diff --git a/src/init.ts b/src/init.ts
index 9a0fdf6..637db63 100644
--- a/src/init.ts
+++ b/src/init.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { app, protocol } from "electron";
 import createWindow from "./window";
 import main from "./main";
 import { backgroundMitt } from '@/composables/useEmitter';
+import {setWindow, getWindow } from './store';
 
 console.log('Starting Crimata electron app.');
 
@@ -19,11 +20,9 @@ protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged([
 
 const isDev = require('electron-is-dev');
 
-let win: boolean;
-
 // Listen for window creation.
 backgroundMitt.on('window-active', (state: boolean) => {
-    win = state;
+    setWindow(state)
 });
 
 /* Start main process on ready */
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ app.on("window-all-closed", () => {
 
 // When user clicks app icon (re-open)
 app.on("activate", () => {
-    if (!win) createWindow();
+    if (!getWindow()) createWindow();
 });
 
 // Exit cleanly on request from parent process in development mode.
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 99c1dfa..334a6fe 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import initIpcMain from "@/ipc/index";
 import  { accountAuth } from "./account";
 import createWindow from "./window";
 
-
 export default async function main() {
 
     /* initiate controls for frontend to use when needed */
diff --git a/src/session.ts b/src/session.ts
index 9446cd0..be6fdd3 100644
--- a/src/session.ts
+++ b/src/session.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,27 @@ import UIState from "@/uiState";
 import { config } from "@/config";
 import useWebsockets from "./composables/useWebsockets";
 import { backgroundMitt, ipcEmit } from "@/composables/useEmitter";
+import { Notification } from 'electron';
+import { getWindow } from './store';
+
+function showNotification (options: {
+    title: string;
+    subtitle?: string;
+    body: string;
+}) {
+    new Notification(
+        {
+            title: options.title,
+            subtitle: options.subtitle,
+            body: options.body,
+        }).show()
+}
 
 // UI state
-const uiState = new UIState()
+const uiState = new UIState();
 
 // let audio = new Audio();
 
-
 const onMessageCallback = (payload: string) => {
 
     if (payload === "CLOSE_AUTH_FAIL") {
@@ -22,7 +36,23 @@ const onMessageCallback = (payload: string) => {
 
     if (message.header === "init") {
         uiState.set(message.body as Init);
-    } else uiState.update(message.body as Update);
+    } else {
+        const body = message.body as Update;
+        uiState.update(body);
+
+        // show notification if window is not active
+        if (!getWindow()) {
+            if (body.name === "add") {
+                const data = body.data as Message;
+                showNotification({
+                    title: 'New Message',
+                    subtitle: data.context.text as string,
+                    body: data.content[0].text,
+                });
+            }
+
+        }
+    }
 
 }
 
@@ -69,3 +99,4 @@ export function endSession() {
     uiState.reset();
 
 }
+
diff --git a/src/store.ts b/src/store.ts
index 0200681..8ac280e 100644
--- a/src/store.ts
+++ b/src/store.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ const Store = require('electron-store');
 const schema = {
 	token: {
 		type: 'string',
-	}
+	},
+    window: {
+        type: 'boolean'
+    }
 };
 
 const store = new Store({
@@ -11,9 +14,12 @@ const store = new Store({
     encryptionKey: "super user test"
 });
 
+/*
+ * Token state management
+* */
 export const setToken = (token: string): void => {
     store.set("token", token);
-} 
+}
 
 export const getToken = (): string | undefined => {
     return store.get("token");
@@ -21,4 +27,19 @@ export const getToken = (): string | undefined => {
 
 export const clearToken = (): void => {
     store.delete("token");
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+/*
+ * Window state management
+* */
+export const setWindow = (state: boolean): void => {
+    store.set("window", state);
+}
+
+export const getWindow = (): boolean | undefined => {
+    return store.get("window");
+}
+
+export const clearWindow = (): void => {
+    store.delete("window");
+}