation-caption-line-height)">{copy.intro}</Caption>
+
+      <ToggleRow
+        checked={prefs.enabled}
+        description={copy.enableAllDesc}
+        label={copy.enableAll}
+        onChange={setNativeNotifyEnabled}
+      />
+
+      <div className="my-1 h-px bg-border/30" />
+
+      {NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS.map(kind => (
+        <ToggleRow
+          checked={prefs.enabled && prefs.kinds[kind]}
+          description={copy.kinds[kind].description}
+          disabled={!prefs.enabled}
+          key={kind}
+          label={copy.kinds[kind].label}
+          onChange={on => setNativeNotifyKind(kind, on)}
+        />
+      ))}
+
+      <div className="my-1 h-px bg-border/30" />
+
+      <ListRow
+        action={
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-end gap-2">
+            <Select
+              onValueChange={value => {
+                const variantId = Number.parseInt(value, 10)
+
+                setCompletionSoundVariantId(variantId)
+                previewCompletionSound(variantId)
+                triggerHaptic('selection')
+              }}
+              value={String(completionSoundVariantId)}
+            >
+              <SelectTrigger className={cn('min-w-56', CONTROL_TEXT)}>
+                <SelectValue />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+
+              <SelectContent>
+                {COMPLETION_SOUND_VARIANTS.map(variant => (
+                  <SelectItem key={variant.id} value={String(variant.id)}>
+                    {variant.name}
+                  </SelectItem>
+                ))}
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
+
+            <Button
+              className="gap-1.5"
+              onClick={() => {
+                previewCompletionSound()
+                triggerHaptic('crisp')
+              }}
+              size="sm"
+              type="button"
+              variant="outline"
+            >
+              <Play className="size-3.5" />
+              {copy.completionSoundPreview}
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        }
+        description={copy.completionSoundDesc}
+        title={copy.completionSoundTitle}
+      />
+
+      <div className="mt-4 flex flex-col gap-2">
+        <Button className="self-start" onClick={() => void runTest()} size="sm" type="button" variant="outline">
+          <Bell />
+          {copy.test}
+        </Button>
+        <Caption>{copy.focusedHint}</Caption>
+      </div>
+    </SettingsContent>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/types.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,15 @@ import type { HermesGateway } from '@/hermes'
 import type { IconComponent } from '@/lib/icons'
 import type { EnvVarInfo } from '@/types/hermes'
 
-export type SettingsView = 'about' | 'gateway' | 'keys' | 'mcp' | 'providers' | 'sessions' | `config:${string}`
+export type SettingsView =
+  | 'about'
+  | 'gateway'
+  | 'keys'
+  | 'mcp'
+  | 'notifications'
+  | 'providers'
+  | 'sessions'
+  | `config:${string}`
 export type EnvPatch = Partial<Pick<EnvVarInfo, 'is_set' | 'redacted_value'>>
 
 export interface SettingsPageProps {

apps/desktop/src/global.d.ts

@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ declare global {
       ) => () => void
       signalDeepLinkReady?: () => Promise<{ ok: boolean }>
       onWindowStateChanged?: (callback: (payload: HermesWindowState) => void) => () => void
+      onFocusSession?: (callback: (sessionId: string) => void) => () => void
+      onNotificationAction?: (callback: (payload: { actionId: string; sessionId?: string }) => void) => () => void
       onPreviewFileChanged: (callback: (payload: HermesPreviewFileChanged) => void) => () => void
       onBackendExit: (callback: (payload: BackendExit) => void) => () => void
       onPowerResume?: (callback: () => void) => () => void
@@ -413,6 +415,9 @@ export interface HermesNotification {
   title?: string
   body?: string
   silent?: boolean
+  kind?: string
+  sessionId?: string
+  actions?: { id: string; text: string }[]
 }
 
 export interface HermesPreviewTarget {

apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts

@@ -131,6 +131,18 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       transcriptionUnavailable: 'Voice transcription is not available yet.',
       tryRecordingAgain: 'Try recording again.',
       unavailable: 'Voice unavailable'
+    },
+    native: {
+      approvalTitle: 'Approval needed',
+      approveAction: 'Approve',
+      rejectAction: 'Reject',
+      inputTitle: 'Input needed',
+      inputBody: 'Hermes is waiting for your response.',
+      turnDoneTitle: 'Hermes finished',
+      turnDoneBody: 'The response is ready.',
+      turnErrorTitle: 'Turn failed',
+      backgroundDoneTitle: 'Background task finished',
+      backgroundFailedTitle: 'Background task failed'
     }
   },
 
