Why is my Messenger not alerting me?

Check Your Notification Settings

One of the most common reasons for Messenger not alerting you is because notifications are disabled either in your device settings or within the Messenger app itself. To make sure this isn’t the issue:

First, open your phone’s Settings app and go to the Apps or Application Manager. Look for Messenger in the list and make sure notifications are enabled. Many Android phones have a toggle next to Messenger that allows you to turn notifications on or off here (source: https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/330627630326605).

Next, open the Messenger app and tap on your profile photo in the top left. Go to Settings > Notifications and make sure notifications are enabled here as well. You can customize notification settings like sound, vibration, etc. in this section of the app (source: https://help.gosite.com/en/articles/5539348-customizing-your-messenger-notification-settings).

If notifications were disabled in either your device settings or the Messenger app, turning them back on should allow Messenger to send you alerts as expected.

Update to the Latest Version

Messenger may have bugs or issues in older versions that affect notifications. Apps are constantly being updated and improved, so it’s important to keep Messenger updated to the latest version.

To update Messenger on iOS or Android:

• Open the App Store on iOS or Play Store on Android.
• Search for “Facebook Messenger”
• If an Update button is shown, tap it to update to the latest version.
• You may need to enter your App Store/Play Store password or fingerprint to confirm the update.

Updating to the newest version of Messenger could resolve notification issues caused by bugs in older versions. According to a Facebook Help article, updating Messenger is one of the first troubleshooting steps for notification problems.

Restart Your Device

A simple restart of your device can often resolve issues with notifications not coming through properly in apps like Messenger. When a device has been running for a prolonged period, small software glitches can accumulate that disrupt normal functions. Restarting clears out these glitches and resets the device.

After restarting your iPhone, Android or other device, be sure to open the Messenger app and force close it by swiping it away from the recent apps list. Then reopen Messenger to ensure the app starts fresh after the restart. This combination of restarting the device and force closing the app gives the notification system a fresh start and will often resolve any problems.

According to Android Auto community forums, restarting your device and force closing Messenger is one of the first troubleshooting steps recommended for persistent notification issues. Restarting and force closing apps can clear out minor software bugs preventing notifications from coming through correctly.

If the issue only seems to affect Messenger notifications specifically, focus on force closing just the Messenger app after a restart. If you aren’t receiving notifications from multiple apps, you may need to force close your most-used apps after a device restart for a more comprehensive software reset.

Check Data/Wi-Fi Connection

Notifications need an internet connection to be delivered to your device. One common reason Messenger alerts may not be working properly is an unreliable or disconnected internet connection.

Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to determine if one connection is working better than the other. You can turn Wi-Fi on and off in your device settings. For mobile data, make sure cellular data is enabled and that you have a strong 4G LTE or 5G signal.

If neither Wi-Fi nor mobile data seem to be providing a consistent connection, try moving your device closer to your router or into an area with better reception. Restarting your device can also help reset the network connection.

Check if other apps that require internet are working properly. If it’s only Messenger affected, the app may need to be reinstalled. But if nothing can connect, your overall network connectivity is likely the issue.

Sources:
https://drfone.wondershare.com/facebook/messenger-notification-not-working.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comments/oazxeu/facebook_messenger_app_constantly_says_please/

Clear App Cache and Data

Clearing the Messenger app’s cache and data can often resolve bugs that may be preventing notifications from coming through properly. Over time, the cache can build up and cause performance issues. Wiping the cache gives the app a fresh start.

To clear the Messenger cache on Android:¹

1. Open Settings and go to Apps.
2. Select Messenger.
3. Tap Storage.
4. Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data.

On iPhone:²

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. Select Messenger.
3. Tap Offload App.

Before clearing Messenger data, make sure to back up your conversations as it will delete your local messages. The cache can be cleared safely without losing data.

Update Your Operating System

One potential reason Messenger may not be alerting you is that the app is not compatible with older operating system versions on your device. When major iOS or Android updates are released, apps like Messenger may stop supporting older OS versions which can lead to issues with notifications.

