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Android notification issues? Try these simple 16 fixes

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The notification shade on and Android phone pulled down with a red arrow pointing to the Do Not Disturb quick settings tile

Notifications are how Android apps get your attention. Whether someone is trying to reach you or an event requires your attention, notifications can pop up on your screen and make your phone vibrate, prompting you to check your phone. Whether you activate notification sounds or prefer a vibration, notifications avoid constantly checking your screen and let you know when you should do so.

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Whether on your phone or Android tablet, ensure notifications work correctly. There are several reasons for them not to appear, and troubleshooting the glitch to find a solution is easy. Let’s look at your phone settings to make sure you can rely on Android notifications again.

Deactivate Do Not Disturb mode (DND)

Do Not Disturb (DND) is an Android system setting that stops most notifications to keep you distraction-free. Sometimes, you may forget to turn off DND after a meeting or nap, which stops you from getting notifications. An icon in the upper-right corner of your phone shows a circle with a horizontal line through it that indicates DND is on.

The easiest way to turn off Do Not Disturb is to swipe down from the top and tap the Do Not Disturb tile in the quick settings menu. You can also turn it off in your device settings.

  1. Open the
    Settings
    app on your Android phone.
  2. Select the
    Notifications
    option.
  3. Tap
    Do Not Disturb
    under the
    General
    section.
  4. Tap the
    Turn off now
    button at the top.

DND allows you to specify apps and people that can send app notifications even if DND is on. These steps show you how to choose an app to get through DND, but the process for contacts is similar.

  1. Select
    Apps
    from the list of options.
  2. Tap
    Add apps
    .
  3. Select the apps you want to get notifications from, even if DND is on.

From now on, you’ll receive app notifications from the apps and contacts you select, even if DND is on.

Check app notification settings

Is there a single app you’re not seeing notifications from? It may make sense to check the notification settings for that app.

  1. Launch the
    Settings
    app on Android.
  2. Scroll down and tap
    Notifications
    .
  3. Select
    App settings
    .
  4. Make sure the notification toggle for the app is flipped on.

Check notification channels

Most apps support notification channels on Android. Notification channels are a feature that groups all notifications from each app into different buckets based on subject. When you turn off notification channels for installed apps, you don’t get alerts for that bucket of notifications. For instance, Slack allows you to change the notification permissions and preferences for the different organizations you’re a part of.

  1. Long tap the app on your home screen or app drawer and tap the ”
    i
    ” in a circle to open the
    info
    menu.
  2. Select the
    Notifications
    option.
  3. Make sure the notification groups for the notifications you’d like to receive are turned on.

Check app settings

Sometimes, there might be settings in the app you’re missing notifications from that you accidentally changed. For instance, you can mute a conversation in a messaging app, which stops you from getting notifications from that thread. Here’s an example of how to unmute a conversation in WhatsApp:

  1. Open
    WhatsApp
    on your Android phone.
  2. Look for the
    mute
    icon
    , which looks like a speaker with a line through it, at the right of a chat thread.
  3. Long tap to select the conversation and tap the
    unmute icon
    , shaped like a speaker, at the top.
  4. Repeat the same for all such conversations and get your notifications again.

There’s a similar process to unmute conversations in most messaging apps, so give this a go if a conversation is muted.

Notification settings on the lock screen

It’s possible to get notifications when you unlock your phone from apps that don’t appear on your home screen. To fix this issue, follow the steps below to turn them back on.

  1. Lauch the
    Settings
    app.
  2. Select
    Notifications
    .
  3. Tap the
    Notifications on lock screen
    option.
  4. Choose
    Show conversations, default, and silent
    from the list of options.

Selecting this setting ensures you receive all notifications on your lock screen.

Deactivate Battery Saver or Power Saving mode

Battery Saver or Power Saving mode is a great way to extend the battery life on your Android device. Battery Saver delays app notifications, turns off location services, and turns off background activities. This means the feature may prevent you from getting app notifications. The best option is to charge your phone so that Battery Saver or the Power Saving mode automatically turns off. You can also manually turn off Battery Saver or the Power Saving mode in your device settings.

  1. Open your Android device
    settings
    .
  2. Scroll down and select
    Battery
    .
  3. Select
    Battery Saver
    .
  4. Toggle the
    Use
    Battery Saver
    option to the
    off
    position.

Your phone starts working as normal, and you’ll receive notifications again.

Turn off Adaptive Battery mode

The Adaptive Battery feature reduces performance and background activity to extend your Android phone’s battery life based on your device usage. Part of this optimization may include turning off or suppressing app notifications. Adaptive Battery is activated by default on most Android phones, so follow the steps below to deactivate it.

  1. In the
    Settings
    app, open the
    Battery
    menu.
  2. Select
    Adaptive preferences
    .
  3. Turn off the
    Adaptive Battery
    toggle.

