Android Notifications Not Showing? Fix Delayed or Missing Alerts

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Missing an important WhatsApp message or bank alert because a notification didn't appear can be a real problem. On Android, the usual cause is aggressive battery saving, which stops apps from running in the background. Here's how to fix it.

1. Check Do Not Disturb

Swipe down from the top of the screen and make sure Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is off. Also check whether a DND schedule turns on automatically at certain times.

2. Check the app's notification settings

Go to Settings → Notifications → App notifications, or Settings → Apps → [app] → Notifications.
Make sure notifications are allowed.
Check individual categories, such as "Messages" or "Group notifications" in WhatsApp.

Also check notification settings inside the app itself.

3. Allow the app to run in the background

This is the most common fix. Go to Settings → Apps → [app] → Battery and choose Unrestricted. On Samsung phones, also check Battery → Background usage limits and remove the app from "Sleeping apps" and "Deep sleeping apps". On Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme phones, enable Autostart for the app and set battery saver to "No restrictions".

4. Allow background data

If Data Saver is on, apps may not receive notifications on mobile data. In Settings → Apps → [app] → Mobile data, allow Background data and Unrestricted data usage.

5. Check adaptive notifications

Some phones prioritise or hide notifications automatically. In notification settings, check whether a feature like "Adaptive notifications" is silencing the app.

6. Lock screen settings

If notifications arrive but don't show on the lock screen, change Notifications on lock screen to show all notifications (or hide sensitive content for privacy).

7. Update and restart

Update the app and Google Play services, then restart your phone.

8. Clear cache or reinstall

If one app still fails, clear its cache or reinstall it.

Balance: set only important apps, like messaging and banking, to unrestricted battery usage. Keep others restricted to save battery. See our battery guide.

Brand-specific settings to check

Different manufacturers handle background apps differently, which is why the same app may notify perfectly on one phone and not at all on another.

Brand	Where to look
Samsung	Settings → Battery → Background usage limits (remove app from sleeping lists); Settings → Apps → [app] → Battery → Unrestricted
Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO	App info → Autostart on; Battery saver → No restrictions; lock the app in Recents
Oppo / Realme	App info → Battery usage → allow background activity and auto launch
Vivo	i Manager or Battery → High background power consumption → allow app
Huawei / Honor	App launch → Manage manually → allow auto-launch, secondary launch, run in background
Pixel / stock Android	App battery usage → Unrestricted

Menu names change between software versions, so use the search bar in Settings if you can't find an option.

Test that notifications work

After changing settings, restart your phone and ask a friend to send a WhatsApp message while your phone is locked and hasn't been used for 15–20 minutes. If the notification arrives promptly, the fix worked. Test again after a night of charging, since some phones apply stricter restrictions overnight.

Smartwatch notifications

If notifications reach your phone but not your watch, check the watch companion app's notification access in Settings → Apps → Special app access → Notification access, and make sure the companion app isn't battery-restricted either.

Frequently asked questions

Why do notifications come only when I open the app?

That's a classic sign of battery optimisation stopping the app in the background.

Why don't notifications make a sound?

Check the notification category's sound setting and make sure the phone isn't on vibrate or silent mode.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.