Not receiving notifications on your device even though they are turned on can be frustrating. There are a few common reasons why this might happen and some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue.
Check Your Notification Settings
The first thing to check is your notification settings. Open the Settings app on your device and go to Notifications. Make sure that notifications are turned on for the app(s) you expect to get notifications from. Additionally, check that the alert style is not set to “None.”
You may also want to verify that notifications are enabled at the system level. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and make sure “Allow Notifications” is toggled on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications and make sure “On” is selected.
Check App Notification Settings
In addition to system notification settings, most apps have their own notification settings. Open the app in question and look for a settings/notifications menu. Make sure notifications are enabled and alert styles are turned on here as well.
For example, in Facebook app settings, you can choose notification tones, enable/disable certain notification types, and more. Make sure none of these settings are inadvertently blocking notifications.
Update or Reinstall the App
If an app was recently updated, notifications may stop working due to a bug or change in the app’s code. Try updating the app to the latest version and see if that resolves the issue.
If updating doesn’t help, try reinstalling the app completely. This will clear out any corrupted files or settings that could be preventing notifications from coming through.
Restart Your Device
A simple device restart can often sort out notification issues. Close all apps, power your device off completely, wait a few minutes, and power it back on. After restarting, check to see if notifications are now working as expected.
Check Do Not Disturb Settings
Most devices have a do not disturb or silent mode that blocks notifications when enabled. Check to make sure these modes are turned off.
On an iPhone, swipe up to access Control Center and make sure Do Not Disturb is not on. You can also go to Settings > Do Not Disturb and check your scheduled settings.
On Android, go to Settings > Sound and make sure Do Not Disturb is off. You can long press the volume down button to quickly toggle this setting as well.
Disable Battery Saver/Optimization
Battery saver and optimization features can sometimes limit app activity in the background. This may prevent apps from delivering notifications reliably.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and turn off Reduce Power Mode. For specific apps, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization and turn it off.
On Android, open Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Battery optimization. Tap the app and select “Don’t optimize.”
Allow Notifications in App Settings
Some apps may include options that disable notifications specifically from the app, even if general system notifications are on. Go into the app’s individual notification settings (usually found in the app’s settings menu) and make sure to enable notifications.
For example, Facebook and Instagram have settings to mute push notifications from that app only. Toggle those off to re-enable notifications.
Check Notification History
It’s possible notifications are coming through but are being dismissed automatically before you see them. To check for this, view your notification history.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Notification History. This will show notifications from recently used apps.
On Android, open the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > Notifications > Notification history. Tap “See all from last 7 days” to view your notification archive.
Enable Lock Screen Notifications
Make sure lock screen notifications are enabled so you can see notifications when your device is locked. This setting is sometimes turned off by default.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and turn on “Show Previews.” You can also enable “Show on Lock Screen.”
On Android, open the Settings app then choose Apps & Notifications > Notifications > On lock screen. Make sure “Show all notification content” or at least “Show sensitive content” is selected.
Disable Focus/Concentration Modes
Focus modes like Do Not Disturb While Driving or certain new iPhone Focus modes can block notifications from popping up temporarily. Check that any enabled focus modes are not unintentionally silencing your notifications.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus to view and manage your Focus profiles. On Android, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Focus mode to check your settings.
Check Default Apps
If you are expecting notifications from a certain app but getting them from another one, your default apps could be set incorrectly. Double check that related default app settings match the apps you want to get notifications from.
For example, if you expect Gmail notifications but are only getting notifications from Apple Mail, check that Gmail is set as the default email app in your system settings.
Disable Battery Optimization for App
On Android devices, battery optimization features can sometimes block notifications for certain apps. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Battery optimization. Find the problematic app and select “Don’t optimize.”
Restart Wi-Fi, Mobile Data, Bluetooth
Connectivity issues may interfere with an app’s ability to deliver notifications. As a troubleshooting step, try turning Airplane mode on, wait 30 seconds, then turn it off again. This will restart your Wi-Fi, mobile data, Bluetooth and other connectivity services which may resolve any temporary connection problems.
Update Your Operating System
If your device is out of date running an older OS version, it may have notification bugs or issues that are fixed in newer OS updates. Make sure to keep your iPhone, Android, or other device updated to the latest operating system for the best notification experience.
Check Notification Channels on Android
Android 8.0 Oreo introduced notification channels – categories that notifications can be grouped into per app. Check the channel settings for the problematic app.
Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > [App Name] > Notifications. Make sure the channel is not blocked, set to Gentle or Silent, or otherwise configured to suppress notifications.
Disable App Optimization on Huawei/Honor Phones
On Huawei and Honor devices running EMUI 10 or higher, there is an App Assistant feature that can limit activity for unused apps. If an app’s notifications are blocked, go to Settings > Battery > App Assistant and disable optimization for that app.
Clear App Cache and Data
As a last resort, try clearing the app’s cache and data. This will wipe all temporary files and reset the app to default settings which may resolve underlying software issues.
On an iPhone, delete and reinstall the app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > [App Name] > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.
Contact the App Developer
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and notifications are still not coming through, reach out to the app developer directly. They may be able to provide personalized troubleshooting or determine if it’s a wider technical issue on their end.
Conclusion
With notifications being so important for staying up-to-date and informed, not receiving them can certainly be annoying. Hopefully one of these troubleshooting tips resolved your missing notification issue. Be sure to check notification settings at the system level, app level, and on your device to ensure they are enabled as expected.