Windows Notification History

There are 2 or 3 other threads on this, but they are from 2016 and 2018 and there were apparently no known ways to retrieve old notifications.

I'm posting the question again in hopes that something has changed. The reason I am looking for a notification history is because a few days ago, I got a notification that some app had been installed... "Photo [something]." While I could find no evidence of such a program on the computer, it still bothers me that the system alleges something was installed - without my knowledge or consent just because it was Microsoft.

Yesterday, IOBit Advanced SystemCare threw a window up in my face telling me that MS Edge had been installed - I suppose, again, the system allowed this surreptitious installation just b/c it came from Microsoft. But, MS or not, I don't appreciate these "attacks" that obviously can circumvent the UAC. So far, there's been no Windows notification about this installation, so if it hadn't been for IOBit ASC, I may never have known what happened. On the flip side of that coin, however, tho I got a notification about the aforementioned app installation, IOBit ASC did NOT flag that action. So it makes me wonder just how much other cr*p MS is cramming down my throat (other than O/S updates) that I dunno about.

So... has anyone found a way yet to view some kind of notification history, or found where those notifications are stored? Or at least, has anyone found a way to keep the notification center OPEN until you're finished with the notifications and ready to close it on your own terms?

Thanks
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MS Win10
Vs 21H1 (OS Build 19043.1237)

It's been my experience that that particular program confuses many users that don't understand what's happening behind the scenes on a operating system. Software gets updated all the time and ASC might be flagging updates as installs. That particular application, advanced system care, in my experience installs software on your computer that you don't need and also reports basic operations in attempt to make it look like it's actually doing something..

I would recommend you not rely on total system care for application installation reporting. It's been my experience that applications don't get auto installed without your consent unless you installed some kind of adware and in that case you want to use a tool that scans for adware to resolve that issue.

It's been my experience that ADWcleaner for malwarebytes handles pretty well.

Hello, trinsic...and thank you for your reply.

Before Windows 10, I allowed only updates to the O/S from MS/Windows. I updated non-MS software manually if I wanted something updated. With Win10, it seems much control of my own computer has been taken away from me. And today, I do feel as if I know little to nothing about the goings-on of my own PC. However... in this case IOBit ASC did not confuse me - yes, it tagged the activity as the installation of a program, but I knew it was an update since MS Edge is already on the computer.

I run virus and malware scans often. For malware, I use MalwareBytes, and have so for many years. As for IOBit ASC, I only learned yesterday that it offers up these types of reports, so it's not something I've been relying on. I used the program years ago on another computer, and only recently returned to it, installing it on this computer. In fact, despite having installed it, I hadn't even looked around much yet in settings/preferences. I don't believe that IOBit ASC was scanning for malware or reporting on installations back when I first started using it. I guess should have realized that like every other program out there today, they all want to claim they do everything and want to be your go-to program for everything.

I'm no computer technician, but I fail to come up with any good reason why MS created the notification area so that it closes as soon as the user cliks on something else, and then allows for no way to retrieve notifications later. Just makes no sense to me. That said, no matter what program coughs up a report; whether the reported activity was an update or installation of a program is irrelavent. I'm interested in notification history, or the ability to keep the notification window open until I'm ready to close it... and then I can look into what activity really happened (or not), and decide what to do about it, if anything.

I don't think MS provides a tool to view just notifications, but this has been asked before - I was going to suggest Event Viewer (and some diligent digging), but someone else got there first.

Well it depends on what is handling the notifications your talking about because you could have program installed that notifies you about anything. But if you sure it's the Windows 10 notifications that is part of the Action Center then those are accessible in the Action Center: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...d-897ac67f7e39

It's been my experience that generally Windows does not keep a very accurate record of installation process but here is a guide that can help you find installs in the event viewer if you are looking for something specific: How To Tell Which User Installed Or Removed An App In Windows

TyredOfTen said:

Hello, Page not found - AddictiveTips thank you for your reply.

Before Windows 10, I allowed only updates to the O/S from MS/Windows. I updated non-MS software manually if I wanted something updated. With Win10, it seems much control of my own computer has been taken away from me. And today, I do feel as if I know little to nothing about the goings-on of my own PC. However... in this case IOBit ASC did not confuse me - yes, it tagged the activity as the installation of a program, but I knew it was an update since MS Edge is already on the computer.

I run virus and malware scans often. For malware, I use MalwareBytes, and have so for many years. As for IOBit ASC, I only learned yesterday that it offers up these types of reports, so it's not something I've been relying on. I used the program years ago on another computer, and only recently returned to it, installing it on this computer. In fact, despite having installed it, I hadn't even looked around much yet in settings/preferences. I don't believe that IOBit ASC was scanning for malware or reporting on installations back when I first started using it. I guess should have realized that like every other program out there today, they all want to claim they do everything and want to be your go-to program for everything.

I'm no computer technician, but I fail to come up with any good reason why MS created the notification area so that it closes as soon as the user cliks on something else, and then allows for no way to retrieve notifications later. Just makes no sense to me. That said, no matter what program coughs up a report; whether the reported activity was an update or installation of a program is irrelavent. I'm interested in notification history, or the ability to keep the notification window open until I'm ready to close it... and then I can look into what activity really happened (or not), and decide what to do about it, if anything.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I take it at this time, there is still no way -except to rake thru the Event Viewer- to either keep the notification window open, or to retrieve notifications that flash on the screen for two hot seconds, or were in the notification window, but once clikked on or the window closed, are gone.

Maybe one day we'll be graced with a response somewhere out there from the brainiacs at MS, explaining their "logic."