Why has my phone stopped notifying me of texts?

Wondering why your iPhone is not notifying you when you receive a text? This could be due to your iOS version being old, or the Messages app glitching. Try installing the latest firmware or hard resetting your handset.

The Apple devices I currently own are an iPad Mini and iPod Touch, but I was once an iPhone owner. I've faced this problem a number of times on my former primary driver, the iPhone XR. The tips and tricks I've discussed below have helped.

Let's get to it.

How Do You Fix iPhone Not Notifying Me When I Receive a Text?

There are many ways to fix this, and they include:

1. Unmute Your Conversation

You might be receiving text notifications from everyone except for a few contacts. There is a possibility that you've accidentally muted them.

If you open the Messages app and see a crescent moon icon beside the people from whom you're not getting alerts, you've accidentally muted them.

Here's how to unmute a conversation:

• Open Messages
• Find the conversation in question
• Tap on the 'i' icon on the header or tap on the profile icon
• Switch off Hide Alerts and tap on Done

2. Disable Filter Unknown Senders

If you've enabled Filter Unknown Senders, texts from individuals who are not in your contacts list would be sent to the Unknown Senders tab. You won't be notified when their messages come in.

Here's how to disable it:

• Open Settings> Messages
• Scroll down until you find the Filter Unknown Senders feature
• Turn it off

3. Close the Messages App

The Messages app could have glitched out. Try clearing it with a force close.

Here's how you can force close an application:

• Go to the home screen
• Swipe up to open the App preview
• Scroll left or right to find the program in question
• Pull up to close it

Once you close the app, restarting your handset would be a good idea.

4. Reset iMessage

The Messages app might be glitching, but it could only be affecting iMessage notifications and not SMS texts. You'll have to reset iMessage:

• Open Settings
• Select Messages
• Turn off iMessage

After you've disabled it, immediately restart your iPhone. Once it has booted up again, go to Settings > Messages and re-enable the feature.

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5. Disable Attention Aware

Although this solution hasn't worked for me, several users have said that disabling the Attention Aware feature in face ID helps. If none of the above methods work, it won't hurt to try this one.

All you have to do is:

• Go to Settings > Face ID & Passwords
• Find Attention Aware and disable it

6. Disable Do Not Disturb Mode/Silent Mode

When Do Disturb Mode is enabled, you won't hear text notifications, incoming calls, or any notifications from social media.

Here's how you can disable DND:

• Swipe down to enter the control panel
• Find the Do Not Disturb option and toggle it off

Alternatively:

• Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb

Make sure you haven't accidentally set a timer on DND either. It will switch on at scheduled times of the day, which you wouldn't appreciate if you're expecting important messages.

Here's how you can disable the timer:

• Open Settings app > Do Not Disturb
• Go to Scheduled and turn it off

To access Do Not Disturb on iOS 15 and newer versions,

• Go to settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb

7. Clean the Receiver

You might be getting text notifications, but the alert sound might be so low that you don't hear them. If you live in a particularly dusty area, dust could've collected in your iPhone receiver.

The most effective way to get any debris out is with a paintbrush dipped in some rubbing alcohol. Here's what you need to do:

• Dampen the tip of a brush with rubbing alcohol
• Lightly brush over your iPhone speaker

If not, you can use a compressed air can:

• Get a pin and gently scrape against the receiver
• From a distance, shoot short, controlled bursts from a compressed air can
• Use a pin to try and dislodge anything remaining

8. Disconnect From Bluetooth Devices

Did you recently connect to a Bluetooth device? It will receive sound notifications whenever you receive texts. Simply unpair from it.

If the other device is close to you, however, you would hear the messages notifications that are coming in.

Here's how you can turn Bluetooth off:

• Swipe down to enter the notification center
• Find the Bluetooth and toggle it off

9. Disable Airplane Mode

You might have accidentally enabled Airplane mode. When it is switched on, your phones stops connecting to cellular towers. This not only means that you won't receive any messages or phone calls but you wouldn't be able to connect to the internet either.

Here's how to disable airplane mode on iOS devices:

• Push down to enter the control center
• Find the icon with the aeroplane and toggle it off

Alternatively, you can:

• Open settings> Airplane mode
• Switch it off

It's easy to know if you've accidentally turned it on, as there will be an airplane icon on the top corner of your screen.

10. Adjust Lock Screen Setting

Reset your lock-screen settings. You may have set them up so that you don't receive notifications unless your device is unlocked.

Here's how you can change this:

• Go to Settings > Notifications
• Open Messages
• Look for Show on Lock Screen and enable it

Your device may not be informing you about incoming text messages if Allow Alerts has been disabled.

Here's how you can fix this:

• Settings > Notifications > Messages
• Switch on Allow Alerts

In turn, you can customize the alert sound and pick one that you can easily hear from across the room:

• Open Settings
• Open Notifications > Messages
• Click on Sound
• Select the alert tone you like the most

12. Force Restart iPhone

New text alerts may not be coming through as your mobile is malfunctioning. Try hard-resetting it.

The hard reset process differs according to the iPhone model you own.

