---
title: How to show a notification in VR and on desktop
product: Advanced Framework Pro
version: 2.0
engine: Unreal Engine 5.8
updated: 2026-11-01
canonical: https://docs.human-codeable.com/workflows/show-notification.html
---

# How to show a notification in VR and on desktop

Advanced Framework Pro shows a notification with one call, **Show Default Notification**, given a pawn, an icon, a line of text, a colour and a duration. It stacks with other notifications, plays a sound and removes itself, in spatial UI in VR and on the HUD on desktop and mobile. By the end of this you will have confirmations and warnings that tell the player something and then get out of the way.

## At a glance

```
Anywhere with a pawn reference
└─ BFL_Notifications › Show Default Notification
   Pawn, Icon (texture), Text, Color (PDA_Color), Duration (6 s)  → widget
Custom look:  BP_Notification + WBP_Notification, Spawn Inside Notification Container
A decision instead of a message:  BFL_Popups › Popup_ShowPopup_Default
```

## Steps

1. The pawn needs the UI ability that hosts the notification container; the shipped pawns have it.
2. From any Blueprint with a pawn reference, call **Show Default Notification** (`BFL_Notifications`).
3. Pass an icon texture, the text, a `PDA_Color` such as the theme's success or warning colour, and a duration. Six seconds suits most messages.
4. For a message to one player in multiplayer, call it on that player's pawn; for everyone, call it for each pawn.

[![Three notifications stacked in the corner](../images/AFS_UI_Notifications_result-1600.webp?v=71c7064f)](../images/AFS_UI_Notifications_result-1600.webp?v=71c7064f)

Three notifications stacked in the corner

## Notes

Use notifications for things that need no answer. For a decision the player must make, use a popup from `AFS_UI_Popups` instead.

To change the look, derive from `BP_Notification` and `WBP_Notification` together and spawn the pair through **Spawn Inside Notification Container**. The object holds the data, the widget draws it.

`Map_Examples_Notifications` has a big press button: pick type, text length and duration on the table, press it, and watch the notification arrive.

**Nothing appears?** The pawn lacks the UI ability that hosts the container.