How to add a Level 1 notification on your BlackBerry

By Adam Zeis on 28 Aug 2012 02:04 pm

Your BlackBerry smartphone comes with the built-in ability to add a Level 1 notification for any number of email filters on your device. Through your carrier BIS account, you can easily add a special notification for any email address or keywords, letting you choose a custom alert for them as well. The process takes a few steps to set up, but once you do you'll have a custom alert for your spouse, boss, secret friends or whatever you choose. Keep reading and we'll look at just how easy it is to setup a Level 1 notification on your BlackBerry smartphone.

Setting up a Level 1 notification on your BlackBerry

Step One: BIS Filter

Head to your Email Settings (either by searching or just click the icon it it's not hidden).

Highlight the email address of which you want to add the notification.
Press the Menu key and choose Filters.
Click Add Filter
Enter a name for your filter ("wife's email")
Next to Filter On, choose one of the available options. For instance if you want to add the alert for any email from a given address, choose From address.
Under the Contains field enter the criteria (in this case it's an email address).
Click Add (keep in mind you can add more than one criteria here)
Under Action, check the box next to Forward messages to this device and Level 1 notification
Click Save

Step Two: Custom Profile

For the second part of the process you'll need to edit your profiles to allow for the incoming Level 1 notification.

Tap on the profiles icon on your home screen.
Choose Change Sounds and Alerts.
Next choose Sounds for Selected Profile.
Click Messages to expand. Then choose Level 1.
Here you can setup your alert just the same as any other. I like to pick a tone and vibrate pattern that is different than other alerts (if not then what's the point, right?). Make it something loud and obxnious if you want, or just something you'll recognize.
Press Menu and choose Save.

Done and done!

Now you can test out your alert depending on what you set up. Have your contact send an email to test the filter and you should hear your custom Level 1 alert. The notificaiton will show in red in your inbox so you'll never miss it (hopefully). You can do this combination for any number of filters.

For more help on this and other topics, check out the CrackBerry Forums.

Topics: BIS Notifications Email BlackBerry 101 How To Level 1 VIP Filters Help, How-To & Tips BlackBerry 101

Adam Zeis 3035 (articles) 2792 (forum posts)

32 comments

SurrealCivic Aug 28, 2012 at 2:05 pm

Adam, I'm surprised Kevin's e-mails aren't a Level 1 Notification on your BB :)

Kevin Michaluk Aug 28, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Yeah Adam, like what the heck?

Adam Zeis Aug 28, 2012 at 2:11 pm

Actually I have it set so pretty much everything BUT his emails are Level 1 :)

pkcable Aug 28, 2012 at 4:50 pm

DRATS, I wanted to make this pun! ;)

Ben1232 Aug 28, 2012 at 2:18 pm

I did not know this., going to use this asap.

Thanks Adam.

*About the article, not Adam & Kevin* :)

jechow Aug 28, 2012 at 2:23 pm

Why is this feature not "advertised" is some way by BB? This is one of the features that makes BB email the best-of-the-best!

BruvvaPete Aug 28, 2012 at 2:48 pm

Answer: Poor history of past marketing efforts.

camera531 Aug 28, 2012 at 2:48 pm

How about "How to add an article about the upcoming BB10 devices that you allegedly had hands-on time with". I know Running Fred and Slacker are really, really important, but maybe when you get a chance, you can write something about BB10.

BruvvaPete Aug 28, 2012 at 2:50 pm

I believe CBK mentioned that he's working on it.

camera531 Aug 28, 2012 at 2:54 pm

And RIM mentioned that they're working on BB10, but both seem to be having some "execution" issues

Rootbrian Aug 28, 2012 at 3:10 pm

No issues with execution times were mentioned either.

Adam Zeis Aug 28, 2012 at 2:56 pm

It's coming. Keep your patient pants on.

rcm1301 Aug 28, 2012 at 4:19 pm

RIM could not have said it better. :)

camera531 Aug 28, 2012 at 9:51 pm

Well, you've been beaten to the punch multiple times now, and this one is about as comprehensive as it gets. I don't see much room for you to improve on it, which is a real shame. I was looking forward to your take, but the unexplained DELAY kind of ruined it. Thanks

http://www.cio.com/article/714961/New_BlackBerry_10_Devices_Impress_But_...