Adaptive battery is now deactivated, and you’ll receive notifications again if the feature was interfering.

Deactivate app pausing

Android has a setting that pauses the activity of apps you haven’t used in a while. Pausing an app doesn’t uninstall it. Instead, it removes permissions, deletes temporary files, and stops notifications. You can re-activate your apps using these steps:

  1. Long tap the affected app icon and select the
    i with a circle
    around it in the app shortcut menu.
  2. Turn off the
    Pause app activity if unused
    setting.

When toggled off, the app turns on and sends notifications as usual.

Lock essential apps in the background

Some Android phone manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, and Vivo implement an aggressive battery-saving mode to close inactive apps in the background. You can lock essential apps in the multitasking menu to continue receiving notifications without issues.

  1. Swipe up and hold from the bottom to open the recent apps menu. If you use button navigation, tap the
    square icon
    .
  2. Find the app you want to lock and tap the app icon at the top of the preview.
  3. Select
    Lock this app
    .

The system makes an exception for locked apps and doesn’t completely prevent them from running in the background, which allows you to see notifications.

Check background data settings for affected apps

If background data permissions for an app are turned off, notifications don’t work correctly unless the app is open.

  1. Long tap an affected app icon and tap the
    i with a circle
    to open the app info menu.
  2. Select
    Mobile data & Wi-Fi
    from the list of options.
  3. Turn on the
    Background data
    toggle.

This allows the app to use data in the background and send notifications when they pop up.

Activate apps in Focus mode

Focus mode shuts off most apps on your phone to help you focus. To get notifications from an app when focus mode is on, make an exception for it.

  1. Open
    Settings
    and go to
    Digital Wellbeing and parental controls
    .
  2. Select
    Focus mode
    .
  3. Uncheck the app you’re missing notifications from in the
    Your distracting apps
    section.

That app now sends notifications even if Focus mode is on.

Turn off Flip to Shhh

Flip to Shhh is a neat feature that activates Do Not Disturb when you place your phone face down on something. While Flip to Shhh is helpful during meetings and dinner with a friend, you may accidentally trigger DND and miss notifications.

  1. Open
    Digital Wellbeing and parental controls
    in the Settings app.
  2. Select
    Flip to Shhh
    .
  3. Turn the feature
    off
    .

Now, your notifications come through if your device is face down.

Turn off Do Not Disturb during Bedtime mode

Bedtime mode tries to separate you from your phone so that you can sleep. Part of this mode is that it automatically activates Do Not Disturb (DND) during Bedtime mode hours. You can keep DND off during Bedtime mode and receive push notifications in real time by changing the settings.

  1. Launch
    Settings
    and select
    Digital Wellbeing and parental controls
    .
  2. Select
    Bedtime mode
    .
  3. Expand the
    Customize
    menu by tapping the downward-facing arrow.
  4. Turn off
    Do Not Disturb for Bedtime mode
    using the toggle.

Notifications and other items now stay on while Bedtime mode is on.

Reset app preferences

If none of the options in this list have worked, reset all app preferences on your device. This option resets all preferences for deactivated apps, app notifications, background data restrictions for apps, permission restrictions, and battery usage settings. This process doesn’t lose any app data.

  1. Open the Android
    Settings
    app and select
    System
    .
  2. Tap
    Reset options
    .
  3. Tap
    Reset app preferences
    .
  4. Confirm your decision in the dialog box.

You may need to update preferences for certain apps since they’ve been reset, but you’ll receive notifications from problem apps.

Update apps

Android developers frequently release app updates to add new features, fix bugs, and improve security. Notifications may not work on your Android phone due to an outdated app version. Go to the Google Play Store and install an app update, if available, to fix the problem.

  1. Open the
    Google Play Store
    on your Android phone.
  2. Select your
    account picture
    in the upper-right corner.
  3. Tap
    Manage apps & devices
    in the menu.
  4. Tap
    Update all
    .

You can also tap See details to view all available app updates and see if your problem app is in the list.

Update your operating system

Most flagship Android phones get regular updates and monthly patches to ensure a secure and smooth user experience. Some apps may develop incompatibilities with outdated Android software and fail at basic functions like real-time notifications.

  1. Open the
    Settings
    app on your device.
  2. Tap
    System
    .
  3. Select the
    System update
    option.
  4. Download and install the latest Android update on your device.

Now, app incompatibilities should be resolved.

Get Android notifications working

With these steps, you can fix notification issues on your Android device without uninstalling apps or factory resetting your handset.

Did you know that Android gives you advanced notification controls? For example, if you accidentally dismiss a notification, go to Settings to check your notification history. You can also snooze notifications to stay concentrated and receive them at a convenient time.

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