diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/AppDelegate.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/AppDelegate.swift
index b083361a0..bb1de9435 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate {
         let m = ChatModel.shared
         let deviceToken = DeviceToken(pushProvider: PushProvider(env: pushEnvironment), token: token)
         m.deviceToken = deviceToken
+        // savedToken is set in startChat, when it is started before this method is called
         if m.savedToken != nil {
             registerToken(token: deviceToken)
         }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/BGManager.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/BGManager.swift
index aae1e15fa..a39155efe 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/BGManager.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/BGManager.swift
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ private let receiveTaskId = "chat.simplex.app.receive"
 // TCP timeout + 2 sec
 private let waitForMessages: TimeInterval = 6
 
+// This is the smallest interval between refreshes, and also target interval in "off" mode
 private let bgRefreshInterval: TimeInterval = 600
 
 private let maxTimerCount = 9
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/ChatModel.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/ChatModel.swift
index a7f4bcdbe..e7932f2d9 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/ChatModel.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/ChatModel.swift
@@ -104,14 +104,10 @@ final class ChatModel: ObservableObject {
 
     static var ok: Bool { ChatModel.shared.chatDbStatus == .ok }
 
-    var ntfEnableLocal: Bool {
-        true
-//        notificationMode == .off || ntfEnableLocalGroupDefault.get()
-    }
+    let ntfEnableLocal = true
 
     var ntfEnablePeriodic: Bool {
         notificationMode != .off
-//        notificationMode == .periodic || ntfEnablePeriodicGroupDefault.get()
     }
 
     var activeRemoteCtrl: Bool {
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
index e2161cbf9..e67dab18f 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
@@ -1235,6 +1235,9 @@ func initializeChat(start: Bool, dbKey: String? = nil, refreshInvitations: Bool
         try startChat(refreshInvitations: refreshInvitations)
     } else {
         m.chatRunning = false
+        try getUserChatData()
+        NtfManager.shared.setNtfBadgeCount(m.totalUnreadCountForAllUsers())
+        m.onboardingStage = onboardingStageDefault.get()
     }
 }
 
@@ -1251,6 +1254,8 @@ func startChat(refreshInvitations: Bool = true) throws {
             try refreshCallInvitations()
         }
         (m.savedToken, m.tokenStatus, m.notificationMode) = apiGetNtfToken()
+        // deviceToken is set when AppDelegate.application(didRegisterForRemoteNotificationsWithDeviceToken:) is called,
+        // when it is called before startChat
         if let token = m.deviceToken {
             registerToken(token: token)
         }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SuspendChat.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SuspendChat.swift
index 7ced1351a..9b03f38f3 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SuspendChat.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SuspendChat.swift
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import Foundation
 import UIKit
 import SimpleXChat
+import SwiftUI
 
 private let suspendLockQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "chat.simplex.app.suspend.lock")
 
@@ -103,11 +104,32 @@ func activateChat(appState: AppState = .active) {
 func initChatAndMigrate(refreshInvitations: Bool = true) {
     let m = ChatModel.shared
     if (!m.chatInitialized) {
+        m.v3DBMigration = v3DBMigrationDefault.get()
+        if AppChatState.shared.value == .stopped {
+            AlertManager.shared.showAlert(Alert(
+                title: Text("Start chat?"),
+                message: Text("Chat is stopped. If you already used this database on another device, you should transfer it back before starting chat."),
+                primaryButton: .default(Text("Ok")) {
+                    AppChatState.shared.set(.active)
+                    initialize(start: true)
+                },
+                secondaryButton: .cancel {
+                    initialize(start: false)
+                }
+            ))
+        } else {
+            initialize(start: true)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func initialize(start: Bool) {
         do {
-            m.v3DBMigration = v3DBMigrationDefault.get()
-            try initializeChat(start: m.v3DBMigration.startChat, refreshInvitations: refreshInvitations)
+            try initializeChat(start: m.v3DBMigration.startChat && start, refreshInvitations: refreshInvitations)
         } catch let error {
-            fatalError("Failed to start or load chats: \(responseError(error))")
+            AlertManager.shared.showAlertMsg(
+                title: start ? "Error starting chat" : "Error opening chat",
+                message: "Please contact developers.\nError: \(responseError(error))"
+            )
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/SimpleXApp.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/SimpleXApp.swift
index d75738d04..057188c37 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/SimpleXApp.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/SimpleXApp.swift
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ struct SimpleXApp: App {
                 }
                 .onAppear() {
                     showInitializationView = true
-                    DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.1) {
+                    DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.15) {
                         initChatAndMigrate()
                     }
                 }
@@ -77,15 +77,17 @@ struct SimpleXApp: App {
                     case .active:
                         CallController.shared.shouldSuspendChat = false
                         let appState = AppChatState.shared.value
-                        startChatAndActivate {
-                            if appState.inactive && chatModel.chatRunning == true {
-                                updateChats()
-                                if !chatModel.showCallView && !CallController.shared.hasActiveCalls() {
-                                    updateCallInvitations()
+                        if appState != .stopped {
+                            startChatAndActivate {
+                                if appState.inactive && chatModel.chatRunning == true {
+                                    updateChats()
+                                    if !chatModel.showCallView && !CallController.shared.hasActiveCalls() {
+                                        updateCallInvitations()
+                                    }
                                 }
+                                doAuthenticate = authenticationExpired()
+                                canConnectCall = !(doAuthenticate && prefPerformLA) || unlockedRecently()
                             }
-                            doAuthenticate = authenticationExpired()
-                            canConnectCall = !(doAuthenticate && prefPerformLA) || unlockedRecently()
                         }
                     default:
                         break
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/UserSettings/NotificationsView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/UserSettings/NotificationsView.swift
index 5befe405c..04c02f0dd 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/UserSettings/NotificationsView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/UserSettings/NotificationsView.swift
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ struct NotificationsView: View {
     @State private var notificationMode: NotificationsMode = ChatModel.shared.notificationMode
     @State private var showAlert: NotificationAlert?
     @State private var legacyDatabase = dbContainerGroupDefault.get() == .documents
-//    @AppStorage(DEFAULT_DEVELOPER_TOOLS) private var developerTools = false
-//    @AppStorage(GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_LOCAL, store: groupDefaults) private var ntfEnableLocal = false
-//    @AppStorage(GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_PERIODIC, store: groupDefaults) private var ntfEnablePeriodic = false
 
     var body: some View {
         List {
@@ -88,13 +85,6 @@ struct NotificationsView: View {
                         .padding(.top, 1)
                 }
             }
-
-//            if developerTools {
-//                Section(String("Experimental")) {
-//                    Toggle(String("Always enable local"), isOn: $ntfEnableLocal)
-//                    Toggle(String("Always enable periodic"), isOn: $ntfEnablePeriodic)
-//                }
-//            }
         }
         .disabled(legacyDatabase)
     }
@@ -119,7 +109,7 @@ struct NotificationsView: View {
 
     private func ntfModeAlertTitle(_ mode: NotificationsMode) -> LocalizedStringKey {
         switch mode {
-        case .off: return "Turn off notifications?"
+        case .off: return "Use only local notifications?"
         case .periodic: return "Enable periodic notifications?"
         case .instant: return "Enable instant notifications?"
         }
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleX NSE/NotificationService.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleX NSE/NotificationService.swift
index c937c9ec9..eaa1131eb 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleX NSE/NotificationService.swift	
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleX NSE/NotificationService.swift	
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ typealias NtfStream = ConcurrentQueue<NSENotification>
 // Notifications are delivered via concurrent queues, as they are all received from chat controller in a single loop that
 // writes to ConcurrentQueue and when notification is processed, the instance of Notification service extension reads from the queue.
 // One queue per connection (entity) is used.
-// The concurrent queues allow for read cancellation, to ensure that notifications are not lost in case the next the current thread completes
-// before expected notification is read (multiple notifications can be expected, because one notification can be delivered for several messages.
+// The concurrent queues allow read cancellation, to ensure that notifications are not lost in case the current thread completes
+// before expected notification is read (multiple notifications can be expected, because one notification can be delivered for several messages).
 actor PendingNtfs {
     static let shared = PendingNtfs()
     private var ntfStreams: [String: NtfStream] = [:]
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class NSEThreads {
 