Here's what you can do on the iPhone 8, SE (2nd and 3rd generation), X, XS, XR, 11, and 12:

• Press and let go of the Volume Up button
• Press and let go of the Volume Down button
• Hold the Side button and release it when the Apple logo screen appears

iPhone 7:

• Hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button
• Release the two when the Apple logo screen appears

iPhone 6s and SE (1st generation):

• Hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time
• Let go of the two when you see the Apple logo screen

The iOS version you're using might have bugged out. This can cause all kinds of problems, including the one in question. You can fix it by installing the latest firmware:

• Go to Settings > General
• Click on Software Update
• Download any files available

Your device will reboot afterwards.

There is another way to update iOS:

• Launch iTunes on your computer
• Plug your smartphone into your desktop
• Wait for iTunes to sync with your mobile. When it pops up, click on it
• Open the Summary section and click Update
• Download any files available
• Confirm

Make sure you have a stable internet connection while upgrading your software. The process can take much longer otherwise, and software errors can come up.

14. Pair with An Apple Watch

This is more of a temporary workaround. If the culprit is an old operating system, and you don't want to update iOS, there is a way around this. Try pairing your Apple watch to your iPhone. When texts come in, your Apple watch will beep.

Here's what you should do:

• Strap your watch on
• Open the Apple watch app on your phone
• Click Pair
• A prompt will appear asking you to place the smart watch in your camera's view finder
• Wait a few seconds for them to pair

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15. Factory Reset

Sometimes, a force restart won’t cut it. You might have to go a step further and do a complete factory reset.

Just a word of caution:

Once you do a factory reset, your phone will be wiped clean. Back up your device to iCloud beforehand.

Here's how iPhone users can back-up files on iCloud:

• Open Settings app> [Your Name]
• Select iCloud > iCloud Backup
• Tap back-up now to manually save all your files

With that done with, let's talk about how you can master reset :

• Open Settings > General > Reset
• Click on Erase All Content
• Choose Erase iPhone
• Enter your passcode
• Confirm

16. Restore iOS

The missing notifications could be due to a bugged out operating system. However, Apple may not have released a patch to fix it yet. Restore an older, more stable iOS version.

Similar to doing a factory reset, you'll lose all your data. Back them up to iCloud.

You'll have to enter recovery mode. A computer and stable internet connection are required.

Here's what you need to do:

• Turn your handset off
• Plug it into your computer via USB or lightning cable
• Launch iTunes (run the latest version or you'll face errors)
• Close any programs other than iTunes as they can interrupt the restoration procedure
• You'll have to press a combination of buttons to enter recovery mode. It depends per iPhone model you own.
  • For the iPhone 8 or later: Press and release the Volume Up button, and then press and let go of the Volume Down button. Hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears
  • For the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Hold the Side and Volume Down buttons. Let go when the Apple logo screen appears.
• Your mobile will pop up on your computer. Locate and Click on it
• Click Restore

Expect the recovery process to take around 15 minutes. If it takes longer, your phone will automatically leave recovery mode. You'll have to start all over again.

Don't disconnect from your computer until iOS is restored. There's a chance that you'll get stuck in a restart loop.

17. DFU Mode

If the problem is due to a major software issue, and none of the above tips work, do a DFU restoration. You can think of it as a master reset but more extreme.

All your personal data will be lost, so back up your files beforehand.

You'll have to enter Device Firmware Update mode:

• Switch your mobile off
• Open iTunes on your computer (run the latest version or there will be errors)
• Connect your smartphone to your computer via USB or lightning cable
• You'll have to press a combination of buttons. This depends on the iPhone model you own.
  • For the iPhone 8/8 Plus, SE 2nd Generation and later: Press and release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button. Hold the Side button until the screen goes black. Keep holding the Volume Down button along with the Side button for about 5 seconds, and then release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down.
  • iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Hold the Side and Volume Down buttons for around 10 seconds, then release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button
  • iPhone 6, 6s, SE 1st Generation and earlier: Hold the Home and Lock button for around 8 seconds. Let go of the Lock button but keep holding the Home button
• A pop up will appear on your computer saying you were detected
• Follow the onscreen instructions

If none of the above solutions work - even entering DFU mode - there could be a major hardware issue looming. It's hard to say what might have happened, but water could have seeped in and damaged your motherboard or logic board.

There may also be a manufacturing defect on your handset. It could be messing with your cellular modem, causing the problem at hand. If it can't be fixed, you will receive a new iPhone.

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FAQ

I've answered some common questions below.

Why Does My iPhone Not Notify Me When I Get a Text?

This could be due to a number of reasons. Let's run through each of them:

• Text messages will not come in if you've enabled airplane mode
• Silent mode could be on. You won't hear notification alerts
• Your iPhone receiver could be blocked with dirt and debris, so you aren't hearing text notifications, phone calls, or any social media notifications
• The Messages app may be glitching out. You can force-close the application to clear it
• A bug might be preventing message notifications from coming through. A force restart should help. If not, perform a master reset.

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Final Thoughts

The message notification problem is most likely due to a glitch or bug of some sort. A few possible solutions are restarting your iPhone, closing the Messages app, as well as updating to the latest iOS version. Some other fixes are master resetting, as well as recovering an older version of your operating system.

Check out more smartphones

The text tones problem is frustrating. However, there are many ways you can troubleshoot it. If none of the solutions worked, contact Apple. There may be a hardware fault that is wreaking havoc on your system.