Techniques for transmitting a response in a messaging application via a notification can include receiving, at a computing device having one or more processors, an electronic message via a messaging application. The technique can also include outputting, at the computing device, a notification of the electronic message via a system level notification function when the messaging application is executing in a background of the computing device. The notification can include an identifier of a sender of the electronic message, at least a portion of the electronic message, and one or more suggested responses to the electronic message. The technique can further include receiving a selection of a particular response of the one or more suggested responses via the notification, and transmitting, via the messaging application, the particular response for sending to the sender of the electronic message while the messaging application is executing in the background of the computing device.