Android Notifications Not Showing How to Fix It

Android Notifications Not Showing How to Fix It

Messages arrive only when you open the app, or the alert sound never plays, or some apps show nothing at all. On Android, notifications pass through several switches - the app's own setting, Android's notification settings, Do Not Disturb, and battery and data limits. One wrong switch is enough to block them.

The steps below follow Google's Android Help. Menu names vary between Pixel, Samsung and other phones; if a path doesn't match, type the setting's name into the Settings search bar.

1. Restart the Phone

A restart reconnects the phone to the push service that delivers notifications. Hold the power button (or power + volume up on some phones) and tap Restart.

2. Check the App's Notification Settings

1. Open Settings > Notifications > App notifications (on some phones: Settings > Apps > [app] > Notifications).
2. Find the app and make sure notifications are on.
3. Tap the app name to see its notification categories (WhatsApp, for example, has separate ones for messages, groups and calls). Turn on the ones you need.
4. Tap a category and choose Default (sound and pop-up) instead of Silent.

Also open the app itself and check its own notification settings. In WhatsApp, for example: Settings > Notifications.

3. Turn Off Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb hides or silences most notifications.

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen and look for the Do Not Disturb tile. Tap it to turn it off.
2. Check Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb (Samsung: Settings > Notifications > Do not disturb) for schedules that turn it on automatically, for example at night.
3. Also check Modes or Routines on newer phones, such as Bedtime or Driving modes. They can silence apps at certain times.

4. Remove Battery Limits for the App

This is the most common cause of delayed notifications. Android stops apps in the background to save battery, and they can't receive messages until you open them.

Pixel and most phones:

1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps and tap the app.
2. Tap App battery usage (or Battery).
3. Choose Unrestricted (or Don't optimize).

Samsung:

1. Open Settings > Battery > Background usage limits.
2. Remove the app from Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps.
3. You can add it to Never sleeping apps.

Also turn off Battery Saver / Power saving for a moment and see whether notifications come through. If battery life is the reason you limited apps, see battery draining fast on Android for other ways to save power.

5. Allow Background Data

1. Open Settings > Apps > [app] > Mobile data (or Data usage).
2. Turn on Background data.
3. If Data Saver is on, turn on Unrestricted data for this app.

If notifications only fail on mobile data and work on Wi-Fi, see mobile data not working on Android.

6. Check the Lock Screen Setting

If notifications appear when the phone is unlocked but not on the lock screen:

1. Open Settings > Notifications.
2. Find Notifications on lock screen (or Lock screen notifications).
3. Choose to show notifications, and decide whether to hide sensitive content.

7. Update the App and Android

1. Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device > Update all.
2. Open Settings > System > Software updates (Samsung: Settings > Software update).

If the Play Store won't update apps, see Google Play Store not downloading apps.

8. Clear the App's Cache

1. Open Settings > Apps > [app] > Storage & cache.
2. Tap Clear cache. This doesn't delete your chats or account.

Avoid Clear storage / Clear data unless you have a backup - it signs you out and, for some apps, deletes local data.

9. Sign Out and Back In

For email and chat apps, sign out of the app and sign in again. This registers the phone with the app's notification service again. Make sure you know your password, and for WhatsApp, back up your chats first.

Still Not Fixed?

• If one app crashes or closes on its own as well, see why apps crash repeatedly on Android.
• If no app gets notifications, check Settings > Notifications for an overall switch, and test in Safe mode (hold the power-off option on screen, then tap Safe mode). If they work there, a recently installed app is interfering.
• As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the affected app, after backing up its data.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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