End-User Notifications

Configuring Policies and Understanding Tray Behavior

This guide explains how to configure Automox policies that deliver update and restart notifications to end users through the Automox Tray. These notifications are deadline-based, giving users a defined window to install updates or restart their devices before enforcement occurs. The guide also outlines what users will see in the tray so administrators can anticipate the end-user experience and ensure compliance with patching requirements.

Part 1: Setting Up End-User Notifications in a Policy

Overview

Automox uses policy settings to control whether users receive notifications for installing updates and restarting their devices. These notifications are delivered through the Automox tray on Windows and macOS.

Default User Notifications

You can access a policy and view the user notification settings from the Automate → Policies page in the console. This table lists the default settings and their descriptions for when you create a new policy. Be aware that there are behavioral differences compared to the previous notification management. (If you have an agent version earlier than 2.1.44, refer to Managing End-User Notifications).

Default User Notification Settings	Description	Console View
Enable automatic restart after updates are installed	This is selected by default. This means that (for updates that require a restart) after an update, the device automatically restarts the operating system.
Install Notification Settings	This is on by default. End users receive a tray notification when an update is available. The corresponding message can be customized. See Custom Install Notifications.
Before installing any update	This is selected by default. The notification message is sent prior to any update install.
Hourly Deferral Options	By default, a policy includes multiple intervals. The longest interval is always 8 hours and is the only one used to calculate the install update or restart deadline.
Maximum number of Deferrals	Deferral intervals are ignored. The deadline-based behavior for the Automox tray automatically uses the reminders as described in Part 2: What Users See in the Automox Tray.
Install Deadline	This describes how the deadline for the install update notifications are calculated. This represents the amount of time the user has to complete the installation.
Restart Notification Settings	This is on by default. If the update requires a restart, the end users receive a tray notification, as described in Part 2: What Users See in the Automox Tray. The corresponding message can be customized. See Custom Restart Notifications.
Enable Automatic Deferrals	This setting is on by default and is automatically enforced when the Automox tray is installed. The toggle that appears in the policy settings has no functional impact—the system always applies automatic deferrals with the tray. You can safely ignore this setting when the tray is in use.
Notification Duration	This setting is enabled by default for both install updates and restarts, but it does not affect behavior when the Automox tray is installed. The tray is always present and handles update and restart notifications independently of this setting. You can ignore this field when the tray is in use.
Restart Deadline	This describes how the deadline for restart notifications are calculated. This represents the amount of time the user has to complete the restart from the tray prompt.

What to expect for default user notifications

If you choose to use the default settings for a policy, the end user can expect the following:

For Install Updates:

• The end user has this entire time to complete the installation.
• At the deadline, the installation of updates starts for the end user.

For Restart Updates:

• The end user has this entire time to complete the restart.
• The restart installation starts after software installation is complete.
• At the deadline, the restart installation starts for the end user.

Refer to Part 2: What Users See in the Automox Tray for details about what a user will experience.

How to Configure User Notifications

Follow these steps to configure end-user notifications that are based on a deadline.

Create or Edit a Policy

1. Navigate to the Policies section in the Automox console.
2. Create a new policy or edit an existing one that governs update and restart behavior for your target devices.
3. Go to User Notifications → Automatic Restart:
   • Select Enable automatic restart after updates are installed if you want the device to restart automatically after updates are applied.
   • Select Do not enable automatic restart after updates are installed if you want the user to manually initiate the restart.

Enable End-User Notifications

There are two user notification settings. You can enable one or both depending on how much control you want to give the user.

Install Notification Settings

Go to End User Notifications → Install Notification Settings.

• Turn on notifications if you want users to receive a message when an update is available.
  • This is useful for updates that do not require a restart but still need user action.
  • The tray will show a deadline to install the update.
• Turn off notifications if you do not require users to take action on available updates.

Restart Notification Settings

Use this setting to control whether users are notified when a restart is required after updates.

• Turn on Restart Notification Settings: End users receive a tray notification when a restart is required. A specific deadline is shown, and reminders appear leading up to the deadline.
• Turn off Restart Notification Settings: No restart notifications or reminders are shown in the tray.
• Note: Automatic Restart must be enabled to use this setting.

Users can restart their device either by selecting the Restart Now button in the Automox tray or by using the operating system's standard restart options (such as the Start menu in Windows or the Apple menu in macOS). Both methods are supported and will satisfy the policy requirement.

If you want users to be notified about both installations and restarts, both settings must be turned on.

Configure Deferral Settings

Although users no longer see deferral options, the policy’s deferral settings are still used to calculate the install or restart deadline.

• Hourly Deferral Options: Leave as default unless you need more granular control.
• Maximum Number of Deferrals: Default is 6; can be set between 1 and 10.

Settings you can ignore

The following settings have no effect on the way notifications appear in the tray:

• Enable Automatic Deferrals
• Notification Duration

Save and Apply the Policy

After configuring the notification and deferral settings, click Create Policy or save your edits. Devices assigned to the policy will begin receiving deadline-based notifications in the Automox tray.

