[iOS 18/17] iPhone Notifications Not Working/Showing? 10 Fixes!

Notifications are a vital feature on our iPhones, informing us about messages, emails, reminders, and other updates. However, it can be quite annoying when iPhone notifications are not working properly. Whether you're facing issues with notifications not showing on your iPhone, notifications not making a sound, notifications not displaying names or details, or notifications not going away, this article will guide you through understanding and resolving these problems.

Let's get started.

Why Are My iPhone Notifications Not Working or Showing?

Several reasons might cause your iPhone notifications not to work correctly. They include:

• Incorrect Notification settings.
• Bugs and issues in iOS. (iPhone notifications are not working after an update.)
• Do Not Disturb Mode enabled.
• Focus Mode settings.
• App-specific issues.
• Unstable network connection.
• Insufficient storage space.

How to Fix the "iPhone Notifications Not Working or Showing" Issue

Now that you know why iPhone notifications aren’t working properly, follow these 10 tips to fix them and get your iPhone back to normal.

Fix 1. Check Your Notification Settings

Ensure that notifications are enabled for the apps from which you want to receive alerts.

Here's how:

1. Go to "Settings > Notifications".
2. Tap the app you want to check.
3. Make sure “Allow Notifications” is turned on. Customize the alerts by enabling “Lock Screen”, “Notification Center”, and “Banners”.
4. Ensure the “Sounds” and “Badges” options are also enabled. (This step is necessary if your notifications aren't making a sound.)

Fix 2. Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes, simply restarting your iPhone can resolve notification issues.

To restart your iPhone, hold the power button and either of the volume buttons until the slider appears, then slide to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a few seconds, press and hold the power button again to turn it back on.

Fix 3. Update Your iOS

If iPhone notifications aren't working after an update, it could be due to a bug in the new iOS. To troubleshoot, check for new updates that may fix the error.

1. Tap "Settings > General > Software Update".
2. If an update is available, download and install it.

Related Article: Unable to Check for Update on iPhone? Fixed!

Fix 4. Check the Focus Settings

You also need to ensure that the Focus settings are correct.

1. Tap "Settings > Focus".
2. Check your Do Not Disturb settings.

   

3. Tap Focus Status and set it according to your needs.

   

Fix 5. Check App Notification Settings

If your iPhone isn't receiving notifications from certain apps, you might have turned off their notification settings.

To check an app's notification settings on your iPhone,

1. Tap "Settings > Notifications".
2. Scroll down to "NOTIFICATION STYLE", then tap the app for which you cannot receive notifications
3. Enable "Allow Notifications".

Fix 6. Reset Network Settings

Network issues can sometimes interfere with notifications. If possible, switch to another network, or reset network settings and try again.

1. Go to "Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings".
2. Enter your passcode and confirm the reset. (See what to do if you forget your iPhone passcode.)

Fix 7. Uninstall and Reinstall the Affected App

If notifications for a specific app are not working, uninstalling and reinstalling the app might help.

1. Press and hold the app icon, then tap "Remove App > Delete App > Delete".
2. Go to the App Store, search for the app, and reinstall it.

Fix 8. Check Notification Previews

If notifications don't display details on your iPhone, ensure that notification previews are enabled so you can see notification details.

1. Go to "Settings > Notifications > Show Previews".
2. Choose "Always" or "When Unlocked" to see notification details.

Fix 9. Ensure Background App Refresh is Enabled

Background App Refresh allows apps to refresh their content in the background, which is essential for receiving notifications.

1. Tap "Settings > General > Background App Refresh".
2. Make sure "Background App Refresh" is enabled for the apps you want to receive notifications from.

Fix 10. Reset All Settings

If none of the above solutions work, resetting all settings might help. This will not delete your data but will reset system settings to default.

Here's how:

1. Go to "Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone".
2. Tap "Reset > Reset All Settings".
3. Enter your iPhone passcode and confirm the reset.

Conclusion

Hopefully, by following one or more of the tips above, your iPhone will be able to receive and display your notifications correctly. If you're still having trouble, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

For more tips on using your Mac and iPhone, check out Dr. Buho's Blog.