# Getting started with Message inbox

## What is Message inbox?  

Message inbox creates a dedicated space within your app for storing important messages. Unlike push notifications, these messages:  

- Do not trigger notifications or display badges on the app icon.  
- Are delivered silently and appear when the user opens the app.  

With Message inbox, you can increase message visibility and reach a wider audience, including:  

- Users who opt out of push notifications (similar to [Silent Push Notifications](/product/messaging-channels/push-notifications/advanced-push-features/silent-push-notifications)).  
- Users who dismiss push notifications—messages remain in the inbox for later engagement.  

This ensures that messages stay accessible, giving users more opportunities to interact with them when they return to the app.  

## Prerequisites for working with Message inbox 

<Aside type="caution" icon="setting" title="Developer assistance needed">  
You’ll need help from your developer team to configure Message inbox. Share the guides below with them to get started.  
</Aside>  

Before using Message inbox, complete the following steps:

<Steps>

1. **Configure your project**  

   Set up platforms (iOS, Android, Web, etc.) for push notifications. [Learn more](/product/first-steps/start-with-your-project/configure-platforms/)

2. **Embed the Pushwoosh SDK**  

   Add the Pushwoosh SDK to your app or website to enable Message inbox functionality. [Learn more](/developer/pushwoosh-sdk/pushwoosh-sdk-overview/)

3. **Start subscribing users**  

   [Learn more](/product/first-steps/start-with-your-project/subscribe-users)

</Steps>

## Implement Message inbox in your app  

<Aside type="caution" icon="setting" title="Developer assistance needed">  
You’ll need help from your developer team to configure Message inbox. Share the guides below with them to get started.  
</Aside>  

   <CardGrid>  

  <IconLinkCard  
      href="/developer/guides/message-inbox/mobile-message-inbox"  
      icon="star"  
      title="Mobile Message inbox"  
      description="Learn how to implement Message inbox in mobile applications."  
  />  

  <IconLinkCard  
      href="/developer/guides/message-inbox/web-message-inbox"  
      icon="add-document"  
      title="Web Message inbox"  
      description="Set up Message inbox for web applications."  
  />  

</CardGrid>  


## Customize the Message inbox UI   
<Aside type="caution" icon="setting" title="Developer assistance needed">  
You’ll need help from your developer team to customize the Message inbox UI. Share the links below with them to get started.  
</Aside>  

You can use the default Message inbox UI or fully customize it to match your app’s design.  

<LinkCard title="Customized iOS UI Guide" href="https://github.com/Pushwoosh/pushwoosh-inbox-ui-ios-sdk">  
Learn how to customize the Message inbox UI for iOS applications.  
</LinkCard>  

<LinkCard title="Customized iOS XCFramework Guide" href="https://github.com/Pushwoosh/PushwooshInboxUI-XCFramework">  
Use the XCFramework to integrate and customize Message inbox UI on iOS.  
</LinkCard>  

<LinkCard title="Customized Android UI Guide" href="https://github.com/Pushwoosh/pushwoosh-inbox-ui-android-sdk">  
Customize the Message inbox UI for Android applications.  
</LinkCard>  
<Aside type="tip" title="Example">
This is an example of what the Message inbox design can look like:
 <img src="/message-inbox-README-1.webp" alt="Screenshot showing Message inbox interface with list of notifications and message details"/>
</Aside>
## Save and manage push notifications in the inbox 

Save push notifications to the inbox, customize their display settings, and manage their retention period to keep important messages accessible for users.
<LinkCard title="Learn more" href="/product/messaging-channels/message-inbox/mobile-message-inbox/#choosing-which-messages-to-save-to-inbox" />  
## Track and analyze Message inbox performance  

Pushwoosh provides analytics to help you measure Message inbox engagement:  

- **Track Inbox messages within the Customer Journey**  

  View mobile inbox statistics directly inside your customer journey.  
  <LinkCard title="Learn more" href="/product/messaging-channels/message-inbox/mobile-message-inbox#track-inbox-message-statistics" />  

- **Retrieve Inbox message data via API**  

  With developer assistance, use the Pushwoosh API to access detailed statistics on Message inbox interactions.  
  <LinkCard title="Learn more" href="/developer/guides/message-inbox#statistics" />