 // Notification service extension creates a new instance of the class and calls didReceive for each notification.
 // Each didReceive is called in its own thread, but multiple calls can be made in one process, and, empirically, there is never
-// more than one process for notification service extension.
+// more than one process of notification service extension exists at a time.
 // Soon after notification service delivers the last notification it is either suspended or terminated.
 class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
     var contentHandler: ((UNNotificationContent) -> Void)?
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
     var badgeCount: Int = 0
     // thread is added to allThreads here - if thread did not start chat,
     // chat does not need to be suspended but NSE state still needs to be set to "suspended".
-    var threadId: UUID?
+    var threadId: UUID? = NSEThreads.shared.newThread()
     var receiveEntityId: String?
     var cancelRead: (() -> Void)?
     var appSubscriber: AppSubscriber?
@@ -197,20 +197,21 @@ class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
 
     override func didReceive(_ request: UNNotificationRequest, withContentHandler contentHandler: @escaping (UNNotificationContent) -> Void) {
         logger.debug("DEBUGGING: NotificationService.didReceive")
-        let newThreadId = NSEThreads.shared.newThread()
-        threadId = newThreadId
         let ntf = if let ntf_ = request.content.mutableCopy() as? UNMutableNotificationContent { ntf_ } else { UNMutableNotificationContent() }
         setBestAttemptNtf(ntf)
         self.contentHandler = contentHandler
         registerGroupDefaults()
         let appState = appStateGroupDefault.get()
+        logger.debug("NotificationService: app is \(appState.rawValue, privacy: .public)")
         switch appState {
-        case .suspended:
-            logger.debug("NotificationService: app is suspended")
+        case .stopped:
             setBadgeCount()
-            receiveNtfMessages(newThreadId, request, contentHandler)
+            setBestAttemptNtf(createAppStoppedNtf())
+            deliverBestAttemptNtf()
+        case .suspended:
+            setBadgeCount()
+            receiveNtfMessages(request, contentHandler)
         case .suspending:
-            logger.debug("NotificationService: app is suspending")
             setBadgeCount()
             Task {
                 let state: AppState = await withCheckedContinuation { cont in
@@ -231,20 +232,19 @@ class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
                         }
                     }
                 }
-                logger.debug("NotificationService: app state is \(state.rawValue, privacy: .public)")
+                logger.debug("NotificationService: app state is now \(state.rawValue, privacy: .public)")
                 if state.inactive {
-                    receiveNtfMessages(newThreadId, request, contentHandler)
+                    receiveNtfMessages(request, contentHandler)
                 } else {
                     deliverBestAttemptNtf()
                 }
             }
         default:
-            logger.debug("NotificationService: app state is \(appState.rawValue, privacy: .public)")
             deliverBestAttemptNtf()
         }
     }
 
-    func receiveNtfMessages(_ newThreadId: UUID, _ request: UNNotificationRequest, _ contentHandler: @escaping (UNNotificationContent) -> Void) {
+    func receiveNtfMessages(_ request: UNNotificationRequest, _ contentHandler: @escaping (UNNotificationContent) -> Void) {
         logger.debug("NotificationService: receiveNtfMessages")
         if case .documents = dbContainerGroupDefault.get() {
             deliverBestAttemptNtf()
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
            // check it here again
            appStateGroupDefault.get().inactive {
             // thread is added to activeThreads tracking set here - if thread started chat it needs to be suspended
-            NSEThreads.shared.startThread(newThreadId)
+            if let t = threadId { NSEThreads.shared.startThread(t) }
             let dbStatus = startChat()
             if case .ok = dbStatus,
                let ntfInfo = apiGetNtfMessage(nonce: nonce, encNtfInfo: encNtfInfo) {
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
index c03951e60..4d1446965 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
@@ -1498,6 +1498,8 @@ public enum PushProvider: String, Decodable {
     }
 }
 
