diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index a81157f..a62f749 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useGateway } from './hooks/useGateway';
+import { useNotifications } from './hooks/useNotifications';
 import { Header } from './components/Header';
 import { Sidebar } from './components/Sidebar';
 import { Chat } from './components/Chat';
@@ -15,6 +16,21 @@ export default function App() {
   } = useGateway();
   const [sidebarOpen, setSidebarOpen] = useState(false);
   const [shortcutsOpen, setShortcutsOpen] = useState(false);
+  const { notify } = useNotifications();
+  const prevMessageCountRef = useRef(messages.length);
+
+  // Notify on new assistant messages when tab is not focused
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const prevCount = prevMessageCountRef.current;
+    prevMessageCountRef.current = messages.length;
+    if (messages.length > prevCount) {
+      const last = messages[messages.length - 1];
+      if (last && last.role === 'assistant' && !last.isStreaming) {
+        const preview = last.content?.slice(0, 100) || 'New message';
+        notify('PinchChat', preview);
+      }
+    }
+  }, [messages, notify]);
 
   // Close sidebar on Escape key, open shortcuts on ?
   const handleKeyDown = useCallback((e: KeyboardEvent) => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts b/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a83e1eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
+
+const ORIGINAL_TITLE = document.title;
+
+/**
+ * Hook that manages browser notifications and tab title badge
+ * when new messages arrive while the tab is not focused.
+ */
+export function useNotifications() {
+  const [unreadCount, setUnreadCount] = useState(0);
+  const isVisibleRef = useRef(!document.hidden);
+  const permissionRef = useRef(Notification.permission);
+
+  // Track tab visibility
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleVisibility = () => {
+      isVisibleRef.current = !document.hidden;
+      if (!document.hidden) {
+        // Reset unread when tab becomes visible
+        setUnreadCount(0);
+        document.title = ORIGINAL_TITLE;
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', handleVisibility);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', handleVisibility);
+  }, []);
+
+  // Update tab title when unread count changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (unreadCount > 0) {
+      document.title = `(${unreadCount}) ${ORIGINAL_TITLE}`;
+    }
+  }, [unreadCount]);
+
+  // Request permission on first user interaction
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (permissionRef.current !== 'default') return;
+    const requestOnInteraction = () => {
+      if (permissionRef.current === 'default') {
+        Notification.requestPermission().then(p => {
+          permissionRef.current = p;
+        });
+      }
+      document.removeEventListener('click', requestOnInteraction);
+    };
+    document.addEventListener('click', requestOnInteraction);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('click', requestOnInteraction);
+  }, []);
+
+  const notify = useCallback((title: string, body?: string) => {
+    if (isVisibleRef.current) return; // Tab is focused, no need
+
+    setUnreadCount(c => c + 1);
+
+    // Send browser notification if permitted
+    if (permissionRef.current === 'granted') {
+      try {
+        const n = new Notification(title, {
+          body: body?.slice(0, 200),
+          icon: '/logo.png',
+          tag: 'pinchchat-message', // Collapse multiple into one
+          silent: false,
+        });
+        // Auto-close after 5s
+        setTimeout(() => n.close(), 5000);
+        // Focus tab on click
+        n.onclick = () => {
+          window.focus();
+          n.close();
+        };
+      } catch {
+        // Notifications not supported (e.g. some mobile browsers)
+      }
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  return { notify, unreadCount };
+}