No Text or Message Notification Alerts or Sounds on iPhone? Fixes

In this article, we will delve into the possible reasons behind the absence of text or message notification alerts and sounds on your iPhone and provide comprehensive solutions to get you reconnected swiftly.

Once you’ve executed a forced restart, it’s prudent to review your Notification Settings. On occasion, a forceful reboot might revert certain settings to their original state. Thus, it’s wise to thoroughly inspect, possibly more than once, to ensure everything is in order!

Is There an Update Waiting To Be Installed?

Keeping your iPhone up-to-date is crucial not only for accessing the latest features but also for ensuring that you have the most recent security patches to protect your device and data. Apple frequently releases software updates to its iOS, bringing in new functionalities, bug fixes, and improvements.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. Wait a few moments.
  5. If an update is available, tap the Download and Install button that appears.
  6. If you don’t see an update but want to check again manually, just pull down to refresh the page.

Before updating, it’s a good practice to back up your device either to iCloud or your computer using iTunes. This ensures that your data remains safe in the event of an unexpected issue during the update process.

In the event that you do have an update available, it’s also important to make sure that your iPhone has plenty of battery life, or is connected to a charger. Additionally, you’ll likely want to connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi in order to ensure that there won’t be any interruptions, along with being able to enjoy faster download speeds.

Toggle Your Network

Something else that some users have found to be helpful is to turn off both the Wi-Fi and Cellular networks. For one reason or another, your iPhone might be getting “caught up” switching between these connections, with your incoming messages or phone calls hanging in the balance.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. At the top of the page, tap the toggle next to Wi-Fi to the Off position.
  4. Tap the < Settings button in the top left corner.
  5. From the main Settings app, tap Cellular.
  6. At the top of the page, tap the toggle next to Cellular Data to the Off position.
  7. Follow the steps in the previous section to restart your iPhone.
  8. Go back through and re-enable both Wi-Fi and Cellular on your iPhone.

Make Sure Messages Lock Screen Notifications Are Turned On

One of the most common reasons users miss out on text notifications is due to lock screen notification settings being toggled off. The iPhone allows you to customize which notifications appear on your lock screen for added privacy and minimal distractions. If you’re not seeing message alerts on your lock screen, it might be inadvertently disabled.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Swipe down and tap Face ID & Passcode.
  3. Enter your iPhone’s passcode.
  4. Swipe down until you reach the Allow Access When Locked section.
  5. Make sure that Notification Center is enabled.
  6. While here, enable any other features that you want to have available even if your iPhone is locked.

Are Messages Being Delivered Quietly?

A subtle but impactful feature in the iOS notification system is the “Deliver Quietly” option. When this setting is enabled for a particular app, in this case, Messages, notifications will bypass the lock screen, producing no sound, and not displaying any banner alerts. Instead, they quietly populate the Notification Center, which can easily lead to missed messages if you’re not routinely checking.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Swipe down and tap Messages.
  4. Under the Alerts section, make sure the following options are enabled:
    • Lock Screen
    • Notification Center
    • Banners
  5. Tap Banner Style.
  6. Select Persistent.
  7. Tap Sounds.
  8. Make sure that you have a tone selected from the list of options. Anything other than None will suffice.
  9. Tap the toggle next to Badges to the On position.

How-To Fix Not Receiving Sound With Incoming Text Messages

Check Your iPhone Text Message Sound Effect and select a Text Tone

A distinguishing feature that notifies you of an incoming message on your iPhone is the sound effect or text tone. Sometimes, the chosen tone might be too subtle, or perhaps there’s no tone selected at all, leading you to miss those important messages.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
  3. Scroll down and tap Text Tone.
  4. Tap Haptics at the top of the page.
  5. Make sure anything other than None is selected.
  6. Tap < Text Tone in the top left corner to return to the previous page.
  7. At the bottom of the page, make sure that anything other than None is selected.

Remember, if your phone is in silent mode (with the side switch set to silent), the text tones won’t play regardless of the settings. Ensure that your phone isn’t on silent when you expect incoming messages.

Check Alerts for Individual Contacts

Customizing alerts for specific contacts is a handy feature on iPhones that allows users to differentiate between messages from various senders or to mute certain contacts temporarily. However, if you’ve unintentionally modified alerts for a particular contact, you might not receive their message notifications as expected.

  1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
  2. Locate and select the contact that you are having problems with receiving notifications for.
  3. Tap the Edit button in the top right corner.
  4. Scroll down and tap Text Tone.
  5. Make sure that anything other than None is selected.