@@ -263,7 +275,46 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       keysSettings: 'Settings',
       mcp: 'MCP',
       archivedChats: 'Archived Chats',
-      about: 'About'
+      about: 'About',
+      notifications: 'Notifications'
+    },
+    notifications: {
+      title: 'Notifications',
+      intro:
+        'Native desktop notifications, separate from in-app toasts. These are device-local — each computer keeps its own settings.',
+      enableAll: 'Enable notifications',
+      enableAllDesc: 'Master switch. Turn this off to silence every notification below.',
+      focusedHint: 'Completion alerts only fire while Hermes is in the background.',
+      kinds: {
+        approval: {
+          label: 'Approval needed',
+          description: 'A command is waiting for you to approve or reject it.'
+        },
+        input: {
+          label: 'Input needed',
+          description: 'Hermes asked a question or needs a password or secret.'
+        },
+        turnDone: {
+          label: 'Response ready',
+          description: 'A turn finished while Hermes was in the background.'
+        },
+        turnError: {
+          label: 'Turn failed',
+          description: 'A turn ended with an error.'
+        },
+        backgroundDone: {
+          label: 'Background task finished',
+          description: 'A backgrounded terminal command completed.'
+        }
+      },
+      test: 'Send test notification',
+      testTitle: 'Hermes',
+      testBody: 'Notifications are working.',
+      testSent: 'Test sent. If nothing appears, check your OS notification permissions and Focus/Do Not Disturb.',
+      testUnsupported: 'This system does not support native notifications.',
+      completionSoundTitle: 'Completion Sound',
+      completionSoundDesc: 'Plays when an agent turn finishes. Pick a preset and preview it here.',
+      completionSoundPreview: 'Preview'
     },
     sections: {
       model: 'Model',
@@ -305,9 +356,6 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       themeTitle: 'Theme',
       themeDesc: 'Desktop palettes only. The selected mode is applied on top.',
       themeProfileNote: profile => `Saved for the ${profile} profile — each profile keeps its own theme.`,
-      completionSoundTitle: 'Completion Sound',
-      completionSoundDesc: 'Plays when an agent turn finishes. Pick a preset and preview it here.',
-      completionSoundPreview: 'Preview',
       installTitle: 'Install from VS Code',
       installDesc:
         'Paste a Marketplace extension id (e.g. dracula-theme.theme-dracula) to convert its color theme into a desktop palette.',

apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts

@@ -132,6 +132,18 @@ export const ja = defineLocale({
       transcriptionUnavailable: '音声文字起こしはまだ利用できません。',
       tryRecordingAgain: 'もう一度録音してください。',
       unavailable: '音声は利用できません'
+    },
+    native: {
+      approvalTitle: '承認が必要です',
+      approveAction: '承認',
+      rejectAction: '拒否',
+      inputTitle: '入力が必要です',
+      inputBody: 'Hermes が応答を待っています。',
+      turnDoneTitle: 'Hermes が完了しました',
+      turnDoneBody: '応答の準備ができました。',
+      turnErrorTitle: 'ターンが失敗しました',
+      backgroundDoneTitle: 'バックグラウンドタスクが完了しました',
+      backgroundFailedTitle: 'バックグラウンドタスクが失敗しました'
     }
   },
 