+// This notification mode is for app core, UI uses AppNotificationsMode.off to mean completely disable,
+// and .local for periodic background checks
 public enum NotificationsMode: String, Decodable, SelectableItem {
     case off = "OFF"
     case periodic = "PERIODIC"
@@ -1505,9 +1507,9 @@ public enum NotificationsMode: String, Decodable, SelectableItem {
 
     public var label: LocalizedStringKey {
         switch self {
-        case .off: return "Off (Local)"
-        case .periodic: return "Periodically"
-        case .instant: return "Instantly"
+        case .off: "Local"
+        case .periodic: "Periodically"
+        case .instant: "Instantly"
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/AppGroup.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/AppGroup.swift
index 0804741c9..10625e2ed 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/AppGroup.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/AppGroup.swift
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ let GROUP_DEFAULT_NSE_STATE = "nseState"
 let GROUP_DEFAULT_DB_CONTAINER = "dbContainer"
 public let GROUP_DEFAULT_CHAT_LAST_START = "chatLastStart"
 let GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_PREVIEW_MODE = "ntfPreviewMode"
-public let GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_LOCAL = "ntfEnableLocal"
-public let GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_PERIODIC = "ntfEnablePeriodic"
+public let GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_LOCAL = "ntfEnableLocal" // no longer used
+public let GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_PERIODIC = "ntfEnablePeriodic" // no longer used
 let GROUP_DEFAULT_PRIVACY_ACCEPT_IMAGES = "privacyAcceptImages"
 public let GROUP_DEFAULT_PRIVACY_TRANSFER_IMAGES_INLINE = "privacyTransferImagesInline" // no longer used
 public let GROUP_DEFAULT_PRIVACY_ENCRYPT_LOCAL_FILES = "privacyEncryptLocalFiles"
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ public let nseStateGroupDefault = EnumDefault<NSEState>(
     withDefault: .suspended // so that NSE that was never launched does not delay the app from resuming
 )
 
+// inactive app states do not include "stopped" state
 public func allowBackgroundRefresh() -> Bool {
     appStateGroupDefault.get().inactive && nseStateGroupDefault.get().inactive
 }
@@ -163,10 +164,6 @@ public let ntfPreviewModeGroupDefault = EnumDefault<NotificationPreviewMode>(
 
 public let incognitoGroupDefault = BoolDefault(defaults: groupDefaults, forKey: GROUP_DEFAULT_INCOGNITO)
 
-public let ntfEnableLocalGroupDefault = BoolDefault(defaults: groupDefaults, forKey: GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_LOCAL)
-
-public let ntfEnablePeriodicGroupDefault = BoolDefault(defaults: groupDefaults, forKey: GROUP_DEFAULT_NTF_ENABLE_PERIODIC)
-
 public let privacyAcceptImagesGroupDefault = BoolDefault(defaults: groupDefaults, forKey: GROUP_DEFAULT_PRIVACY_ACCEPT_IMAGES)
 
 public let privacyEncryptLocalFilesGroupDefault = BoolDefault(defaults: groupDefaults, forKey: GROUP_DEFAULT_PRIVACY_ENCRYPT_LOCAL_FILES)
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/Notifications.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/Notifications.swift
index d613ff20a..bc959cb34 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/Notifications.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/Notifications.swift
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ public func createErrorNtf(_ dbStatus: DBMigrationResult) -> UNMutableNotificati
     )
 }
 
