Android's notification system is second to none. But custom manufacturer skins or glitches in particular apps often spoil it. This sometimes leads to odd behaviors and delays, which could cause your Android device not to get notifications.

Thankfully, there are many things you can do to get your notifications back to normal. If your Android notifications are not working, here are some fixes to try.

1. Reboot Your Phone

The first step towards troubleshooting why no notifications are getting through to you is to ensure that it's not a temporary hiccup. To confirm this, reboot your smartphone once.

Rebooting your phone can quickly fix many common Android problems, including notification problems. Doing so ends all background processes or services that might interfere with an app's ability to push notifications. This will also restart your phone's core services in case any of them crashed during a task.

To reboot your phone, hold the power button and then select Restart.

2. Review the App's Notification Settings

If restarting your phone didn't do the job, one of the most common reasons notifications don't show on Android is because of the notification settings of the app in question. You may have mistakenly messed up with the default notification settings, so now you're not receiving them properly.

Most Android apps offer customizable notification options to set how often such apps can push alerts, which type of notifications you want, and more. Gmail, for instance, lets you completely switch off sync. So ensure you haven't accidentally tapped any buttons to shut off that feature while browsing the app's settings.

If you don't find the relevant settings in the app, you can turn on Android notifications for specific apps under Settings > Apps > All apps > [App name] > Notifications.

3. Disable Software Battery Optimizations

Android uses AI-based battery optimizations to preserve battery life and prevent apps you don't regularly use from remaining active in the background. But the algorithms powering these are imperfect and can wreak havoc when their predictions go south.

One of the most common victims of this is the notification system. If you're thinking, "Why am I not getting notifications?" then the adaptive battery feature of Android could be the culprit. The adaptive battery feature analyzes how you use your phone over time and starts prioritizing battery power for the apps you use the most. This gradually makes your battery last longer.

On stock Android, you can disable adaptive battery under Settings > Battery > Adaptive Battery to turn it off for all apps. But this is probably overkill. Instead, you can turn off battery optimizations for each app by going to Settings > Apps > All apps > [App name] > Battery.

To find out if the adaptive battery is why your notifications are not showing, it's best to turn these settings off for a few days.

4. Check for Proprietary Power Savers

Some manufacturers go the extra mile by adding even more power-saving tools that automatically block apps they think are unimportant. So, in addition to the one's Google bundles, you will have to check whether your phone comes with any other in-house optimizations.

For example, Xiaomi phones have a preloaded app called Security that houses several of these functions. Typically, such pre-installed battery-saving apps use Android's force doze mode. The device tries to save battery life in the doze mode by limiting some apps' ability to access the internet.

Unfortunately, it also blocks important notifications by putting apps into a deep sleep state where battery-consuming apps get frozen for a while. So, the next time you feel you're not getting notifications, you now know the possible reason.

If you're still using any third-party battery-saver apps, you don't need them anymore, thanks to massive power optimizations in the latest Android versions.

5. Reinstall the App or Wait for Updates

One of the main reasons your phone's notifications aren't working could be broken app updates. If your Android device is not getting notifications from one app in particular, the developers may have accidentally rolled out a buggy update. For those scenarios, you have three options:

  • Uninstall and reinstall the app: Sometimes, uninstalling an app and reinstalling it from the Google Play Store can do the trick for you.
  • Wait for an update to fix the issue: You can even mail the developer and inform them of the notification issues you're currently facing.
  • Revert to an older version of the app: If you want to get an older version, there are various sites for downloading Android APK files. Find the one you want to reinstall, and you can sideload the app for now.

6. Check the Do Not Disturb Mode

Most Android phones ship with a handy Do Not Disturb mode. This is designed to suppress all notifications except for a handful you choose to let through.

Software designers tend to put their switches in easily reachable places like Quick Settings. Thus, if you're unfamiliar with it, there's a decent chance you could have mistakenly turned it on.

Head into Settings and, under Sound or Notifications (depending on your specific Android device), review the Do Not Disturb mode. If you can't find it in either of these places, search for Do Not Disturb from the search bar at the top of Settings.

7. Review the Background Data Settings

In Android 8 and later, you can cut off apps' access to mobile data in the background. While you probably didn't toggle this setting on by accident, it's still worth checking out when you have a notification problem. After all, no internet access renders many apps essentially dead.

You'll find this option at Settings > Apps > All apps > [App name] > Data usage > Background data.

8. Is Data Saver Turned On?

The Data Saver feature lets you restrict the number of apps that can use data when you are not on Wi-Fi. This can help you save money on your mobile phone bill but also cause you to miss out on notifications.

To confirm the data saver mode isn't at fault here, use your phone without it for a while (if you currently have it enabled). Visit Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver to take a look.

9. Is the App Allowed to Run in the Background?

On Android 8 and above, you can completely shut off apps from running when you're not actively using them. It's included to disable apps that consume too much of your phone's battery life. It's a nifty addition that safeguards your phone's battery from poorly built apps.

However, it can also lead to problems if switched on for apps that matter to you. Unfortunately, Android can make changes to this on its own if it thinks it's necessary. You should thus review the settings for apps with notification problems.

It's located under Settings > Apps > All apps > [App name] > Battery. Sometimes the option to turn off or restrict the background usage appears as a toggle.

10. Try Some Other Fixes

Sometimes, even after following all the previous methods, the device may not check for new notifications. If you find yourself wondering, "Why didn't I get the alert on my phone today?" consider these last-resort fixes:

  • Clear the app's data: To fix delayed notifications, you can clear the app's data. This will reset the app, and you'll have to set it up again. You can clear the data of any app by going to Settings > Apps > All apps > [App name] > Storage > Clear data.
  • Uninstall any third-party battery saver app: Apps like Greenify sometimes pause notifications to save battery. While useful, they might prevent you from getting alerts. Consider uninstalling these apps to see if it resolves the issue.
  • Check for the app lock feature: If an app is locked, it may not show or delay the notifications for obvious reasons. Try removing app lock restrictions to see if that solves your notifications problem.
  • Follow the DontKillMyApp website: Smartphone manufacturers handle battery optimizations differently. The bad thing is: robust optimizations can cause trouble. To check this, visit the DontKillMyApp website. Then, click on your device's manufacturer name and follow the instructions to adjust how your device handles battery optimization.
    Don't Kill My App Website Screenshot

Master Your Android Phone's Notifications

If, after all these steps, you're still unable to get your notifications back in order, it might be a device-specific issue. In that case, it's best to check for software updates or contact your phone's manufacturer.

When you've figured out the culprit, you should learn how to control notifications on Android precisely. Doing so will allow you to filter them and free your life from those unnecessary pings. You will need some tips and tricks for mastering Android notifications to do that.