How to fix iMessage notifications not working on iPhone (9 Solutions)

With iOS 14, several people are facing issues related to message notifications. If you, too, are not notified of new incoming iMessage or SMS and are missing important texts from friends, family, and businesses, let me help! Here are some helpful solutions to successfully fix the issue of iMessage notifications not working on iPhone. Take a look.

Ensure iMessage is turned on
Make sure iPhone is not on silent or DND mode
Check Messages app notification settings
Ensure the contact is not muted
Turn off ‘Filter Unknown Senders’
Restart your iPhone
Update to the latest version of iOS
Other iMessage fixes you can try
Reset All Settings

1. Ensure iMessage is turned on

Let us begin by ensuring iMessage is enabled. For this, open the Settings app and tap Messages. Here, ensure that the toggle for iMessage is green.

2. Make sure iPhone is not on silent or DND mode

Look at the left side of your iPhone and ensure that the physical silent switch is not down (exposing an orange background). If it is, please push it up to disable the silent mode.

Next, open the Settings app and tap Do Not Disturb. On the next screen, make sure the toggle for Do Not Disturb is off. You can do the same from the iPhone Control Center by tapping the crescent moon icon.

3. Check Messages app notification settings

Open the Settings app and tap Notifications.
Scroll down and tap Messages.
Ensure the switch for Allow Notifications on.
Next, ensure the Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners are ticked.
Optional: Tap Sounds and choose any louder tone if required. Also, make sure ‘None‘ is not selected. You can even customize message vibration.

4. Ensure the contact is not muted

Open a message conversation and tap the name or picture from the top.
Tap info.
Make sure Hide Alerts is off.

5. Turn off ‘Filter Unknown Senders’

If you choose to filter unknown senders, you won’t be notified when a person who isn’t on your contact list sends a message. To avoid this, you may turn it off.

Open the Settings app and tap Messages.
Tap Unknown & Spam.
Ensure the toggle for Filter Unknown Senders is green.

6. Restart your iPhone

This seems like a small step but practically works like a charm to fix several such issues. So please do not ignore this one.

7. Update to the latest version of iOS (important)

Several users on early versions of iOS 14 had trouble with message notifications. Apple fixed it in an upcoming iOS 14 updates.

For all users, it is recommended to be on the latest publicly available version of iOS. This ensures the proper functioning of your device and a good user experience.

To update, open the Settings app, tap General → Software Update.

8. Other iMessage fixes you can try

In addition to the above fixes, here are some more that users have suggested on various internet forums. Before going for the final solution (reset), please take a moment to go through the following tricks and see if they work for you or not.

Set the custom tone for individual contact: Open a contact from the Phone or Contacts app. Tap Edit → Ringtone and choose a different tone.
Exit conversation and be on the Messages app’s first screen: Make sure not to stay on the conversation screen. Instead, tap < to go back where all messages are listed. Now, you may exit the Messages app.
Ensure correct date and time: Open the Settings app → General → Date & Time → enable Set Automatically.
Make sure you have not blocked the person: For this, open the Settings app → Messages → Blocked Contacts.

9. Reset All Settings

Finally, if nothing works, resetting all settings might help. Please know that this will delete all the modified or added settings, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN configurations, etc. However, all personal data like music, apps, photos, etc., will stay as it is.

Open the Settings app and tap General.
Scroll till the end and tap Reset.
Tap Reset All Settings and confirm.

iMessage notification problem successfully fixed!

I hope one or the combination of the above solutions helped fix the problem. If yes, let us know which one(s) worked for you. In case you have additional tricks or suggestions related to this problem, please feel free to share them with everyone in the comments below.

Finally, iMessage is also available on your iPad and Mac. If you happen to own these, you can use iMessage on them for the time being and hope Apple swiftly issues an iOS update that fixes this annoyance. You may contact them here.

You may also find these useful:

Ankur

I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.

iGeeksBlog has affiliate and sponsored partnerships. We may earn commissions on purchases made using our links. However, this doesn’t affect the recommendations our writers make.