@@ -177,7 +189,47 @@ export const ja = defineLocale({
       keysSettings: '設定',
       mcp: 'MCP',
       archivedChats: 'アーカイブ済みチャット',
-      about: '情報'
+      about: '情報',
+      notifications: '通知'
+    },
+    notifications: {
+      title: '通知',
+      intro:
+        'アプリ内トーストとは別の、ネイティブのデスクトップ通知です。設定は端末ごとに保存されます。',
+      enableAll: '通知を有効にする',
+      enableAllDesc: 'マスタースイッチ。オフにすると以下のすべての通知を無効にします。',
+      focusedHint: '完了通知は Hermes がバックグラウンドにあるときのみ表示されます。',
+      kinds: {
+        approval: {
+          label: '承認が必要',
+          description: 'コマンドが承認または拒否を待っています。'
+        },
+        input: {
+          label: '入力が必要',
+          description: 'Hermes が質問したか、パスワードやシークレットを必要としています。'
+        },
+        turnDone: {
+          label: '応答完了',
+          description: 'Hermes がバックグラウンドのときにターンが完了しました。'
+        },
+        turnError: {
+          label: 'ターン失敗',
+          description: 'ターンがエラーで終了しました。'
+        },
+        backgroundDone: {
+          label: 'バックグラウンドタスク完了',
+          description: 'バックグラウンドのターミナルコマンドが完了しました。'
+        }
+      },
+      test: 'テスト通知を送信',
+      testTitle: 'Hermes',
+      testBody: '通知は正常に動作しています。',
+      testSent:
+        'テストを送信しました。表示されない場合は、OS の通知許可と集中モード／おやすみモードを確認してください。',
+      testUnsupported: 'このシステムはネイティブ通知に対応していません。',
+      completionSoundTitle: '完了サウンド',
+      completionSoundDesc: 'エージェントのターン終了時に再生されます。プリセットを選んでここで試聴できます。',
+      completionSoundPreview: '試聴'
     },
     sections: {
       model: 'モデル',
@@ -220,9 +272,6 @@ export const ja = defineLocale({
       themeDesc: 'デスクトップ専用のパレットです。選択したモードの上に適用されます。',
       themeProfileNote: profile =>
         `「${profile}」プロファイルに保存されます。プロファイルごとに個別のテーマを保持します。`,
-      completionSoundTitle: '完了サウンド',
-      completionSoundDesc: 'エージェントのターン終了時に再生されます。プリセットを選んでここで試聴できます。',
-      completionSoundPreview: '試聴',
       installTitle: 'VS Code から導入',
       installDesc:
         'Marketplace の拡張機能 ID（例: dracula-theme.theme-dracula）を貼り付けると、その配色テーマをデスクトップ用パレットに変換します。',

apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts

@@ -143,6 +143,20 @@ export interface Translations {
       tryRecordingAgain: string
       unavailable: string
     }
+    // Native OS notification copy (titles + generic fallback bodies). Dynamic
+    // bodies (the agent's reply, a command, an error) are passed through raw.
+    native: {
+      approvalTitle: string
+      approveAction: string
+      rejectAction: string
+      inputTitle: string
+      inputBody: string
+      turnDoneTitle: string
+      turnDoneBody: string
+      turnErrorTitle: string
+      backgroundDoneTitle: string
+      backgroundFailedTitle: string
+    }
   }
 
   titlebar: {
@@ -202,6 +216,26 @@ export interface Translations {
       mcp: string
       archivedChats: string
       about: string
+      notifications: string
+    }
+    notifications: {
+      title: string
+      intro: string
+      enableAll: string
+      enableAllDesc: string
+      focusedHint: string
+      kinds: Record<
+        'approval' | 'backgroundDone' | 'input' | 'turnDone' | 'turnError',
+        { label: string; description: string }
+      >
+      test: string
+      testTitle: string
+      testBody: string
+      testSent: string
+      testUnsupported: string
+      completionSoundTitle: string
+      completionSoundDesc: string
+      completionSoundPreview: string
     }
     sections: Record<string, string>
     searchPlaceholder: Record<'about' | 'config' | 'gateway' | 'keys' | 'mcp' | 'sessions', string>
@@ -222,9 +256,6 @@ export interface Translations {
       themeTitle: string
       themeDesc: string
       themeProfileNote: (profile: string) => string
-      completionSoundTitle: string
-      completionSoundDesc: string
-      completionSoundPreview: string
       installTitle: string
       installDesc: string
       installPlaceholder: string

apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts

@@ -127,6 +127,18 @@ export const zhHant = defineLocale({
       transcriptionUnavailable: '語音轉寫暫不可用。',
       tryRecordingAgain: '請再錄製一次。',
       unavailable: '語音不可用'
+    },
+    native: {
+      approvalTitle: '需要核准',
+      approveAction: '核准',
+      rejectAction: '拒絕',
+      inputTitle: '需要輸入',
+      inputBody: 'Hermes 正在等待你的回應。',
+      turnDoneTitle: 'Hermes 已完成',
+      turnDoneBody: '回覆已就緒。',
+      turnErrorTitle: '本輪失敗',
+      backgroundDoneTitle: '背景工作已完成',
+      backgroundFailedTitle: '背景工作失敗'
     }
   },
 
@@ -172,7 +184,45 @@ export const zhHant = defineLocale({
       keysSettings: '設定',
       mcp: 'MCP',
       archivedChats: '已封存聊天',
-      about: '關於'
+      about: '關於',
+      notifications: '通知'
+    },
+    notifications: {
+      title: '通知',
+      intro: '原生桌面通知，與應用程式內提示不同。設定會依裝置保存，每台電腦各自獨立。',
+      enableAll: '啟用通知',
+      enableAllDesc: '總開關。關閉後會靜音下方所有通知。',
+      focusedHint: '完成提醒僅在 Hermes 位於背景時觸發。',
+      kinds: {
+        approval: {
+          label: '需要核准',
+          description: '有指令正在等待你核准或拒絕。'
+        },
+        input: {
+          label: '需要輸入',
+          description: 'Hermes 提出了問題，或需要密碼或密鑰。'
+        },
+        turnDone: {
+          label: '回覆就緒',
+          description: 'Hermes 在背景時完成了一輪對話。'
+        },
+        turnError: {
+          label: '本輪失敗',
+          description: '本輪以錯誤結束。'
+        },
+        backgroundDone: {
+          label: '背景工作完成',
+          description: '背景終端機指令已完成。'
+        }
+      },
+      test: '傳送測試通知',
+      testTitle: 'Hermes',
+      testBody: '通知運作正常。',
+      testSent: '測試已傳送。若沒有出現，請檢查系統通知權限與專注模式／勿擾模式。',
+      testUnsupported: '此系統不支援原生通知。',
+      completionSoundTitle: '完成提示音',
+      completionSoundDesc: '代理回合結束時播放。可在此選擇預設並預覽。',
+      completionSoundPreview: '預覽'
     },
     sections: {
       model: '模型',
@@ -213,9 +263,6 @@ export const zhHant = defineLocale({
       themeTitle: '主題',
       themeDesc: '僅限桌面端的調色盤。所選模式會套用在其上。',
       themeProfileNote: profile => `已為「${profile}」設定檔儲存——每個設定檔保留各自的主題。`,
-      completionSoundTitle: '完成提示音',
-      completionSoundDesc: '代理回合結束時播放。可在此選擇預設並預覽。',
-      completionSoundPreview: '預覽',
       installTitle: '從 VS Code 安裝',
       installDesc: '貼上 Marketplace 擴充功能 ID（例如 dracula-theme.theme-dracula），將其配色主題轉換為桌面調色盤。',
       installPlaceholder: 'publisher.extension',

apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts

@@ -127,6 +127,18 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
       transcriptionUnavailable: '语音转写暂不可用。',
       tryRecordingAgain: '请再录一次。',
       unavailable: '语音不可用'
+    },
+    native: {
+      approvalTitle: '需要批准',
+      approveAction: '批准',
+      rejectAction: '拒绝',
+      inputTitle: '需要输入',
+      inputBody: 'Hermes 正在等待你的回应。',
+      turnDoneTitle: 'Hermes 已完成',
+      turnDoneBody: '回复已就绪。',
+      turnErrorTitle: '本轮失败',
+      backgroundDoneTitle: '后台任务已完成',
+      backgroundFailedTitle: '后台任务失败'
     }
   },
 
