diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/NotificationSupport.java b/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/NotificationSupport.java
index 47d709f5..9037cad7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/NotificationSupport.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/NotificationSupport.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import android.app.NotificationChannel;
 import android.app.NotificationManager;
+import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.os.Build;
 import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
 import com.github.gotify.log.Log;
@@ -24,16 +25,22 @@ public static final class ID {
     @RequiresApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.O)
     public static void createChannels(NotificationManager notificationManager) {
         try {
+            // Low importance so that persistent notification can be sorted towards bottom of
+            // notification shade. Also prevents vibrations caused by persistent notification
             NotificationChannel foreground =
                     new NotificationChannel(
                             Channel.FOREGROUND,
                             "Gotify foreground notification",
-                            NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT);
+                            NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW);
+            // High importance for message notifications so that they are shown as heads-up
+            // notifications and sorted towards the top of the notification shade
             NotificationChannel messages =
                     new NotificationChannel(
                             Channel.MESSAGES,
                             "Gotify messages",
-                            NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT);
+                            NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_HIGH);
+            messages.enableLights(true);
+            messages.setLightColor(Color.CYAN);
             notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(foreground);
             notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(messages);
         } catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/service/WebSocketService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/service/WebSocketService.java
index 8feb2278..d4ef2e74 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/service/WebSocketService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/gotify/service/WebSocketService.java
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 import android.app.Service;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat;
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;
 import com.github.gotify.MissedMessageUtil;
 import com.github.gotify.NotificationSupport;
 import com.github.gotify.R;
@@ -189,6 +191,8 @@ private void showNotification(int id, String title, String message) {
                 .setContentText(message)
                 .setStyle(new NotificationCompat.BigTextStyle().bigText(message))
                 .setDefaults(Notification.DEFAULT_LIGHTS | Notification.DEFAULT_SOUND)
+                .setLights(Color.CYAN, 1000, 5000)
+                .setColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getApplicationContext(), R.color.colorPrimary))
                 .setContentIntent(contentIntent);
 
         NotificationManager notificationManager =
@@ -211,9 +215,11 @@ public void showNotificationGroup() {
                 .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_gotify)
                 .setTicker(getString(R.string.app_name))
                 .setGroup(NotificationSupport.Group.MESSAGES)
+                .setGroupAlertBehavior(NotificationCompat.GROUP_ALERT_CHILDREN)
                 .setContentTitle(getString(R.string.grouped_notification_text))
                 .setGroupSummary(true)
                 .setContentText(getString(R.string.grouped_notification_text))
+                .setColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getApplicationContext(), R.color.colorPrimary))
                 .setContentIntent(contentIntent);
 
         NotificationManager notificationManager =