To rule this out, check to see if there are any available operating system updates for your device that you have not yet installed. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update on iOS devices or Settings > System > System Update on Android. If an update is available, install it and then check if Messenger notifications start working properly again.

As per Facebook’s help documentation, Messenger requires iOS 12 or later on iPhones and Android 5.0 or later on Android devices. Updating to the latest OS version ensures compatibility with the app and proper functioning of features like notifications.

According to users on Reddit, updating from older unsupported versions of iOS or Android to the latest OS resolved the issue of Messenger notifications not coming through until the app was manually opened. So if your device is severely outdated, updating the operating system could get notifications working again.[1]

Check if You’re Blocked

One of the main reasons you may stop receiving Messenger notifications is if you’ve been blocked by the sender. When someone blocks you on Messenger, you won’t receive any messages or calls from their account. In addition, you won’t get notified when they send you new messages since their messages won’t be delivered to you.

To check if you’ve been blocked by someone on Messenger:

– Try messaging the contact from another account. If your messages go through, then you haven’t been blocked. However, if your messages remain undelivered, it likely means you’ve been blocked.

– You can also ask a friend to check if they can view the profile that potentially blocked you. If your friend can see the profile but you can’t, that confirms you’ve been blocked.

– Finally, you won’t see active status indicators for any users who have blocked you. So if you notice someone you normally chat with has been “active” but you haven’t gotten any notifications, there’s a good chance you’ve been blocked.

If it turns out you were blocked, you will need to communicate through another method or have the blocking settings removed before your Messenger notifications will resume properly.

[1]

Disable Battery Saver Mode

Many Android devices have a Battery Saver or Power Saving mode that restricts background activity and notifications from apps in order to conserve battery life. This can prevent you from receiving alerts and notifications from Messenger.

To fix this, you need to add Messenger to the list of apps that are exempt from battery optimization. Here are the steps:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Go to Battery or Battery Optimization.
3. Find the option to add apps to the “Not Optimized” or “Unrestricted” list.
4. Select Messenger from the list of apps.

This will allow Messenger to bypass your phone’s Battery Saver restrictions so that it can sync in the background and send you notifications even when Battery Saver is enabled.

You may also want to check that Messenger has permission to display notifications under your Settings > Apps > Messenger > Notifications.

Enabling background activity and notifications for the Messenger app in your battery settings can often resolve issues with missing message alerts.

Re-install the Messenger App

Sometimes re-installing the Messenger app can resolve underlying issues that are preventing notifications from coming through properly. When you uninstall and re-install an app, it essentially resets the app data and clears out any bugs or glitches that may have built up over time.

Before re-installing Messenger, it’s a good idea to make sure your conversations and chat history are backed up so you don’t lose any messages. On iPhone, your chat history should backup automatically to iCloud. On Android, you can backup chats by going to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back Up Now.

Once your chats are backed up, you can uninstall Messenger by holding down on the app icon until it starts wiggling, then tap the X. Then go to the App Store or Google Play Store to re-download and install Messenger again.

After re-installing, sign back into Messenger with your Facebook account and restore your chats from backup. Hopefully this will resolve any notification issues you were having before!

Contact Messenger Support

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and your Messenger notifications are still not working properly, you may need to contact Messenger support for assistance. Unresolved issues often require help directly from the Messenger team.

When you reach out to Messenger support, provide as many details as possible about the problem you’re experiencing. Include your device operating system and version, the Messenger app version, and explain the notification issue you’re having. List any troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried from this guide so Messenger support understands the history.

Direct contact options for Messenger support include:

• Email: [email protected]
• Online form: Report a Messenger Technical Problem
• Live chat: Facebook Business Help Center (select Messenger as product)

With details about your notification problem and troubleshooting history, the Messenger team can better assist you in resolving the issues so notifications work properly again.