@@ -259,7 +271,45 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
       keysSettings: '设置',
       mcp: 'MCP',
       archivedChats: '已归档对话',
-      about: '关于'
+      about: '关于',
+      notifications: '通知'
+    },
+    notifications: {
+      title: '通知',
+      intro: '原生桌面通知，区别于应用内提示。设置按设备保存，每台电脑各自独立。',
+      enableAll: '启用通知',
+      enableAllDesc: '总开关。关闭后将静音下方所有通知。',
+      focusedHint: '完成提醒仅在 Hermes 处于后台时触发。',
+      kinds: {
+        approval: {
+          label: '需要批准',
+          description: '有命令正在等待你批准或拒绝。'
+        },
+        input: {
+          label: '需要输入',
+          description: 'Hermes 提出了问题，或需要密码或密钥。'
+        },
+        turnDone: {
+          label: '回复就绪',
+          description: 'Hermes 在后台时完成了一轮对话。'
+        },
+        turnError: {
+          label: '本轮失败',
+          description: '本轮以错误结束。'
+        },
+        backgroundDone: {
+          label: '后台任务完成',
+          description: '后台终端命令已完成。'
+        }
+      },
+      test: '发送测试通知',
+      testTitle: 'Hermes',
+      testBody: '通知工作正常。',
+      testSent: '测试已发送。如果没有出现，请检查系统通知权限和专注模式／勿扰模式。',
+      testUnsupported: '此系统不支持原生通知。',
+      completionSoundTitle: '完成提示音',
+      completionSoundDesc: '智能体回合结束时播放。可在此选择预设并预览。',
+      completionSoundPreview: '预览'
     },
     sections: {
       model: '模型',
@@ -300,9 +350,6 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
       themeTitle: '主题',
       themeDesc: '仅桌面端调色板。所选模式叠加其上。',
       themeProfileNote: profile => `已为「${profile}」配置文件保存——每个配置文件保留各自的主题。`,
-      completionSoundTitle: '完成提示音',
-      completionSoundDesc: '智能体回合结束时播放。可在此选择预设并预览。',
-      completionSoundPreview: '预览',
       installTitle: '从 VS Code 安装',
       installDesc: '粘贴 Marketplace 扩展 ID（例如 dracula-theme.theme-dracula），将其配色主题转换为桌面调色板。',
       installPlaceholder: 'publisher.extension',

apps/desktop/src/lib/icons.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   IconAt as AtSign,
   IconWaveSine as AudioLines,
   IconChartBar as BarChart3,
+  IconBell as Bell,
   IconBrain as Brain,
   IconBug as Bug,
   IconCheck as Check,
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ export {
   AtSign,
   AudioLines,
   BarChart3,
+  Bell,
   Brain,
   Bug,
   Check,

apps/desktop/src/store/composer-status.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { atom, computed } from 'nanostores'
 
+import { translateNow } from '@/i18n'
 import type { TodoItem, TodoStatus } from '@/lib/todos'
 
 import { $gateway } from './gateway'
+import { dispatchNativeNotification } from './native-notifications'
 import { $subagentsBySession, type SubagentProgress } from './subagents'
 import { $todosBySession } from './todos'
 
@@ -161,6 +163,24 @@ export function reconcileBackgroundProcesses(sid: string, procs: GatewayProcessE
 
   const prev = $backgroundStatusBySession.get()[sid] ?? []
 