Turn Off Unknown Senders Filter in Messages

Unfortunately, robocalls are not the only problem anymore, as the number of spam text messages is also growing at a rapid pace. While you can block numbers altogether, Apple has another feature that allows you to filter your Messages app to help separate the recognized senders from the potential spam.

There’s a chance that a new contact managed to make its way through the filtering system, resulting in you not receiving any notifications or messages. Here’s how you can turn the filter off:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
  3. Scroll down until you reach the Message Filtering section.
  4. Tap the toggle next to Filter Unknown Senders to the Off position.

Did You Block The Contact By Accident?

Sometimes, amidst managing our growing contact lists and handling spam, we might inadvertently block a legitimate contact. When a contact is blocked on the iPhone, their messages won’t trigger notifications, and their texts are sent directly to a separate folder, making it seem as if they never messaged in the first place.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
  3. Swipe down again until you reach the SMS/MMS section.
  4. Tap Blocked Contacts.
  5. Go through the list and see if the contact you are having problems with is listed.
  6. If so, tap the Edit button in the top right corner.
  7. Tap the Delete button to the left of the contact that you want removed from the Blocked Contacts list.
  8. Repeat if you find other contacts that have also been blocked.
  9. After you are finished, tap the Done button in the top right corner.

Check Your Notification Settings

The central hub for managing how your iPhone alerts you to various activities is the Notification Settings. Sometimes, inadvertent changes here can lead to silenced or missed notifications.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Swipe down and tap Messages.
  4. Make sure that the following options are enabled or selected:
    • Allow Notifications
    • Always Deliver Immediately
      • Critical Alerts
      • Time Sensitive Notifications
    • Alerts
      • Lock Screen
      • Notification Center
      • Banners
    • Banner Style
      • Persistent
  5. After making any necessary adjustments, tap the < Notifications button in the top left corner to save your changes.

Do Not Disturb (DND) or Focus Modes Might Be Enabled

The central hub for managing how your iPhone alerts you to various activities is the Notification Settings. Sometimes, inadvertent changes here can lead to silenced or missed notifications.

  1. Unlock your iPhone.
  2. Swipe down from the top right corner to reveal the Control Center.
  3. Locate the Focus or Do Not Disturb button.
  4. Make sure that it is not highlighted.
  5. If so, tap the button to turn it off.

Contact Specific Do Not Disturb Notifications

With older versions of iOS, you could actually set Do Not Disturb for specific contacts. You can see if this is something that is enabled by opening the Messages app and seeing a “Crescent Moon” icon next to the contact. Here’s how you can turn off Do Not Disturb for specific contacts:

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Locate the contact that you are experiencing issues with receiving notifications from.
  3. Select the message thread.
  4. Tap either the Details or Information button.
  5. Turn off Do Not Disturb for this specific contact.

Did You Enable Hide Alerts?

We’ve all had moments when we wanted a break from incessant message notifications or desired some digital quietness from a specific conversation. Apple’s “Hide Alerts” feature in the Messages app caters to this need, allowing users to mute individual chats without blocking the contact. However, it’s easy to forget that this feature is activated, leading to puzzling instances where messages seem to appear out of the blue without any prior notification.

  1. Open the Messages app.
  2. Locate the contact that you are experiencing issues with receiving notifications from.
  3. Select the message thread.
  4. Tap the Contact Name at the top of the screen.
  5. Scroll down and tap the toggle next to Hide Alerts to the Off position.

Make Sure You Can Receive Notifications on Your iPhone and Apple Watch

The harmony between your iPhone and Apple Watch ensures a seamless experience, especially when it comes to notifications. With the convenience of having notifications delivered to your wrist, it’s important to ensure that both devices are set up correctly to receive them. Misconfigurations can sometimes lead to missed alerts on one or both devices.

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Scroll down and tap Messages.
  4. Make sure that Mirror my iPhone is selected.
  5. If you are trying to troubleshoot the problem, then tap Custom.
  6. Tap Notifications Off.

Are Messages and iMessage Enabled on Your Mac?

As Apple ecosystems expand, the seamless integration between devices becomes more prevalent. This interconnectedness means that your Mac can also be a hub for receiving and sending text messages and iMessages, just like your iPhone. However, if you’re noticing inconsistencies or delays in getting your messages on your Mac, or perhaps you’re new to the Apple universe and aren’t sure how to set it up, it’s essential to verify the configuration.