+public func createAppStoppedNtf() -> UNMutableNotificationContent {
+    return createNotification(
+        categoryIdentifier: ntfCategoryConnectionEvent,
+        title: NSLocalizedString("Encrypted message: app is stopped", comment: "notification")
+    )
+}
+
 private func groupMsgNtfTitle(_ groupInfo: GroupInfo, _ groupMember: GroupMember, hideContent: Bool) -> String {
     hideContent
     ? NSLocalizedString("Group message:", comment: "notification")
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
index eb322bcd9..91ca3857a 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ processChatCommand = \case
             . sortOn (timeAvg . snd)
             . M.assocs
             <$> withConnection st (readTVarIO . DB.slow)
-  APIGetChats userId withPCC -> withUserId userId $ \user ->
+  APIGetChats userId withPCC -> withUserId' userId $ \user ->
     CRApiChats user <$> withStoreCtx' (Just "APIGetChats, getChatPreviews") (\db -> getChatPreviews db user withPCC)
   APIGetChat (ChatRef cType cId) pagination search -> withUser $ \user -> case cType of
     -- TODO optimize queries calculating ChatStats, currently they're disabled
@@ -1205,8 +1205,7 @@ processChatCommand = \case
       CRServerTestResult user srv <$> withAgent (\a -> testProtocolServer a (aUserId user) server)
   TestProtoServer srv -> withUser $ \User {userId} ->
     processChatCommand $ APITestProtoServer userId srv
-  APISetChatItemTTL userId newTTL_ -> withUser $ \user -> do
-    checkSameUser userId user
+  APISetChatItemTTL userId newTTL_ -> withUserId userId $ \user ->
     checkStoreNotChanged $
       withChatLock "setChatItemTTL" $ do
         case newTTL_ of
@@ -1224,7 +1223,7 @@ processChatCommand = \case
         ok user
   SetChatItemTTL newTTL_ -> withUser' $ \User {userId} -> do
     processChatCommand $ APISetChatItemTTL userId newTTL_
-  APIGetChatItemTTL userId -> withUserId userId $ \user -> do
+  APIGetChatItemTTL userId -> withUserId' userId $ \user -> do
     ttl <- withStoreCtx' (Just "APIGetChatItemTTL, getChatItemTTL") (`getChatItemTTL` user)
     pure $ CRChatItemTTL user ttl
   GetChatItemTTL -> withUser' $ \User {userId} -> do
@@ -1483,9 +1482,9 @@ processChatCommand = \case
     pure $ CRUserContactLinkDeleted user'
   DeleteMyAddress -> withUser $ \User {userId} ->
     processChatCommand $ APIDeleteMyAddress userId
-  APIShowMyAddress userId -> withUserId userId $ \user ->
+  APIShowMyAddress userId -> withUserId' userId $ \user ->
     CRUserContactLink user <$> withStoreCtx (Just "APIShowMyAddress, getUserAddress") (`getUserAddress` user)
-  ShowMyAddress -> withUser $ \User {userId} ->
+  ShowMyAddress -> withUser' $ \User {userId} ->
     processChatCommand $ APIShowMyAddress userId
   APISetProfileAddress userId False -> withUserId userId $ \user@User {profile = p} -> do
     let p' = (fromLocalProfile p :: Profile) {contactLink = Nothing}
@@ -5911,6 +5910,11 @@ withUser action = withUser' $ \user ->
 withUser_ :: ChatMonad m => m ChatResponse -> m ChatResponse
 withUser_ = withUser . const
 
+withUserId' :: ChatMonad m => UserId -> (User -> m ChatResponse) -> m ChatResponse
+withUserId' userId action = withUser' $ \user -> do
+  checkSameUser userId user
+  action user
+
 withUserId :: ChatMonad m => UserId -> (User -> m ChatResponse) -> m ChatResponse
 withUserId userId action = withUser $ \user -> do
   checkSameUser userId user