Missing text notifications on iPhone 12 with iOS 18.3.2

I have notifications turned on and banners turned on but I am not receiving text notifications. The app will update the red notification count but the actual notifications are nowhere to be found. It is only on texts nothing else

iPhone 12 iOS 18.3.2


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Text notifications

iPhone 12, iOS 18

Posted on Aug 17, 2025 8:55 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 17, 2025 9:48 AM

Your iOS version is very out of date. The current iOS is 18.6.1, so before we attempt to troubleshoot an out of date iOS on your iPhone, it would make the most sense to update to the current iOS, then after you update, Force Restart your iPhone --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


4 replies

Aug 17, 2025 9:26 AM in response to Helpmepleasesos

Helpmepleasesos wrote:

I have notifications turned on and banners turned on but I am not receiving text notifications. The app will update the red notification count but the actual notifications are nowhere to be found. It is only on texts nothing else
iPhone 12 iOS 18.3.2

First, update to iOS 18.6.1, the current version. It is very difficult to troubleshoot if you are not on the most recent version.

Aug 17, 2025 9:19 AM in response to Helpmepleasesos

If you are NOT receiving text notification alerts, you can review and fine-tune them by going to Settings > Apps > Messages. First, make sure Immediate Delivery is enabled so that notifications appear right away without delay. Next, check that alerts are allowed on the Lock Screen, Notification Center, and as Banners—this ensures you don’t miss messages regardless of how you use your phone. Also confirm that Sounds and Badges are enabled so you hear an alert and see the red unread count on the app icon.


Under Customize Notifications, you will notice categories such as Unknown Senders, Transactions, and Promotions. These let you decide which types of messages deserve your attention. For example, you may want to silence promotions but still get immediate alerts for personal or transaction-related messages. Adjusting these categories can help reduce clutter while keeping important alerts active.


Lastly, double-check that Emergency Contact Alerts are enabled. This setting makes sure you receive critical notifications from important contacts even if your device is on silent or in Do Not Disturb mode.


See the Pic below, which is self-explanatory. Made on iOS 18.6.1


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Missing text notifications on iPhone 12 with iOS 18.3.2

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