Why Am I Not Getting Notifications? Simple Fixes for Android + iPhone

PDF download Download Article
Troubleshooting steps to take when your phone isn't sending you notifications for apps
PDF download Download Article

Is your phone not sending you notifications when it should? Fortunately, there are settings you can check and troubleshooting steps you can take to make sure you're getting notified. This wikiHow article teaches you how to fix when your Android or iPhone isn't sending you notifications.

Things You Should Know

  • Before you attempt any troubleshooting steps, check that your phone isn't silenced using the Control Center and Quick Menu.
  • For iPhone, ensure that the silence switch on your phone is not showing orange.
  • Restart your phone before you do anything else. It's the most common fix for every glitch possible.
Section 1 of 2:

9 Common Solutions

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Check that Do Not Disturb Mode is not active.
    The Do Not Disturb Mode on iPhone, iPad, and Android silences all incoming notifications, calls, and more. It prevents your phone from making any noise or vibrating, so it can be the reason that you're not getting notifications![1]
    • Turn this off for an iPhone by tapping the crescent moon icon in Control Center.[2] Also make sure the physical button isn't switched on (showing orange).
    • Turn this off for Android by tapping the circle with a line in the middle in your Quick Menu by swiping down from the top of your screen.[3]
  2. Step 2 Restart your phone.
    The current session could be glitched, causing notifications to not come through.
    • For iPhones without a Home button, press and hold either volume button as well as the other side button at the same time. Release the buttons when the slider appears and drag it to power off your phone. Press the same buttons again to turn your iPhone back on.[4]
    • For iPhones 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd/3rd gen), press and hold the side button until the slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Press the side button again to turn your phone on.[5]
    • For iPhone SE (1st gen), press and hold the top button until the slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. Press the top button to turn your phone back on.[6]
    • For Android, press the side button until you see options. Tap the Restart option and let your phone restart.[7]
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Check your system notification settings.
    You might have turned them off or made them not appear as usual before, so make sure they are visible now.
    • For iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews > Always. Select "Always" or "When Unlocked" to see the notification previews immediately.[8] If "Never" is selected, you won't see incoming notifications, but will feel the vibration or hear the notification noise instead.
  4. Step 4 Check app notification settings.
    You want to make sure you don't have them disabled or you could be wondering why Facebook isn't sending you any notifications.
    • For iPhone, open Settings and go to Notifications and select the app that's not sending you alerts.[9] Once there, make sure the toggle for "Allow Notifications" is on.[10]
    • For Android, open Settings, tap Notifications > App settings and make sure the toggle is on to allow notifications.[11]
  5. Step 5 Check your battery-saving settings.
    The battery-saving features on iPhone and Android aim to help you conserve battery power when you don't have much left. This includes turning off notifications for many apps.
    • To turn this off on iPhone, tap the battery icon in Control Center until it's white (the icon will be yellow when it's on).
    • To turn this off on Android, tap the battery icon with the triangle in the middle in Quick Menu (open Quick Menu by swiping down from the top of your screen).[12]
  6. Step 6 Clear app cache and data.
    If you haven't done it recently, your cache of temporary files can get overwhelmingly full. If any of these files are corrupted, you could experience bugs or glitches in the app, like not getting notifications.
    • To clear the app cache and temporary data files on iPhone, you need to uninstall the app. Tap and hold the app until it jiggles, then tap Remove App. Then get it again from the App Store. You'll need to sign in again if needed.
    • To clear the cache and app data on Android, open Settings and go to Apps/Apps & notifications, tap the app that's not sending you notifications, and select Storage > Clear Cache > Clear Data.
  7. Step 7 Update your apps.
    An outdated app can have issues, like not sending you notifications. Open the App Store on iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android and update the app that's not sending you notifications (if an update is available).[13]
  8. Step 8 Turn on cellular data or connect to a Wi-Fi network.
    If you don't have a consistent signal or connection to the internet, your app may not be able to send you notifications. You can turn cell data and Wi-Fi on or off using the Control Center for iPhone or the Quick Menu for Android.
  9. Step 9 Check your Focus Mode/Do Not Disturb settings.
    If a scheduled time is triggering Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb to turn on, you won't get notifications until you allow them to alert you during those scheduled hours.
    • To allow notifications while a Focus Mode is active on iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and select the Focus Mode that is active. Tap Apps/Choose Apps and select the app that you want notifications from.[14]
    • To allow notifications while Do Not Disturb is active on an Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do not disturb and tap App notifications under "Allowed during Do not disturb." Tap + and select the app that you want notifications from. Tap Done to confirm.[15]
    10. Advertisement
Section 2 of 2:

FAQ

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 How do I hide notifications on Android's lock screen?
    Go to Settings > Notifications > Sensitive notifications or Settings > General > Apps & notifications > Notifications > Lock screen > Hide sensitive/Hide all or Settings > Lockscreen > Notifications > Hide content.
  2. Step 2 How do I see notification history?
    Open Notification Center on your iPhone by swiping up from middle of the Lock Screen. Or swipe down from the center of your screen if you're not on the Lock Screen.[16]
    • For Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Notification History. Notification History might be hidden in the "Advanced Settings" option if you see it.[17]
  3. Step 3 Why won't my iPhone send me notifications when the screen is locked?
    Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode/Touch ID & Passcode and turn on Notification Center. That will allow text notifications on the Lock Screen.[18]
  4. Step 4 Why are my notifications silenced?
    You'll see this alert in Messages when you send a text to someone who has Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb enabled.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

Expert
1
How to

Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
Expert
2

Top Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android Phone That Isn't Ringing
Expert
3

7 Ways to Fix Snapchat Notifications When It's Not Working
4

Why Is My iPhone Going Straight to Voicemail?
Expert
5

16 Simple Things You Can Try if Your iPhone Says “Call Failed”

6
How to

Turn on Ringer on iPhone: Easy Guide + Fixes
Expert
7
How to

Turn on Push Notifications on an iPhone or iPad
Expert
8
How to

Fix an iPhone That Won't Make Calls but Can Text

Expert
9

The 12 Best Ways to Fix Your Email Not Updating
Expert
10
How to

Stop an iPhone or Android Going Straight to Voicemail
Expert
11
How to

Ensure Your iPhone's Alarm Goes Off in Do Not Disturb
12

A Guide to Seeing Your Old Notifications on iPhone
Expert
13
How to

Unsilence Calls on iPhone
Expert
14
How to

Silence Your iPhone: Do Not Disturb vs. Silent Mode
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105112
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/KCbr0cl3xh8?t=13
  3. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/9069335?hl=en
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118259
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118259
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118259
  7. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/7664998?hl=en
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108781
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/rsa085YD2Ig?t=53
  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108781
  2. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/9079661?hl=en#zippy=%2Cturn-notifications-on-or-off-for-certain-apps
  3. ↑ https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7015477?hl=en&ref_topic=7084007&sjid=13257626590044617224-NA
  4. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-update-your-smartphone-and-tablet-apps
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/allow-or-silence-notifications-for-a-focus-iph21d43af5b/ios
  6. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/9069335?hl=en#zippy=%2Cset-who-can-interrupt-you
  7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108781
  8. ↑ https://www.androidpolice.com/check-android-notification-history-guide/
  9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/iphone/iphcd5c65ccf/ios

About This Article

Stan Kats
Reviewed by:
Stan Kats
Professional Technologist
This article was reviewed by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals. This article has been viewed 110,357 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: February 11, 2025
Views: 110,357
Categories: Smartphones
In other languages
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 110,357 times.

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement