Is your phone not notifying you about messages and emails? You may miss OTPs or urgent messages on your Android. Besides poor network connection, this issue can happen for various reasons from notification settings to third-party apps. If your phone is not sending RCS or SMS message notifications, here’s how to fix it and get text message notifications working on your Android phone.
Our solutions mostly apply to smartphones running stock (near stock) Android and Samsung Galaxy phones. While these solutions work on all Android phones, the name of the exact setting or option might be different and have a distinct name (Ex – Bedtime mode can be Sleep mode). Search in the Settings app of your Android phone to find the relevant option or setting.
Table of Contents
Before You Begin
Try these small simpler troubleshooting fixes to solve the issue quickly:
- Update the Messages app – The latest version can fix any bugs in the app on your Android. You can update the Messages app from the Play Store.
- Clear Messages app Cache – If the app’s cached data is outdated, it can interfere with how the app functions including displaying notifications. Here’s how to clear the cache. Note clearing the cache does not delete your messages or change any settings.
- Clear Data or Reinstall the App – If clearing the cache doesn’t solve the issue, try clearing the app data from the same settings page. This will reset the Messages app settings to default, but no messages will be lost.
- Restart Your Phone – Occasional glitches on your phone can be ironed out with a simple restart. Long-press the home button or tap on the power icon in the quick settings for the restart option.
1. Make Sure Messages App Notifications Are Enabled
Your Messages app notifications might have been disabled accidentally. To confirm, open Settings > Notifications > App notifications > Messages app and check if notifications are enabled. Android also allows you to disable specific notification categories. Scroll down and make sure the toggle beside Incoming Messages is enabled.
If you receive notifications without a sound, tap the Incoming Messages option and ensure the ring setting is set to Default or Allow sound. Some messaging apps, like Microsoft’s SMS Organizer, have their own notification settings. Check your app’s settings if you’re still not receiving notifications.
2. Is Your Phone is on DND Mode
Many people use DND mode (Do not Disturb mode) to remove distractions and focus on work. It also disables notifications for all apps including calls and messages. If DND mode is enabled, you will see a minus inside the circle icon in the status bar at the top of the screen.
You can usually disable DND from the Quick Settings panel. If you don’t see the option there, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and toggle it off.
You can also set the Messages app as an exception in the DND settings meaning you’ll get notifications with sound whenever you get a message even when the DND mode is active.
3. Check Modes Like Gaming, Bedtime, and Others
Most Android phones come with a Gaming mode to disable notifications while gaming, a Bedtime (Sleep) mode to silence them at night, and a Focus mode to disable notifications from select apps for better focus at work
On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can find these modes under the Modes and Routines option in Settings. On other Android phones, they are usually located in the Digital Wellbeing section.
Configure the settings according to your preferences. If you want messages to bypass these modes, whitelist the Messages app to ensure notifications arrive with sound.
4. Turn Off Battery Optimization and Battery Saver
Battery savers don’t usually affect message notifications, but this can vary across Android phones. Try disabling Battery Saver (or Power Saver) in Settings > Battery to see if it helps.
Android also has battery optimization for individual apps. If an app is set to restrict or optimize, it might prioritize saving battery over running in the background. To check, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Battery and set it to Unrestrict or No restrictions. Some phones, like Samsung and Pixel, automatically set the Messages app to unrestrict mode for a better experience.
5. Check Conflicts With Third-Party Apps
Some apps are designed to manage or silence notifications, which can sometimes interfere with your messaging app. If you have apps that automate tasks, save battery life, or silence notifications, check their settings to ensure your messaging app isn’t muted or restricted.
For example, the Daywise app sends notifications in batches at a specific time, FilterBox filters your notifications according to your preferences, and Greenify restricts apps from running in the background to save battery.
If you’re unsure which app might be causing the issue, try temporarily disabling these apps one at a time to see if notifications resume.
6. Change Messaging App
If the notification problem persists, the issue could be because of the current messaging app. Install a different messaging app from the Play Store, like Pulse, and Microsoft SMS Organizer. If the issue is specific to the default Messages app, this should solve it. Just make sure to set the newly installed messaging app as the default.
7. Check The Conversation Settings
If you are not getting notifications for specific contacts, then the issue should be with the conversation settings.
Go to System Settings > Apps and Notifications > Conversations. Find the conversation you’re having trouble with and set it to Default or Priority instead of Silent.
Tend Every Notification
You will start receiving notifications with the above methods. If you are still not receiving notifications, then your only option is to reset the phone. Resetting the device will change everything to default, returning it to it like it was when you pulled it out of the box. Sadly, that also means you will lose all data and need to back up and restore everything which may take time. We usually don’t recommend resetting the phone or only recommend it as a last-ditch effort.