Part 2: What Users See in the Automox Tray

This section explains how notifications configured in a policy appear to end users through the Automox tray. Understanding this behavior will help you support users and ensure policy settings produce the intended experience.

Automox Tray Overview

• The Automox tray is always visible in the system tray on Windows and macOS.
• It shows users the current update or restart status.
• If notifications are enabled in a policy, users will see messages prompting them to install updates or restart their devices by a specific deadline.
• Users are reminded as the deadline approaches (reminders apply to both install updates and restarts). Reminder cadence:
  • Daily
  • 24 hours before deadline
  • 3 hours before
  • 1 hour before
  • 5 minutes before
  • 1 minute before

When an Update is Available

If Install Notification Settings are enabled:

• The tray will notify the user that an update is available.
• A deadline will be displayed, indicating when the user must take action.
• Users are reminded as the deadline approaches.
• If the update does not require a restart, the user can install and continue working.

When a Restart is Required

If Restart Notification Settings are enabled:

• A dot indicator on the tray icon means a restart is pending.
• The tray shows a clear restart deadline.
• Users are reminded as the deadline approaches.

These reminders appear even during Do Not Disturb mode. There is no control over the reminder cadence.

Restarting the Device

When a restart is required, the tray displays a clear deadline and shows reminders as the deadline approaches. Users can restart their device at any time before the deadline.

Restarting from either the Automox tray or the operating system (such as the Start menu in Windows or the Apple menu in macOS) will fulfill the policy requirement. The tray clears the restart message once the restart is complete.

If the user does not restart before the deadline:

• The system will restart automatically after the final reminder.
• If the device is offline, the restart will trigger as soon as it reconnects.

User Workflow Summary

Scenario	Result
Updates Ready to Install: When an update is available, the user is notified that the install is ready to take place.	Tray shows update available; user sees install deadline
Install Initiated: After the user initiates the install, the tray displays a notification indicating that the installation is in progress.	Tray shows installation in progress or completes silently.
Restart Required: When the install is complete and a restart is required, the tray will show a specific restart deadline, indicating when the restart must occur.	The tray displays a specific deadline by which the restart must happen.
Restart Initiated: After the restart has been initiated, the tray will display a notification indicating that the restart process has begun. It may take a few minutes for your computer to restart.	Restart is registered; tray clears the requirement
When the user restarts using OS menu	Restart is registered; tray clears the requirement. Exception: When a worklet requires a restart, the device must be restarted from the Automox tray. Custom messaging can help end users understand this requirement.
Restart deadline passes	System restarts automatically
Device is offline at deadline	Restart occurs on next re-connection

Customizing Notification Messages

You can configure how a user receives notice of an update that is scheduled to be installed or for updates requiring a restart.

Custom Install Notifications

To configure install notification messages, turn on Install Notifications Settings.

If you do not want to use the default message, you can create your own.

• For updates that do not require a restart, configure the Install - No Restart Notification Message. Fill in the text box with the messaging of your choice. The message can be up to 125 characters for Windows or 70 characters in length for macOS.
• For updates that require a restart, configure the Install - Restart Notification Message. Fill in the text box with the messaging of your choice. The message can be up to 125 characters for Windows or 70 characters in length for macOS.

Custom Restart Notifications

To configure restart notification messages, turn on Restart Notification Settings.

• Under Automatic Restart, select Enable automatic restart after updates are installed.
• Turn on Restart Notification Settings.

Configure the Restart Notification Message for end users:

• You can do nothing and use the default message.
• You can set a custom notification message for restart. Fill in the text box with the messaging of your choice. The message can be up to 125 characters for Windows or 70 characters in length for macOS.
• This message remains in the Automox tray until the update is complete.

What an administrator can expect

The administrator must decide on the required deadline. To calculate the restart deadline, take the longest deferral time from the Hourly Deferral Options and multiply it by the maximum number of deferrals.

• Take into consideration the requirements of the end user to best set the deadline.
• Consider adjusting the notification message to ensure your end users understand how to proceed. Your custom messaging will replace the default message in the Automox tray.
• For worklets with restarts, consider adding custom messaging about the requirement to restart from the tray.

What a user can expect

Install does not require a restart

The user can start the install at any time before the deadline. However, no action is required. The software installs automatically in the background when the deadline is reached.

Install requires a restart

The user will see a notification in the Automox tray and must restart before the deadline. Users can now restart manually outside of the tray or use the Restart Now button in the tray.

When the deadline is reached, the install begins automatically.

Related Topics

• Automox Tray and End-User Notifications FAQ
• Tray Customization Worklets
• Allowing Automox Notifications on macOS When Screen Sharing
• Automox Agent Installation Overview
• Agent 2.2.24 Release Notes
• Agent 2.3.34 Release Notes