When helping someone to undo bubble notification settings they never recalled enabling, I was surprised to find that in the Internet, there were many instructions and descriptions about how to enable bubble notifications for "all", "selected", or "none", and what a bubble notification looks like, but nothing about how one is supposed to utilize 'selective' bubble notifications. It did not matter what words I used to search for selected bubbles, it would always refer back to the above info. Even if I search for the specific icon associated with it, the search results did not link to the bubble notifications, but instead link to the icons for exporting, sharing, reposting, or Apple-archiving activities, and even as an icon for external page links (like how Wikipedia does). So this is my FYI of how to utilize bubble notifications in "selected only" mode.
First off, it should be kept in mind that it will only work with (the few) apps that support bubble notifications like Google Messages. Second of all, you should check that the only general setting of bubble notifications is set. Go to the phone Settings > Notifications > Advance settings > Floating notifications, and make sure that "Bubbles" is selected. If you've been using "Smart pop-up view", then you need to choose; you can only use one or the other.
There normally is a bubble settings within the app's own settings; however, with Google Messages, you need to instead hold-click on its icon either from the phone's home screen or app panel, and click the circled "i" in the top right corner in the pop-up menu. From there, click on "Notifications", then either "Notification categories" or "Configure in Messages", and then "Show as bubbles"/"Bubbles", and lastly select "Selected only". (Note that any conversation that you bubble will be listed here in the future for convenience to either cancel bubbling that conversation, or to access the settings for that conversation.)
The app will now have additional settings to enable bubbling for specific notifications (or in Messages, the conversation's Details > Notifications settings). However, the easiest and more direct, selective way will be on the actual notification and its general options on the bottom of its banner. When the notification is expanded, there will be a dotted square box icon with an arrow in it.
(Side note: the bell icon to the right is the general notification snooze/reminder)
Clicking this icon will immediately bubble this notification, and return you back to your prior screen with the notification's icon as a floating icon. The icon in this mode can be dragged anywhere on the screen to reposition it. Clicking the icon will open whatever the notification is associated to, with the icon now at the top. At any time, you can dismiss the icon/notification by dragging the icon down to the X that appears at the bottom of the screen.
For Messages, the means to unbubble a conversation is through the conversation's Details page. However, a general and possibly more easier way is to wait for when the notification appears again. Instead of immediately clicking on the notification (or floating icon), swipe open the notifications panel, and expand the notification. You will now see a new bubbling icon, which will cancel bubbling for this notification.
(The arrow has been replaced with an X)
Of course, to stop using the bubble feature, set the bubble settings to "none" in the app's settings. HOWEVER, it has been observed (especially with Messages) that if any prior notifications had been and still are bubbled, there is a possibility that the bubble settings will automatically reset itself back to "selected only". It is best to first cancel bubbling for all bubbled notifications before setting the bubble settings to "none".
I hope this FYI helps you understand and use selective bubble notifications.
The app will now have additional settings to enable bubbling for specific notifications (or in Messages, the conversation's Details > Notifications settings). However, the easiest and more direct, selective way will be on the actual notification and its general options on the bottom of its banner. When the notification is expanded, there will be a dotted square box icon with an arrow in it.
Clicking this icon will immediately bubble this notification, and return you back to your prior screen with the notification's icon as a floating icon. The icon in this mode can be dragged anywhere on the screen to reposition it. Clicking the icon will open whatever the notification is associated to, with the icon now at the top. At any time, you can dismiss the icon/notification by dragging the icon down to the X that appears at the bottom of the screen.
For Messages, the means to unbubble a conversation is through the conversation's Details page. However, a general and possibly more easier way is to wait for when the notification appears again. Instead of immediately clicking on the notification (or floating icon), swipe open the notifications panel, and expand the notification. You will now see a new bubbling icon, which will cancel bubbling for this notification.
Of course, to stop using the bubble feature, set the bubble settings to "none" in the app's settings. HOWEVER, it has been observed (especially with Messages) that if any prior notifications had been and still are bubbled, there is a possibility that the bubble settings will automatically reset itself back to "selected only". It is best to first cancel bubbling for all bubbled notifications before setting the bubble settings to "none".
I hope this FYI helps you understand and use selective bubble notifications.