+  // running → exited since the last snapshot = a background process just finished.
+  const prevState = new Map(prev.map(item => [item.id, item.state]))
+
+  for (const [id, item] of fresh) {
+    if (item.state !== 'running' && prevState.get(id) === 'running') {
+      dispatchNativeNotification({
+        body: item.title,
+        kind: 'backgroundDone',
+        sessionId: sid,
+        title: translateNow(
+          item.state === 'failed'
+            ? 'notifications.native.backgroundFailedTitle'
+            : 'notifications.native.backgroundDoneTitle'
+        )
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
   const kept = prev.flatMap(old => {
     const next = fresh.get(old.id)
     fresh.delete(old.id)

apps/desktop/src/store/native-notifications.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { $gateway } from './gateway'
+import {
+  dispatchNativeNotification,
+  NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS,
+  respondToApprovalAction,
+  sendTestNativeNotification,
+  setNativeNotifyEnabled,
+  setNativeNotifyKind
+} from './native-notifications'
+import { $approvalRequest, setApprovalRequest } from './prompts'
+import { $activeSessionId, setActiveSessionId } from './session'
+
+const desktopWindow = window as unknown as { hermesDesktop?: Window['hermesDesktop'] }
+const initialHermesDesktop = desktopWindow.hermesDesktop
+
+const notify = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(true)
+
+function setWindowState({ focused = true, hidden = false }: { focused?: boolean; hidden?: boolean }) {
+  Object.defineProperty(document, 'hidden', { configurable: true, value: hidden })
+  Object.defineProperty(document, 'hasFocus', { configurable: true, value: () => focused })
+}
+
+let counter = 0
+
+// Unique session id per call dodges the per-(kind,session) throttle so each
+// assertion starts clean.
+function freshSession(): string {
+  counter += 1
+
+  return `session-${counter}`
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  notify.mockClear()
+  desktopWindow.hermesDesktop = { notify } as unknown as Window['hermesDesktop']
+  setNativeNotifyEnabled(true)
+
+  for (const kind of NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS) {
+    setNativeNotifyKind(kind, true)
+  }
+
+  setActiveSessionId(null)
+  setWindowState({ focused: false, hidden: true })
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  if (initialHermesDesktop) {
+    desktopWindow.hermesDesktop = initialHermesDesktop
+  } else {
+    delete desktopWindow.hermesDesktop
+  }
+})
+
+describe('dispatchNativeNotification focus gating', () => {
+  it('fires a completion notification for the active session when the window is hidden', () => {
+    const sessionId = freshSession()
+    setActiveSessionId(sessionId)
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('fires a completion notification when the window is visible but unfocused (alt-tab)', () => {
+    const sessionId = freshSession()
+    setActiveSessionId(sessionId)
+    setWindowState({ focused: false, hidden: false })
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('suppresses a completion notification when the window is focused', () => {
+    const sessionId = freshSession()
+    setActiveSessionId(sessionId)
+    setWindowState({ focused: true, hidden: false })
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('suppresses a completion notification for a non-active background session (no gateway spam)', () => {
+    setActiveSessionId('on-screen')
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId: 'busy-bot-session', title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('fires an attention notification for an off-screen session even when focused', () => {
+    setWindowState({ focused: true, hidden: false })
+    setActiveSessionId('on-screen')
