How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

You can configure most of the sound settings on the iPhone in the Sounds section of the Settings app. However, to change the sounds for Facebook Messages, you must configure the settings within Notifications. Three types of notifications exist that allow you to choose from a banner, an alert or no notification at all. You can also set Facebook to use sounds to enhance your notifications. Once you set up your alerts for Facebook, new messages will trigger a sound to notify you when somebody messages you.

  1. 1.

    Tap the "Settings" app.

  2. 2.

    Select the "Notifications" option.

  3. 3.

    Choose "Facebook" from the "In Notification Center" option.

  4. 4.

    Tap the "Banners" or "Alerts" option in the Alert Style menu. Banners show up on the main screen and disappear automatically; alerts stay active until you dismiss the notification.

  5. 5.

    Tap "Notifications" in the upper-left corner followed by the "Settings" button to return to the Settings page.

    Are you missing the Messenger notification sound lately? Do you have to open your Messenger app to find several new messages waiting for you? This is usually symptomatic of Messenger notifications not working. This is easily fixable, there are a few ways to go about it. Read on to quickly fix the Messenger notification not working issue.

    • Part I: How to Fix Messenger Notification Not Working
    • Part II: Fixes For Messenger Notifications Not Working On Apple Watch

    Related Articles: 8 Quick Fixes for Notifications Not Working on iPhone

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    Part I: How to Fix Messenger Notification Not Working

    Messenger notification not working issue can be due to a number of underlying issues, connected to each other. For example, if the internet isn't working, you won't get notified. If the app doesn't have proper permissions, you won't get notified. You get the idea. Let's take it one by one and ensure everything is in working order to fix the Messenger notification not working issue.

    1. Is the Phone In Do Not Disturb Mode?

    If your device is in Do Not Disturb mode, you will not receive any notifications, whether Messenger or any other app unless you customized it. Disable DND mode to start receiving Messenger notifications.

    On Android

    As is common with Android, the wording may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and Android version to version. This here is for OnePlus devices running Android 12.

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Do Not Disturb.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Do Not Disturb to toggle it OFF if it is ON.

    On iOS

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Toggle it OFF if it is ON.

    2. Are App Notifications Allowed On Device?

    Is the Messenger app allowed to send notifications on your device? Here is how to check it and enable Messenger notifications.

    On Android

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Apps > App Management > Messenger.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Manage Notifications and set to Allow. For reference, the image is shared below:

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    On iOS

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Notifications > Messenger.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Toggle Allow Notifications ON and set Sound and Badges to ON as well.

    3. Are Push Notifications Enabled in App?

    To fix the Messenger notifications not working issue, notifications must be enabled both on device and in the app. Previously you learned how to enable Messenger notifications on your device. Here is how to enable push notifications in Messenger app:

    Step 1: Launch Messenger and tap your profile picture at the top left.

    Step 2: Scroll down and tap Notifications and Sounds.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 3: Set them to your liking. If you want to receive notifications, toggle Do Not Disturb OFF.

    4. Is Background Access Allowed?

    Messenger needs the ability to run in the background to be able to send notifications, otherwise, you will face Messenger notifications not working problem. Here is how to enable background access in Android and iOS.

    In Android

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Apps > App Management > Messenger.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Battery Usage.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 3: Tap Allow Background Activity to let the app run in the background, that will help it send notifications without problems.

    In iOS

    Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Look for Messenger and toggle it ON.

    5. Are Contacts Unmuted?

    It is possible that Messenger notification is not working for one or more of your people alone, and that suggests that those contacts were accidentally muted, hence Messenger notification not working for them. Here's how to get those notifications back:

    step 1: Open the Messenger app and tap Chats from the bottom bar.

    Step 2: Now, see if there is a muted bell symbol across any of your chat threads.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 3: Tap that contact and tap the profile name.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 4: Tap Unmute to get Messenger notification working again.

    6. Reinstall Messenger

    Sometimes, something goes corrupt in a way that there is no other way to resolve it but to uninstall the app and reinstall it. So, if the above fixes have not helped, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it.

    On Android

    Step 1: Go to Settings > Apps > App Management > Messenger.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Uninstall and tap OK to confirm.

    On iOS

    Step 1: Tap and hold the Messenger icon to get a contextual menu.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Remove App and then tap Delete App to confirm.

