Notifications are the main way most people interact with their smartphones. If your phone doesn’t vibrate or make a noise to make you aware you have a notification, you could miss something important. Android has a robust notification that works well on large screens like the best Android tablets or small screens like the best small phones, but issues pop up. This guide discusses several reasons your device may have issues with notifications and how to fix them.

Deactivate Do Not Disturb (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 the Settings app.

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 choose certain apps and people that can send 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 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 problem 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 troubling 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 group(s)
   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, in a messaging app, it’s possible to mute a conversation, 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 you see 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 mode

Battery Saver is a great way to extend the battery life on your Android device. However, Battery Saver delays notifications, turns off location services, and turns off background activities. This means the feature may be inhibiting your ability to get notifications. The best option is to charge your phone so that Battery Saver automatically turns off, but you can also manually turn off Battery Saver.

1. Launch the
   Settings
   app on your Android device.
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 includes removing permissions, deleting temporary files, and stopping notifications. You can re-activate your apps using the steps below.

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 properly unless the app is open.

1. Long tap an affected app icon and tap
   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, you need to 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 due to it.

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 other 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 potentially 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 to see if your problem app is in the list.

Update Android OS

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 instant messages on Android

Hopefully, one of these steps fixes your notification issue, but if not, it may be time to resort to a factory reset. If you get notifications running again but accidentally dismiss an important notification, go to Settings to check your notification history. You can also snooze notifications to stay concentrated and receive them at a convenient time.