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'approval', sessionId: 'background', title: 'approve' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('suppresses an attention notification for the active session when focused', () => {
+    setWindowState({ focused: true, hidden: false })
+    setActiveSessionId('on-screen')
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'approval', sessionId: 'on-screen', title: 'approve' })
+    expect(notify).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('dispatchNativeNotification preferences', () => {
+  it('suppresses everything when the master switch is off', () => {
+    setNativeNotifyEnabled(false)
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'approval', sessionId: freshSession(), title: 'approve' })
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId: freshSession(), title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('suppresses only the disabled kind', () => {
+    const sessionId = freshSession()
+    setActiveSessionId(sessionId)
+    setNativeNotifyKind('turnDone', false)
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done' })
+    expect(notify).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnError', sessionId, title: 'boom' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('forwards kind and sessionId to the bridge', () => {
+    setActiveSessionId('abc')
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ body: 'hi', kind: 'turnError', sessionId: 'abc', title: 'boom' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ body: 'hi', kind: 'turnError', sessionId: 'abc', title: 'boom' })
+    )
+  })
+})
+
+describe('dispatchNativeNotification throttle', () => {
+  it('collapses duplicate kind+session within the throttle window', () => {
+    const sessionId = freshSession()
+    setActiveSessionId(sessionId)
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done' })
+    dispatchNativeNotification({ kind: 'turnDone', sessionId, title: 'done again' })
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('sendTestNativeNotification', () => {
+  it('fires regardless of focus or active session', () => {
+    setWindowState({ focused: true, hidden: false })
+    setActiveSessionId('on-screen')
+    sendTestNativeNotification('Hermes', 'works')
+    expect(notify).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('$activeSessionId wiring', () => {
+  it('reflects the setter used for gating', () => {
+    setActiveSessionId('xyz')
+    expect($activeSessionId.get()).toBe('xyz')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('respondToApprovalAction', () => {
+  const request = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ resolved: true })
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    request.mockClear()
+    $gateway.set({ request } as unknown as ReturnType<typeof $gateway.get>)
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    $gateway.set(null)
+  })
+
+  it('approves via approval.respond {choice: "once"} and clears the prompt', async () => {
+    setActiveSessionId('bg')
+    setApprovalRequest({ command: 'rm -rf /', description: 'dangerous', sessionId: 'bg' })
+
+    await respondToApprovalAction('bg', 'approve')
+
+    expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('approval.respond', { choice: 'once', session_id: 'bg' })
+    expect($approvalRequest.get()).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('rejects via approval.respond {choice: "deny"}', async () => {
+    await respondToApprovalAction('bg', 'reject')
+    expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('approval.respond', { choice: 'deny', session_id: 'bg' })
+  })
+
+  it('ignores unknown action ids', async () => {
+    await respondToApprovalAction('bg', 'snooze')
+    expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('no-ops without a gateway', async () => {
+    $gateway.set(null)
+    await respondToApprovalAction('bg', 'approve')
+    expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})