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
  2. Click Messages in the top left corner of the Menu Bar.
  3. From the drop-down menu that appears, highlight and select Settings…
  4. Click iMessage at the top of the window that appears.
  5. Make sure that Enable Messages in iCloud is enabled.

Make Sure You’re Getting Notified in Group Messages

Group messages are a fantastic way to communicate with multiple contacts simultaneously, be it for family updates, work collaborations, or planning events with friends. However, due to the volume of messages these chats can generate, some users modify or mute notifications to minimize distractions. Yet, this can also mean missing out on essential updates. In this section, we will delve into the nuances of group message notifications and ensure that you’re set up to receive alerts for those vital group communications, so you never feel out of the loop.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Swipe down and tap Messages.
  3. Swipe down again until you reach the Mentions section.
  4. Tap the toggle next to Notify Me to the On position.
  5. Tap the < Settings button in the top left corner to save your changes.

Disconnect Bluetooth Devices

Our devices are more interconnected than ever, thanks to Bluetooth technology. It allows seamless pairing of headphones, speakers, and other peripherals to our iPhones. However, there are instances when this convenience can unintentionally interfere with our notification experience. If you’ve ever missed an alert or wondered why your phone seemed silent, a connected Bluetooth device might be the culprit.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Bluetooth.
  3. Locate any devices that are connected under the My Devices section.
  4. Tap the Info button to the right of the device name.
  5. Swipe all the way down to the bottom of the page.
  6. Tap the Disconnect button.
  7. Repeat these steps for any other devices that might be connected to your iPhone.

Turn off Text Message Forwarding

The Text Message Forwarding feature on the iPhone allows users to send and receive SMS and MMS from any Apple device linked to the same iCloud account. While this can be an invaluable tool for seamless communication across multiple devices, it might also be a reason for unexpected behavior in your message notifications.

Perhaps you’ve noticed messages appearing on your iPad or Mac, but mysteriously bypassing your iPhone. Let’s dive into how to manage this feature and ensure that your messages are being directed as you intend.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Swipe down and tap Messages.
  3. Scroll down again and tap Text Message Forwarding.
  4. Tap the toggle next to any devices that are enabled to the Off position.

Update Your DNS Servers

In the vast digital ecosystem of the internet, DNS (Domain Name System) servers function as the address books, translating human-friendly website names into IP addresses that machines understand. Just as you’d occasionally update your phone’s contact list to ensure smooth communication, updating your DNS servers can lead to faster browsing speeds, heightened security, and a more reliable internet experience.

This section will guide you through the steps and reasons for updating your DNS servers, ensuring optimal connectivity and online performance. Whether you’re seeking faster website load times or heightened security measures, adjusting your DNS settings might just be the solution. Let’s dive in.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the Info button to the right of the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to.
  4. Swipe down until you reach the DNS section.
  5. Tap Configure DNS.
  6. Tap Manual.
  7. Under the DNS Servers section, tap the + Add Server button.
  8. Enter 8.8.8.8
  9. Tap the + Add Server button again.
  10. Enter 8.8.4.4.
  11. Tap the Save button in the top right corner.

Reset Your Network Settings

Troubleshooting network problems can be one of the biggest frustrations out there. And while the iPhone and iPad are pretty good about keeping things on track, something can easily get messed up from time to time.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (iPad).
  4. Tap the Reset button at the bottom of the page.
  5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  6. When prompted, enter your iPhone’s passcode.

By resetting the Network Settings, all of your saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN connections will be completely removed. But this also resets that cellular connection on your device, which may help to improve the overall network connectivity of your iPhone and iPad.

Reset All Settings Without Erasing Your iPhone

This first method essentially resets all of the preferences that you might have tweaked over the duration of owning your iPhone or iPad. This literally means that if you’ve tapped a toggle to turn something on, performing this reset will put things back to the way that they were when you first took the iPhone or iPad out of the box.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (iPad).
  4. Tap the Reset button at the bottom of the page.
  5. Tap Reset All Settings.
  6. When prompted, enter your passcode.

Conclusion

While the convenience and reliability of our iPhones make communication seamless, encountering issues with notifications can disrupt our day-to-day activities. Whether it’s a simple settings tweak, a software update, or more in-depth troubleshooting, there are solutions available to restore your iPhone’s alert capabilities.

We hope that the steps outlined in this article have been beneficial in addressing the silent treatment from your device. Remember, technology is bound to have its hiccups, but with the right guidance, you can navigate and resolve challenges with ease.

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