Why are my notifications not showing up?

If you are not receiving notifications on your device as expected, there are a few potential causes and solutions to check.

Ensure Notifications are Enabled

The first thing to check is that notifications are enabled for the app in your device settings. Here are the steps for different devices:

iPhone/iPad

1. Open Settings app
2. Tap on Notifications
3. Locate the app and ensure the toggle is switched on

Android

1. Open Settings app
2. Tap Apps & notifications
3. Select the app
4. Make sure Show notifications is enabled

Windows

1. Open Settings app
2. Click on System
3. Select Notifications & actions
4. Locate the app and make sure notifications are turned on

If notifications are disabled, simply enable them and that should resolve the issue. You may also want to check notification settings within the app itself.

Check Notification Settings in the App

Many apps that send notifications will also have notification settings within the app itself. Check to see if the app has options to enable/disable certain notification types or set the frequency of notifications.

For example, in a messaging app you may be able to enable/disable notifications for new messages. Or in a news app, you could set how often you receive notifications about top stories. Ensure your desired notification types are enabled in the app settings.

Make Sure Notifications are Not Blocked

Some devices have options to block notifications from certain apps, even if general notifications are enabled. Check if the app’s notifications are being blocked:

iPhone/iPad

1. Go to Settings > Notifications
2. Locate the app and make sure “Allow Notifications” is enabled

Android

1. Open Settings > Apps & notifications
2. Tap Notifications > See all from last 7 days
3. Check if notifications from the app are being blocked

Windows

1. Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions
2. Locate the app and ensure notifications are not turned off

If you see notifications are blocked, unblock them and that should re-enable notifications from the app.

Double Check Notification Settings for the Device

Some device settings can override app notification settings, so it’s worth checking them. Things to verify:

• Do Not Disturb is not enabled, this blocks notifications
• The device sound mode is not set to silent
• The device notification volume is turned up

Correct any device-level settings that could be preventing notifications. For example, disable Do Not Disturb, ensure the ringer is on, and turn notification volume up.

Restart the Device and App

As a next troubleshooting step, try restarting both the device and app:

1. Force quit or force stop the app
2. Restart your device
3. Open the app again

This resets any temporary glitches that could be interfering with notifications. If the issue persists, move on to further troubleshooting.

Update the App and Device Software

Outdated app or device software can sometimes disrupt notifications. Ensure everything is up to date:

• Update the app to the latest version from the app store
• Install the latest device software updates

Staying current with the latest versions will ensure maximum compatibility with notifications.

Check if Other Notifications are Working

See if the issue is isolated to just one app, or if notifications in general are not working properly on your device:

1. Check if you receive notifications from other installed apps
2. Set a test alarm and calendar notification to see if they come through

If other app notifications are coming through fine, then the issue is likely specific to the problematic app. But if no notifications are showing up across the board, then there is a device-level problem.

Uninstall and Reinstall the App

If notifications are working for other apps, try uninstalling and reinstalling the problematic app:

1. Backup app data if possible
2. Delete and uninstall the app
3. Reboot the device
4. Reinstall the app from the app store
5. Set up notifications again

This wipes out any corrupted files or cached data that could be interfering with notifications specifically for that app.

Check if a Third-Party App is Blocking Notifications

Some third party apps promise to optimize devices by restricting background processes and notifications. If you have such an app, try whitelisting the problem app or disabling the third party app temporarily to see if that fixes notification issues.

Factory Reset the Device as Last Resort

If no other troubleshooting suggestions have worked, consider a factory reset of your device. This will wipe the device and install a clean version of the operating system.

Before resetting, make sure to backup important data. Then follow device specific instructions for performing a factory reset. Set up the device again from scratch and test if notifications now work properly.

Contact the App Developer or Device Manufacturer

If you still do not receive notifications after trying all troubleshooting steps, get in touch with the app developer or device manufacturer for further support:

• Check the app settings for a “Contact” or “Help” section to get in touch with developer
• For a device issue, locate manufacturer support contacts
• Explain the notification issue and troubleshooting steps taken
• Provide any logs or diagnostic information requested

The app developers or device makers may be able to identify a bug causing notification issues, or spot a problem in diagnostic reports that general troubleshooting tips cannot pinpoint.

Conclusion

Missing notifications can be annoying and cause you to miss important alerts and updates from apps. Fortunately, the issue often can be resolved by working through notification settings, updating software, restarting the device, reinstalling the app, or contacting developer support. With some diligent troubleshooting, you should be able to get notifications working properly again.