The iPhone is a device that is intuitively built for the average user. As such, there is a framework in place that is intended to make it as easy as possible for you to get notifications that an event has occurred which might be of interest to you. That would include not just you’re receiving a phone call, but also vital emails, text messages, or app updates. If you are not receiving notifications on your iPhone, then there are some different steps that you can take that should solve the problem.
Why Might Your iPhone Not be Getting Notifications?
There is no single reason why an iPhone might stop getting notifications. The chances are high, though, that if this is the only functionality that seems to be disabled, but everything else is working okay, then the issue is a software one rather than hardware. Presumably, it is a bug or a glitch that your phone has picked up. The other possibility is that you accidentally made a setting adjustment of which you were not aware.
Here’s a list of troubleshooting options for you to try.
Your iPhone is Receiving Notifications, But You’re Not Hearing Any Noise
First, let’s talk about the possibility that your device is still getting notifications, but you’re just not hearing any noise to let you know it. If that is indeed what’s happening, then it’s an easy fix. Look on the left-hand side of your iPhone, and you will see what is called the Ring/Silent switch. When it is pushed toward the back of the iPhone, then it is in Silent mode. You might have pushed it to the back without realizing it.
If you take hold of the switch and flip it back toward the front, then it puts the phone back in Ring mode. Now, you should be able to hear the noise when you get a notification. If you don’t, then go to the next option on the list.
Restarting the iPhone Might Allow You to Receive Notifications Again
Restarting your iPhone is the next thing that you can try. It’s a tactic for dealing with minor software glitches that is often successful for Apple device users.
If you own the iPhone X or a newer model than that, you’ll need to press and hold down your Power button and the Volume Down button until you see a Slide to Power Off slider come up on the screen. Slide it all the way to the right, turning off the device. Wait for at least 15 seconds, then press and hold down the Side button again. You should see the Apple logo when the phone restarts.
If you own an earlier version of the iPhone, you will need to press and hold your Power button until a Slide to Power Off slider comes up on the display. Slide it to the right, turning off your phone. After you’ve waited for a few seconds, press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo comes up, indicating that the phone is restarting.
Now, check to see if you’re getting your notifications again.
Do Not Disturb Might be Why Your iPhone Isn’t Getting those Notifications
There is a feature which is called Do Not Disturb that prevents you from getting notifications. You can turn it on if you’re in a situation where you don’t want to get any alerts for a while. You may have turned it on by accident, or maybe you activated it on purpose and then forgot to turn it off again.
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and see if the Do Not Disturb toggle is set to the right, meaning that it is active. If it’s green, that means that the feature has been enabled. Even if it is off, you can toggle it back and forth a couple of times before leaving it in the Off position again. That might get the notifications working on your device.
Your iPhone’s Do Not Disturb While Driving Feature
Is your iPhone running iOS version 11 or later? If so, then it is possible that you might have activated the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature without realizing it. Press the Home button on your iPhone and look at the bottom of the display. There may be a bar that comes up that says I’m Not Driving. If you’re not behind the wheel, then you can tap that option, and you should start getting notifications again.
Adjust the iPhone Show Previews Setting
Another option for you to try is an adjustment of the Show Previews setting. Go to the Settings app, then Show Previews. There should be a checkmark next to Always. If you don’t see one, then tap it. This setting will allow you to see the little app notifications that appear on your iPhone’s display.
What if Your iPhone is Not Receiving Notifications from a Specific App?
There are native apps built into your phone, and there are also all of the ones that you’ve chosen to download and install. It could be that you’re faced with a situation where you are only not getting notifications from a single app.
If that’s happening, then head to Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of all of the apps, both native and non-native, that are on your phone. Scroll down to the one that is giving you problems and check to see that the Allow Notifications switch has been activated. If the switch is green, then the problem should be solved.
If the switch is green on that app, but you still are not getting notifications from it, then check to see if there are any updates available for it. Go to the App Store and hit the Updates tab that you’ll see at the bottom of the screen. If you see an update for that app, tap it. Once the update is complete, check to see if notifications are working for it now.
Your Wi-Fi Connectivity Might Disable Your iPhone Notifications
It also could be a problem with your Wi-Fi that is causing notification troubles. If you are not either connected to a steady Wi-Fi signal or a cellular network, then you will not get notifications, and many other features will be disabled as well.
Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi. Make sure that the switch at the top is in the On position, and then look for a checkmark next to your network of choice. If there is no checkmark, then you are not connected. You might have to put in the appropriate password, or you may have to unplug your router and plug it back in again. If you have no luck there, you could reach out to your service provider and see if there is a power outage specific to your locale.
You Can Try Resetting All Settings
If you’ve have gotten to this point in the article, and you still haven’t figured out a solution to your notification woes, then you can try resetting all settings for your iPhone. You should think of this as a last-ditch effort to get rid of any possible software glitches that might be causing the trouble.
Make sure that you back up your device with iTunes or iCloud before you go this route. This will return your iPhone to the original factory settings, so you will need to reconfigure your device the way that you like it.
Go to Settings, then General. Head to Reset, then tap Reset All Settings. You will be asked for the iPhone’s passcode. Go ahead and enter it. Now you must wait a few minutes for the reset to take place. When it is done, you will see the welcome message flash on the screen in many different languages. You can now restore the phone from iCloud or iTunes. It is highly likely this will have fixed the problem.
Take the Device to Apple Repair
If none of these fixes have worked, then there could be a hardware problem that is to blame for the lack of notifications. Take your iPhone to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar and let them look it over. They’re experts in all things having to do with iPhones, so they should be able to figure out what is going on.
