How To Fix Notifications Not Showing On Android And iPhone

When notifications stop appearing on your Android phone or iPhone, you may miss messages, calls, updates and other important alerts. The problem can affect one app or several apps and may happen after changing a setting, enabling a Focus mode or updating the phone.

In many cases, notifications are still being received but are being silenced, delayed or prevented from appearing on the screen. Checking the notification settings first can help identify what is blocking them before you make more advanced changes.

Why Notifications May Not Be Showing

Notifications may stop appearing because notification permission has been turned off for an app. Do Not Disturb or Focus can also silence alerts, while battery-saving features and background restrictions may affect how some apps work.

An unstable internet connection can affect apps that need to connect with their servers before sending notifications. Outdated apps, outdated Android or iOS software and temporary software problems can also contribute to notification issues.

Start by checking whether notifications are missing from one app or several apps. If only one app is affected, focus on that app's settings first.

Check Notification Permissions On Android

Android lets you control notifications for individual apps. If notifications have been disabled, the app cannot show them normally. The exact settings can vary between Android versions and phone manufacturers.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Notifications or Apps.
3. Select App notifications if available.
4. Find the app that is not showing notifications.
5. Turn on Allow notifications or the relevant notification option.
6. Check the individual notification categories if they are listed.
7. Open the app and test it.

Also check the phone's lock-screen notification settings if alerts are arriving but not appearing on the lock screen. Some Android devices allow you to choose how notifications appear there.

Check Notification Settings On iPhone

On an iPhone, notifications can be controlled separately for each app. If Allow Notifications is turned off, that app will not show its alerts.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps and select the app.
3. Tap Notifications.
4. Turn on Allow Notifications.
5. Check that Lock Screen, Notification Centre and Banners are enabled if you want notifications to appear in those places.
6. Check Sounds if you also want an alert sound.
7. Test the app.

Depending on your iOS version, you may also find app notification settings through Settings > Notifications.

Turn Off Do Not Disturb And Focus Modes

Do Not Disturb can prevent notifications from appearing normally. On Android, you can check this from Quick Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen.

On Android:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Look for Do Not Disturb or another active mode.
3. Tap it to turn it off.
4. Open the app and test its notifications.

On iPhone:

1. Open Control Centre.
2. Tap Focus if a Focus mode is active.
3. Turn off Do Not Disturb or the active Focus mode.
4. Test the app.

If Focus or Do Not Disturb keeps turning on automatically, check its schedule and automatic settings.

Check Battery And Background Restrictions

Battery-saving features can limit background activity and may affect how some apps behave when you are not actively using them. Android phones can also have manufacturer-specific battery restrictions.

On Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps or App management.
3. Select the app.
4. Look for Battery, Battery usage or a similar option.
5. Check whether the app is restricted from running in the background.
6. If your phone provides an option to allow normal background activity, select the appropriate setting.
7. Test the notifications.

The exact options vary between Android manufacturers.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Battery.
3. Check whether Low Power Mode is enabled.
4. Turn it off temporarily and test the app.

Low Power Mode reduces background activity, so disabling it temporarily can help determine whether battery-saving behaviour is contributing to delayed notifications.

Check The App's Own Notification Settings

Some apps have their own notification controls in addition to the phone's system settings. An app may allow you to disable notifications for particular types of activity.

1. Open the app.
2. Go to its Settings.
3. Find Notifications, Alerts or a similar option.
4. Turn on the notifications you want to receive.
5. Check individual chat, group or account settings if available.
6. Test the app.

This is especially useful when notifications work for some activities but not others.

Check Your Internet Connection

Some notifications depend on an app communicating with its online service. If your connection is unstable, notifications from internet-based apps may arrive late or fail to appear.

1. Open a website in your browser.
2. Check whether other online apps are working.
3. If you are using mobile data, try Wi-Fi if available.
4. If you are using Wi-Fi, try mobile data.
5. Reopen the app and test it.

If other internet services work normally but notifications from only one app are missing, focus on that app's settings instead.

Restart Your Phone And Update Your Apps

Restarting the phone can clear temporary software problems that may affect notifications.

On Android:

1. Press and hold the Power button.
2. Tap Restart.
3. Wait for the phone to start completely.
4. Test the notifications.

On iPhone:

1. Turn the iPhone off using the appropriate power controls for your model.
2. Wait a few seconds.
3. Turn it back on.
4. Check the app.

You should also update the app because a newer version may contain fixes for notification problems.

On Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your profile picture.
3. Tap Manage apps & device.
4. Check for available updates.
5. Update the app.

On iPhone:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your account picture.
3. Tap App Updates.
4. Tap Update beside the app or update all available apps.

Update Android Or iOS

An outdated operating system can sometimes cause compatibility problems with apps and their notification features.

On Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap System.
3. Tap Software updates or a similar option.
4. Check for an available update.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.
4. Install an available update if one is offered.

The exact menu names can vary depending on the Android version, iOS version and device.

Check For Delayed Notifications

If notifications eventually appear but arrive several minutes late, the problem may be different from notifications being completely disabled.

On iPhone, check Focus settings and Scheduled Summary because they can affect when notifications are delivered or displayed. On Android, check Do Not Disturb, notification modes and battery restrictions.

If notifications are delayed only for one app, check that app's notification settings and background restrictions. If several apps are delayed, check the phone's system settings and internet connection.

Reset Relevant Settings

If notifications still do not work after checking the main notification settings, Focus or Do Not Disturb, battery restrictions, updates and the internet connection, resetting relevant settings may help.

On iPhone, Reset All Settings restores system settings to their defaults without deleting your personal content. However, it also resets preferences and other settings you have changed.

On Android, available reset options vary by manufacturer. Some phones provide options to reset app preferences or network settings.

Read the warning shown before confirming any reset. A network reset, for example, can remove saved Wi-Fi connections and other network settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my notifications not showing on Android or iPhone?

Notifications may be disabled for the app or affected by Do Not Disturb, Focus or other phone settings.

Why do I get notifications from some apps but not others?

The app may have its notifications turned off or restricted. Check its notification settings separately.

Why are my notifications coming late?

Delayed notifications can be caused by Focus, battery-saving settings, background restrictions or connection problems.

Can restarting my phone fix notifications that are not showing?

Yes, restarting can fix temporary software problems that may prevent notifications from appearing normally.

If Notifications Work For Some Apps

If notifications appear normally for most apps but one or two apps are affected, concentrate on those apps rather than changing the entire phone's settings.

Check their notification permissions, notification categories and in-app notification settings. Update the apps and check whether battery or background restrictions are limiting them.

If the problem started after an app update and other apps are still working normally, the issue may be specific to that app. Check for another update or contact the developer if the problem continues.

If Notifications Still Do Not Appear

If notifications are missing from several apps after you have checked notification settings, Focus or Do Not Disturb, battery restrictions, updates and the internet connection, the problem may be related to the phone's software.

Restart the device and check for another system update before resetting settings. If the problem remains, use the support service provided by your phone manufacturer or Apple for further assistance.

Avoid installing third-party apps that claim to fix notification problems. Use the notification and system settings already available on your Android phone or iPhone.

Getting notifications working again usually starts with checking whether apps are allowed to send alerts and whether the phone is silencing or delaying them. Work through the relevant steps for your Android or iPhone and check the apps after each change.

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