apps/desktop/src/store/native-notifications.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+import { atom } from 'nanostores'
+
+import { persistString, storedString } from '@/lib/storage'
+
+import { $gateway } from './gateway'
+import { clearApprovalRequest } from './prompts'
+import { $activeSessionId } from './session'
+
+// Native OS notifications (Electron `Notification`), separate from the in-app
+// toast feed in `notifications.ts`. Each kind toggles independently.
+export type NativeNotificationKind = 'approval' | 'backgroundDone' | 'input' | 'turnDone' | 'turnError'
+
+export const NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS: readonly NativeNotificationKind[] = [
+  'approval',
+  'input',
+  'turnDone',
+  'turnError',
+  'backgroundDone'
+]
+
+// Blocking prompts — surface even while focused if they're for another session.
+const ATTENTION_KINDS = new Set<NativeNotificationKind>(['approval', 'input'])
+
+export interface NativeNotificationPrefs {
+  enabled: boolean
+  kinds: Record<NativeNotificationKind, boolean>
+}
+
+const STORAGE_KEY = 'hermes:native-notifications'
+
+const DEFAULT_PREFS: NativeNotificationPrefs = {
+  enabled: true,
+  kinds: { approval: true, backgroundDone: true, input: true, turnDone: true, turnError: true }
+}
+
+function readPrefs(): NativeNotificationPrefs {
+  const raw = storedString(STORAGE_KEY)
+
+  if (!raw) {
+    return DEFAULT_PREFS
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<NativeNotificationPrefs>
+    const kinds = { ...DEFAULT_PREFS.kinds }
+
+    for (const kind of NATIVE_NOTIFICATION_KINDS) {
+      const value = parsed.kinds?.[kind]
+
+      if (typeof value === 'boolean') {
+        kinds[kind] = value
+      }
+    }
+
+    return {
+      enabled: typeof parsed.enabled === 'boolean' ? parsed.enabled : DEFAULT_PREFS.enabled,
+      kinds
+    }
+  } catch {
+    return DEFAULT_PREFS
+  }
+}
+
+export const $nativeNotifyPrefs = atom<NativeNotificationPrefs>(readPrefs())
+
+function writePrefs(next: NativeNotificationPrefs) {
+  $nativeNotifyPrefs.set(next)
+  persistString(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(next))
+}
+
+export function setNativeNotifyEnabled(enabled: boolean) {
+  writePrefs({ ...$nativeNotifyPrefs.get(), enabled })
+}
+
+export function setNativeNotifyKind(kind: NativeNotificationKind, on: boolean) {
+  const prev = $nativeNotifyPrefs.get()
+  writePrefs({ ...prev, kinds: { ...prev.kinds, [kind]: on } })
+}
+
+// De-dupe replayed events for the same kind+session. Self-evicting: entries
+// older than the window are pruned on every dispatch, so the map can't grow.
+const THROTTLE_MS = 1000
+const lastFiredAt = new Map<string, number>()
+
+function throttled(key: string, now: number): boolean {
+  for (const [k, at] of lastFiredAt) {
+    if (now - at >= THROTTLE_MS) {
+      lastFiredAt.delete(k)
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (lastFiredAt.has(key)) {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  lastFiredAt.set(key, now)
+
+  return false
+}
+
+// "Backgrounded" = the user isn't on Hermes. `document.hidden` only flips when
+// minimized/occluded; an alt-tabbed window is visible-but-unfocused, so we also
+// check `document.hasFocus()`.
+function isBackgrounded(): boolean {
+  if (typeof document === 'undefined') {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  if (document.hidden) {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  return typeof document.hasFocus === 'function' && !document.hasFocus()
+}
+
+function shouldFire(kind: NativeNotificationKind, sessionId?: null | string): boolean {
+  // Attention kinds break through for an off-screen session even while focused.
+  if (ATTENTION_KINDS.has(kind)) {
+    return isBackgrounded() || (Boolean(sessionId) && sessionId !== $activeSessionId.get())
+  }
+
+  // Completion kinds: only the active session, only while away — so a busy
+  // gateway (messaging, kanban, cron) can't spam a toast per background session.
+  return isBackgrounded() && Boolean(sessionId) && sessionId === $activeSessionId.get()
+}
+
+export interface NativeNotificationAction {
+  id: string
+  text: string
+}
+
+export interface NativeNotificationInput {
+  kind: NativeNotificationKind
+  title: string
+  body?: string
+  sessionId?: null | string
+  silent?: boolean
+  actions?: NativeNotificationAction[]
+}
+
+export function dispatchNativeNotification(input: NativeNotificationInput): void {
+  const prefs = $nativeNotifyPrefs.get()
+
+  if (!prefs.enabled || !prefs.kinds[input.kind]) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (!shouldFire(input.kind, input.sessionId)) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (throttled(`${input.kind}:${input.sessionId ?? ''}`, Date.now())) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  void window.hermesDesktop?.notify({
+    actions: input.actions,
+    body: input.body,
+    kind: input.kind,
+    sessionId: input.sessionId ?? undefined,
+    silent: input.silent,
+    title: input.title
+  })
+}
+
+// Resolve a pending approval from a notification button, mirroring the in-app
+// Run/Reject bar. Keyed by session id — a background approval has no local guard.
+export async function respondToApprovalAction(sessionId: null | string, actionId: string): Promise<void> {
+  const choice = actionId === 'approve' ? 'once' : actionId === 'reject' ? 'deny' : null
+
+  if (!choice) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  const gateway = $gateway.get()
+
+  if (!gateway) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  try {
+    await gateway.request('approval.respond', { choice, session_id: sessionId ?? undefined })
+    clearApprovalRequest(sessionId)
+  } catch {
+    // Leave the prompt parked so the user can still resolve it in-app.
+  }
+}
+
+// Settings "send test" — bypasses gating. Returns whether the OS accepted it so
+// the panel can flag a silent permission failure instead of looking dead.
+export async function sendTestNativeNotification(title: string, body: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  const bridge = window.hermesDesktop
+
+  if (!bridge?.notify) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  try {
+    return await bridge.notify({ body, kind: 'turnDone', title })
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}