Text Message Notifications Not Working on Android: 12 Fixes

text message notifications not working on android

You get a crucial text message on your phone, but because you did not get the alert, you do not check it. We can animate how enraged you are. We would have cursed our phones as well. You are not alone if this makes you feel better. 

Your Android’s Messages app may experience text message notifications not working on android, not playing a sound when the message is received, or not receiving the message. Different variables can create these problems, given the complex nature of the Android OS. 

Regardless of your issue, we have produced a comprehensive guide on fixing text message notifications that are not working on your Android phone.

Why isn’t my phone telling me when I get a text?

Many issues can result in a no-notification dilemma on your Android device. Your phone could be silent, turned OFF, or maybe in somebody else’s pockets; who knows for what godforsaken reason you cannot hear your texts.

But worry not; to every problem, there’s a solution. And to every solution, there’s an article. Stay tuned.

How to Fix Text Message Notifications Not Working on Android 

The issue can be found on any Android phone. All phones may experience a message notification problem. It might be from Samsung, Google, One Plus, Xiaomi, or another brand. But do not be concerned. To fix it, look over the solutions in this article.

Let us start with the most basic solutions and work our way up to the ones that entail some configuration changes. The major highlights are:

  1. Examine the Network Coverage
  2. Restart Phone
  3. Check Volume Level
  4. Check Notification Settings
  5. Check Connected Bluetooth Headphone
  6. Check Muted Contacts
  7. Check Do Not Disturb Settings
  8. Check Third-Party Apps
  9. Clear Cache
  10. Turn off the Messages App’s battery optimization
  11. Reset App Preferences
  12. Disable Power Saving Mode

1. Examine the Network Coverage

The network connection could also be a problem. To proceed, check the signal strength on your phone. You could also try contacting someone via phone or text message. If sending messages is not a problem, it is unlikely that the network is the source of the issue.

2. Restart Phone

Restarting your Android phone is the first thing you should do. You can either choose the Restart option on your phone or turn it off.

3. Check Volume Level

Notifications and ringtone volume can be controlled separately on your phone. The ringtone volume can sometimes be loud, but the notification level is always zero. As a result, you should double-check that.

Press one of the volume buttons to do so. Tap the small down arrow on your screen when you see the volume panel. The notification volume will be visible. It should be increased.

The same panel may be found under Settings > Sound. If you do not see the volume sliders, tap on Volume.

If your mobile doesn’t have a separate volume option, increase the volume level from the ringtone option.

4. Check Notification Settings

The basic options, such as notification settings, have become slightly more difficult to adjust in current Android versions. The most important settings are hidden deep on multiple levels. As a result, people cannot locate or alter them, causing problems.

 Notification Settings

One of the most common causes of SMS notification sound not working on Android phones is incorrect notification settings. 

To resolve the issue, you must enable the necessary notifications. You can do so by going to the message notification settings and selecting one of the options given in the bullets below, and then proceed with the next three:

  1. Enable Notifications
  2. Enable Other Notifications
  3. Change Default Notification Sound
  • From Phone Settings

Go to Apps in your phone’s Settings.

Select your messaging app from the list of apps under All apps.

Select Notifications from the drop-down menu.

  • From Messages App

Open your phone’s messaging app and tap the three-dot icon at the top. Choose Settings, then Notifications.

Enable Notifications

First, ensure that the switch next to Show notifications is turned on. You will not receive message notifications if it is turned off.

Enable Other Notifications

Once the notification switch is activated, touch on all the notification categories on your phone, such as General, Inbound messages, Activity, Others, and so on. Any option with a right-hand bar contains more options. Activate them as well.

Click on the Show notifications switch within each setting to accomplish this. Then, rather than Silent, select Alert. Enable the ‘Show pop up on screen’ option as well.

The same settings could potentially cause the ringtone issue. Learn how to fix an Android ringtone that is not working.

Change Default Notification Sound

The tone you have chosen as your message notifications can occasionally cause issues. So try switching to a new song. To do so: 

  • Go to Notifications > Sound > All Settings > Sound. Pick a new tone.

5. Check Connected Bluetooth Headphone

Many times your mobile device is connected to Bluetooth headphones. If this is the case, you may have neglected to disconnect them. 

Notifications are sent to the headphone if this occurs. You may believe something is amiss with your phone because you must have put it aside. So, if you are not using your Bluetooth headphones, turn them off.

6. Check Muted Contacts

Many messaging applications, including Samsung Messages, can mute individual chat threads. You may unmute some contacts if you are not receiving messages from them.

To do so:

  1. Go to your messaging app and long-press on the person you want to engage. 
  2. To enable notifications, tap Unmute or the bell icon. 
  3. You may need to open the chat thread and hit the three-dot icon at the top on some phones. 
  4. Then choose whether or not to silence or enable notifications. 

7. Check Do Not Disturb Settings

When you have difficulty receiving notifications, it is usually because you are in DND mode. You may have accidentally switched it on, or some features, such as Gaming mode or Bedtime mode, can activate DND on some phones.

Viewing the status bar is a quick way to see if it is enabled. DND is enabled if you see a crescent-moon icon, a bell icon, or a round icon with a dash over it.

Do Not Disturb Settings
  1. To turn it off, go to your phone’s Settings and select Sound or Notifications. 
  2. Disable the Do not disturb switch next to it. 
  3. DND’s scheduled mode is occasionally enabled. Disable it as well. 
  4. Take a glance at the other options in DND as well.

8. Check Third-Party Apps

Even third-party apps on Android can regulate device notifications. For your ‘digital well-being,’ certain applications, such as ActionDash, block all notifications and deliver them in bulk at a set time. 

Check for similar apps, disable the feature, or add the Messages app to the allowlist.

9. Clear Cache

Clear the cache and cookies for the default messaging app is also a good idea. None of your messages will be deleted.

  1. Select the Messages app you are having trouble with under System Settings > Apps and alerts > Apps. 
  2. Then, erase the linked cache files by going to Storage and cache. 
  3. Hit the Clear cache option.

10. Turn off the Messages App’s battery optimization

The majority of Android device makers are known for their rigorous battery improvements. It will prevent the apps from functioning in the background, preventing you from receiving new message alerts. 

Turn off the Messages App's battery optimization
  1. Under System Settings > Apps and Notifications > Apps, you may disable battery optimization for the Messages app. 
  2. Choose the Messages app with which you are having issues. 
  3. This will take you to the Messages app’s App Info page. 
  4. Now go to Battery and ensure that this app’s battery optimization is set to Do not optimize.

11. Reset App Preferences

Finally, you must reset your phone’s app preferences if all else fails. This will not erase any of your information. It is a far better choice than factory resetting your device. Only your preferences will be restored to their original state. To reset app preferences: 

  1. Go to Apps under Settings on your phone. 
  2. Tap the three-dotted icon at the top of the All apps screen to open it. 
  3. From the menu, choose Reset app preferences.

12. Disable the Power Saving Mode

Power Saving Mode, which kicks in when your phone’s battery is low, is another optimization option on your phone.

This is not usually a problem because it switches to normal mode when you charge your phone. While some phones activate the Power Saving mode at 5%, some brands activate it at 10% or even 15%. 

Disable the Power Saving Mode
  • This can be modified in System Settings > Battery > Battery Saver/Power Saving > Turn this feature on automatically or completely off.

Conclusion

Suppose neither of those options worked, and your text message notification is still not working. In that case, you can reset the device to factory settings, restoring it to its original state.

Unfortunately, this would mean you’ll lose all of your data and have to restore everything, which could take some time. Resetting the phone is something we normally do not advocate or only recommend as a last resort.