Text message tone not playing when phone is locked

Hi Hayleybill,

Since the watch is connected, it is 100% normal for your phone to make no sound when it is locked, once you are wearing the watch. This is because the notifications are coming in on the watch so the phone doesn't need to make a sound as the watch vibrates and pings when you get a text or any other notification. Once you are not wearing the watch (assuming you have wrist detection and a password enabled), you will hear your phone ping whenever it is locked or unlocked (once it isn't on silent).

Essentially, Normal behavior is:

Watch on Wrist = the Unlocked iPhone pings and Locked iPhone won't ping, the watch will ping when the iPhone is locked

Watch not on wrist = The iPhone will ping whether it is locked or unlocked and the watch won't ping until you put it back on (assuming you have wrist detection enabled).

I hope this helps.

-Percival876

Hi Hayleybill,

Check the notification settings for your phone and ensure that the lock screen is enabled under alerts.

Go to Settings->Notifications->Messages (or whatever app) (see screenshot below) and see if that is the issue, also check to see if Do Not Disturb is enabled in the control center.

I hope this helps.

-Percival876

Hi Hayleybill,

No worries, I'll think of more possibilities. By chance, do you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone 11 Pro? If so the notifications will not make a sound on the phone when the phone is locked as notifications will only make a sound on the Apple Watch (once the Apple Watch isn't on silent) anytime the phone is locked.

If you don't have an Apple Watch connected to the phone, is the problem only with the Messages app? or is it a problem with some/all apps?

I hope this helps.

-Percival876

You're Welcome! Feel free to ask anymore questions and someone here in the community will be happy to assist.

I'm glad to have helped you solve this.

-Percival876