How do I make notifications reappear on Android?

Notifications not appearing on Android devices is a common issue that many users face. Not receiving notifications can be frustrating, as you may miss important alerts, messages, and updates from apps. There are several potential causes of Android notifications not working properly:

Software bugs – Sometimes an app update may introduce a bug that affects notifications. Android system updates could also inadvertently cause issues with notifications.

Battery optimization – Android’s battery saving features can restrict apps from running background processes needed for notifications. Placing apps in the unoptimized battery usage list can help.

App notifications settings – Each app has its own notification settings that users can toggle on or off. Ensuring they are enabled for important apps is key.

Do Not Disturb mode – When enabled, DND prevents notifications from appearing during set times or when certain criteria is met. Checking DND settings can uncover if notifications are being blocked.

App cache and data issues – Clearing cache/data for apps causing missing notifications may help resolve software glitches. Reinstalling problematic apps can also fix notification issues.

This guide will walk through the top troubleshooting steps to help re-enable notifications on Android phones when they have gone missing.

Check Notification Settings

The first step is to open your Android device’s main notification settings screen. To do this:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. Tap on “Apps & notifications.”

3. Tap on “Notifications.”

This will open the Notification settings screen where you can view and control notifications for all apps on your device (source).

On this screen, you can review the list of apps and choose which apps are allowed to send notifications. For each app, you can control whether notifications are allowed and how they are displayed (as a banner, popup, etc.).

You can also review the list of notification categories, such as reminders, calls, messages, etc. For each category you can toggle it on or off to control whether those types of notifications are allowed.

If a particular app’s notifications are disabled on this screen, you will not receive any notifications from that app. So make sure the apps you want notifications from are enabled.

Verify App Notification Settings

Another way your notifications may disappear is if the notification settings for a particular app are disabled or restricted. Here are the steps to verify the notification settings for each of your apps:

Open the Settings app on your Android device and go to Apps & Notifications > Notifications. This will show a list of apps that can send notifications.

Tap on an app and make sure that the toggle for “Show notifications” is enabled. You can also customize the notification settings like sound, vibration, importance level etc. for each app.

Go through the list and verify notification settings for other apps you want notifications from. Enable notification access for any apps that have it turned off currently.

According to Google’s Android help documentation, reviewing notification settings for each app is one of the main troubleshooting steps for missing notifications.

Check Do Not Disturb Settings

The Do Not Disturb feature on Android allows you to block sounds and vibrations for notifications, calls, and alarms. If Do Not Disturb is enabled, it could prevent you from seeing notifications.

To check your Do Not Disturb settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Sound or Notifications.
3. Tap Do Not Disturb.

Make sure the Do Not Disturb switch is turned off. If it’s on, toggle it to the off position.

You can also customize your Do Not Disturb preferences, like allowing exceptions for certain contacts. Make sure notifications from important apps are not blocked in Do Not Disturb.

According to Google’s support article, if Do Not Disturb is blocking notifications you expect to see, turn off the feature entirely or adjust the settings (1). This should resolve any issues with missing notifications.

^{(1) https://support.google.com/android/answer/9069335}

Check App Battery Optimization

Certain apps on Android devices may have battery optimization enabled, which can block notifications from coming through even when they are turned on. Battery optimization limits background activity for apps in order to save battery life. While useful, this can inadvertently block notifications if enabled for apps you want to receive notifications from.

To check if an app has battery optimization turned on, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Battery optimization. Here you will see a list of apps and whether optimization is turned on or off for each one. If you are missing notifications from a particular app, check this list to see if battery optimization is enabled for that app.

To disable battery optimization for an app, tap the app and select “Don’t optimize” or “Don’t optimize > All apps.” This will allow the app to run in the background and send notifications normally. You can also opt to disable optimization while the app is in use by selecting “Optimize > Intelligent control.”

If you are missing notifications after recently updating an app or your Android OS, battery optimization may have been enabled with the update. Be sure to check the settings periodically and disable optimization for apps you want notifications from. Refer to your device manufacturer’s support site for more detailed instructions.

Sources:
https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-303188/
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1358653

Restart Your Device

Sometimes a simple reboot can fix notification issues on Android. Over time, the operating system and apps can encounter glitches that disrupt proper functionality. Rebooting your device completely resets the operating system and clears out any stuck processes or corrupt memory allocations.

To reboot an Android device, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the “Power off” prompt appears. Tap on “Power off” and wait for the phone to completely shut down. After 30 seconds or so, press the power button again to turn the device back on. Allow the phone to fully restart until you see the lock screen. This gives the operating system a fresh start and will often resolve notification problems.

If notifications still do not appear after rebooting, you may need to investigate other potential causes like app settings, OS updates, or hardware issues. But a simple reboot is one of the easiest troubleshooting steps to try first when notifications disappear on Android.

Clear App Cache and Data

Clearing an app’s cache and data can sometimes help resolve issues with notifications reappearing. The cache contains temporary files that apps store on your device to improve performance, while the data contains information like your app settings and login details.

Over time, this cache and data can become corrupted or too large, which can cause problems. Clearing it erases this temporary information and gives apps a fresh start, which may fix notification issues.

To clear an app’s cache and data on Android:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Tap the app you want to clear the cache/data for.
3. Tap Storage & Cache > Clear Cache or Clear Storage to erase the cache or data.

This process needs to be done for each problematic app. After clearing an app’s cache/data, restart your device and check if notifications reappear as expected. If the issues persist, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps.

For more details, see this step-by-step guide: How to clear app cache on Android & why you should

Check for App Updates

Outdated app versions can sometimes cause issues with notifications not working properly on Android. Apps are constantly updated by developers to fix bugs and improve performance. If you are no longer receiving notifications from a particular app, checking for and installing any available updates may resolve the problem.

You can easily check for and install app updates on your Android device by opening the Google Play Store app. Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner, then select ‘Manage apps & devices’. This will show you a list of all apps installed on your device. Apps with available updates will display an ‘Update’ button – simply tap this to update that app to the latest version. You can also select ‘Update All’ to update all apps at once.

Keeping your apps fully updated ensures you have the latest code from developers that should fix notification bugs or issues. So if your notifications suddenly stop working, checking for app updates is one of the first troubleshooting steps you should take. Refer to this Android Police article for more details on how outdated apps can lead to notification problems.

Try a Different Launcher

The default launcher that comes with your Android device could be causing issues with notifications not appearing properly. Some third-party launchers have known bugs or lack full compatibility with certain Android versions that can lead to problems with notifications.

To rule out the launcher as the culprit, try switching to a different launcher app as your home screen default. Some popular options include Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, Evie Launcher, and Microsoft Launcher.

To change the default launcher on Android:

1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Default apps.
2. Tap Home app.
3. Select the launcher app you want to use.

After setting a new default launcher, check if your missing notifications start appearing again. If the problem goes away, then your previous launcher was likely the cause.

According to a Reddit thread, certain launchers like Wolf Launcher have been known to cause notification issues on Android TV devices. Switching to a different home screen could resolve any conflicts.

Factory Reset

A factory reset should be a last resort when trying to fix notification issues on Android, as it will erase all of your data and settings. Before resetting your device, make sure to backup any important data like photos, videos, contacts, etc. You can back up data to your Google account, SD card, or a computer.

To factory reset an Android device:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap System > Reset options.
3. Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
4. Tap Reset phone.
5. If prompted, enter your passcode, pattern or password.

This process will reset your device back to factory default settings, which should clear any notification issues caused by changes to your settings. However, you will need to reconfigure your device, reinstall apps, and restore your backed up data after the reset.