Adam Zeis Aug 29, 2012 at 9:25 am

Yup Al did a great job on that story. Not sure how reading someone elses post makes you not look forward to ours, but so it goes I guess :)

camera531 Aug 29, 2012 at 12:52 pm

That came out wrong. I'm still looking forward to it, but given the limitations CB will have, I feel like I've already gotten the majority of it with previous articles.

xposeurphoto Aug 28, 2012 at 2:49 pm

Consider me educated now! Off to spread the word (via forwarding this). Thanks Adam!

Also a proud owner of a Blackberry Playbook and Torch
www.xposeur.zenfolio.com

Rootbrian Aug 28, 2012 at 3:12 pm

Since I have a few contacts that e-mail me, other than forums, facebook groups and petitions notifications, this is going to be a BIG help in seeing important e-mails come through so I don't breeze past them.

robsteve Aug 28, 2012 at 4:05 pm

Any idea if we will ever get this for BBM? It would be nice if BBM messages from my wife or kids could have a special notification.

Ben1232 Aug 28, 2012 at 4:36 pm

Try Advance OS & LED app. It has LED settings for that.

HavPlenty Aug 28, 2012 at 4:43 pm

What makes certain messages colored in your messages box? Are those filtered emails. Me personally, I do not want to filter anything. However, how can I color code any email that comes to a particular email account?

adamschuetze Aug 28, 2012 at 5:11 pm

How is the "Step One: BIS Filter" different from Messages > Options > Email Filters? Both methods allow you to filter by the same methods, and allow you to add "Level 1 notification" to the filter. Are they functionally different in any way? Anybody know?

DTyrrell22 Aug 28, 2012 at 7:13 pm

Could this not also be done through custom ring tones for contacts? Though I guess the level 1 also makes the messages red.

adamschuetze Aug 28, 2012 at 7:24 pm

Level 1 has the advantage over custom ring tones for contacts, in that the notification can be controlled on a profile-by-profile basis. You can also use Bellshare's SmartAlerts to do this, and you can do it for arbitrary contacts.

rifka_f Aug 28, 2012 at 10:02 pm

Doesn't seem to work with Bold 9700 - can't find 'filters' in the menu. Comments?

Wishing and hoping that BB10 is released SOON...

dracolnyte Aug 29, 2012 at 12:13 am

I swear this could of been done through editing contacts (custom ring, vibration) like Dtyrrell said, no need to reinvent the wheel (in a more complex way). Paired with Advanced OS and LED, I got a totally custom tone, vibration, and LED colour for every special person. Now what I am dying to change is different ICONS, this way I could have customization for everybody.

serversurfer Aug 29, 2012 at 1:54 am

I don t know if I´m to stupid to find the right icon or menu or whatever... But my GERMAN Bold9900 told me, that it needs a BES Connection to use/install an email-filter! What have I done wrong or are they different menus? IF its possible to install a filter for emails provided by BIS I would grateful for a exactly discription of the path... Highlightning messages>options> offers NO "filter" in my menu.... email-settings. When I open my contact-list I get a "filter-option", but it ends without the option to "save"! Very confused...:-(

Okay, okay- it works...but the path is very differnt to your advise/discription: highlightning the message-icon, select "options" (menu), selecting "email-account-administration", select "add filter" (menu)... It seems, that the surface/menu is created different...

antikorr Aug 29, 2012 at 5:55 am

Geeee! Thanks a ton for the tip! I was always wondering what is that Level 1 notifications for. Now that I know I'm really taking advantage of it. So handy! Helps me filter e-mails from my co-workers. Great!

jdesignz Aug 29, 2012 at 8:33 am

Thanks!!!

cbwannabe Aug 29, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Must try this!

And is this for BIS emails only? Is there anyway of "filtering" i.e. (special alert) texts from say specific Twitter accounts?

markwm3 Aug 30, 2012 at 12:27 am

Hi! May I know which software you're using, to make battery power remaining showing percentage number on the screen? Thx!

Drew Oswalt Aug 30, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Thank you Adam and CB. I never knew about this.

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