    Part II: Fixes For Messenger Notifications Not Working On Apple Watch

    Now, when you throw an Apple Watch in the mix, things get slightly more complex as Apple Watch notifications work slightly differently depending on how much you have customized the notification delivery system on your Apple Watch.

    By default, here's what happens. When you install an app on your iPhone that has an Apple Watch paired to it, the iPhone installs the app on the Watch as well if the app supports it, and notifications are set to mirror the iPhone by default. That is, unless you have made changes to the notification delivery system on the Apple Watch, setting custom settings.

    1. Is The Watch In Silent Mode?

    Silent Mode on Apple Watch is different and independent from the Do Not Disturb mode on iPhone that encompasses all iCloud-connected devices. So, enabling Do Not Disturb on one device will enable it for all devices, but enabling Silent Mode on Apple Watch will only silence the Apple Watch. It's local and applies only to the Watch.

    Silent Mode will not prevent notifications from coming to the Watch, but there will be no sound.

    Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch at the bottom, and scroll to Sound & Haptics.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Make sure Silent Mode is OFF.

    2. Are Messenger Notifications On Apple Watch Set Correctly?

    To get Messenger notifications on Apple Watch, there are a few steps to follow.

    Install Messenger On Apple Watch

    Step 1: Launch the Watch app, tap My Watch and scroll down to find Messenger under Available Apps.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Tap Install to install Messenger on Apple Watch. Your Watch needs to be close by and unlocked.

    Set Notifications

    Step 1: In the Watch app, tap My Watch and tap Notifications.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Under Mirror iPhone Alerts From, toggle Messenger ON.

    3. Restart Apple Watch

    You can restart the Apple Watch to see if the messenger notification not working issue resolves itself. Here's how to restart the Apple Watch:

    Step 1: With the Watch disconnected from the charger, press and hold the Side button until the shut down screen appears.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 2: Slide and power off the Watch.

    Step 3: After a few seconds, press the Side button again to restart.

    4. Force Restart The Apple Watch

    A force restart can sometimes be better than a restart when things are not working as they should, in this case, messenger notifications not working on Apple Watch.

    Step 1: Press and hold both the crown and the side button together until the Apple logo appears.

    5. Uninstall And Reinstall Messenger On Apple Watch

    Just as with the iPhone, you can uninstall and reinstall Messenger on Apple Watch.

    Step 1: Press the digital crown on the Watch to get the app's view.

    Step 2: Tap and hold the Messenger icon until the screen prompts to edit apps. Tap Edit Apps. The icons will start jiggling, and there will be a tiny X button on the Messenger app.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Step 3: Tap that X and confirm Delete.

    How do I get Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Messenger will be uninstalled from Apple Watch. Reinstall it from the Watch app on iPhone as shown previously.

    Conclusion

    Facebook Messenger is the most used app in the world. In parts of the world where it is not the most used app, it is the second most-used app, second only to Facebook's WhatsApp. So, when Messenger notifications are not working, it is a cause for concern. Here are fixes that will help you get things sorted reliably and quickly. We have also thrown in a guide showing how to set messenger notifications on Apple Watch properly and how to restart the Apple Watch in case the notifications are not working properly.

    Why am I not getting Messenger alerts on my iPhone?

    Reboot Your Device Open “Settings” on your iPhone and navigate to “Notifications.” Select any app from the “Notifications Style” options. Tap on the "Allow Notifications" option and set it when you want to get the Notifications. You can set it to instant notifications or a scheduled notification summary.

    How do I get Facebook Messenger notifications on my iPhone?

    Turn Messenger notifications on or off.
    Tap Settings in the bottom right..
    Tap Notifications & sounds..
    Tap the toggle next to On to turn on and off..
    Choose how long to turn off notifications and tap OK..

    Why is Messenger not notifying me when I get a message?

    Android. Step 1: Press and hold the app icon and select App info from the menu that pops up. Step 2: On the app info page, go to Notifications and toggle on the All Messenger notifications option. Do check out the notifications preference too.

    How do I get Messenger to alert me?

    To turn Messenger notifications on or off:.
    Next to Chats, click , then click Preferences..
    Click Settings..
    Tick Desktop notifications enabled, then click Done..