iPhone 14 not making sound for specific contact's texts when locked

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SatanMAT Author

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iPhone 14 not making sound for specific contact's texts when locked

When my wife texts me my iPhone 14 doesn’t make a sound if it is locked.

When unlocked (I’m using it) it does make her sound (Classic - Bloom)

My phone otherwise makes all the sounds when I receive other texts or from other apps alerts and such.

Okay… I’ve done all the things I can think of—

iOS is all up to date.

It isn’t on silent.

The volume is turned up

It isn’t in a focus (do not disturb or sleep)

I’ve changed her text tone trying several different options.

She is set as a contact, to emergency bypass.

She is an emergency contact.

Notifications—> Messages — Allowed, Critical Alerts allowed, Sounds on.

Sounds & haptics —> volume set to 80%; Haptics always

I’ve reset my carrier settings

I’ve reset my phone settings,

I’ve wiped and restored my phone from a backup.

— I’ve not tried a total wipe and rebuild from scratch…. Although that is likely next unless someone has any other thing to try first.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro

Posted on Feb 27, 2025 4:02 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

lobsterghost1

Community+ 2026

Level 10

189,869 points

Feb 27, 2025 4:57 PM in response to SatanMAT

If your iPhone screen is locked and you are wearing Apple Watch, NO notifications are supposed to be heard on your iPhone. If they are, there is something wrong as Apple designed Apple Watch and iPhone notifications, even with mirror on that when the watch is on your wrist and your phone is locked, notifications will be delivered to your watch, not your phone. If your phone is open, notifications will be delivered to your phone, not your watch. Notifications will NOT be delivered to both at the same time.

Read this about Notifications when wearing Apple Watch --> Notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

See the statement at the top of the article, which says the following:

Where notifications appear:

Notifications appear on your Apple Watch or iPhone, but not both.

If I can offer some advice and what works really well for me (I do wear Apple Watch). I do NOT use sounds on my watch. I use Haptics and I have them set to Prominent, with the volume set high for Haptics. Your wrist won't be able to miss a notification if your iPhone is locked. It will really TAP your wrist.

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Answer 2

SatanMAT Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 2, 2025 8:27 AM in response to H1290

Yeah…. Eh…

so yes, turning off notifications on my watch now allows her text notifications on my phone…

BUT that doesn’t answer WHY it worked for everyone else. I’d get their notifications on my phone before

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Answer 3

Feb 27, 2025 4:03 PM in response to SatanMAT

Do you and your wife share the same Apple ID?

Do you wear Apple Watch?

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Answer 4

Mar 2, 2025 8:53 AM in response to SatanMAT

When you consider you are NOT supposed to receive notifications on your iPhone when the phone is locked and the watch is strapped to your wrist and powered on, indicates you had something working which wasn't supposed to work. I noted this above. Therefore, you can't make this work in a way Apple didn't design it to work. And yes, if turn notifications off on your watch completely, then you'll get them on your iPhone.

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Answer 5

Feb 27, 2025 5:19 PM in response to H1290

H1290 wrote:

That's one of the best parts about smartwatches. You never miss a notification.

Yep, I NEVER miss a notification on my watch with haptics. The sound on an Apple Watch is just not enough to be noticed half the time. But there's no way to miss a nice strong haptic punch! The best thing is no one around me is aware I've just gotten a notification either. But I sure know!

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