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iPhone not getting text notifications

Since upgrading to iOS 11, my iPhone 5S no longer makes a sound or displays a notification on my locked screen when I receive a text message.


I've checked that "Do Not Disturb" is turned off, and that the sound mute button is not turned on. I also checked in Settings / Sounds and I have a sound selected for Text Messages.


When I get a text message, the only way I know I got it is if I click on the home button to start up the display. In addition to not making any sound, the text message doesn't even light up my phone display when I get it, but if I click on the Home button to turn on the screen, I can see the notification.


This is a bit of problem, I depend on text messages quite a bit in my job and now I have no idea if I'm getting a text message unless I keep checking my phone. How do I fix this, or is this a bug in iOS 11?

[Re-Titled by Host]

Posted on Sep 20, 2017 10:37 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 18, 2017 2:11 PM

I have checked or tried the following:


  • Do Not Disturb is not turned on at the time.
  • Bluetooth, when on, is not connected to any other device.
  • Updating to iOS 11.03 didn’t fix the problem.
  • I do not have an Apple Watch.
  • Restarting iPhone makes no difference.
  • In Notification Settings, Show Previews is set to Always.
  • Messages notification settings are: Allow: ON, Badge App Icon: ON, Show in CarPlay: ON, Show on Lock Screen: ON, Show in History: ON, Show as Banners: ON (Temporary), Show Previews: ON, Repeat Alerts: Twice.


I still don't get notifications when receiving some text messages. Unless I go into Settings and turn Bluetooth off.


I encourage everyone to report this bug directly to Apple here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

372 replies

Oct 11, 2017 11:54 AM in response to TomNYC

I have same issue with my IPhone 7 plus and apple watch 2...

Strange thing - some notifications work - for example from SMS messages, but some - not. Specifically when the apple watch is connected via the Bluetooth to my iPhone and iPhone screen is locked - no notification/ no sound, but when you unlock the iPhone or wake it up - you see the notification is there - in the notification area...

But no sound was played, and screen was not waked up.

Also, no notification coming to the watch...

But if i disable the bluetooth - everything works just fine.


Just download the update - 11.0.3 - hoping that that update will fix the issue - but its still there. Still no notifications...

Oct 11, 2017 3:06 PM in response to Andromir

I have same issue with my IPhone 7 plus and apple watch 2...

Strange thing - some notifications work - for example from SMS messages, but some - not. Specifically when the apple watch is connected via the Bluetooth to my iPhone and iPhone screen is locked - no notification/ no sound, but when you unlock the iPhone or wake it up - you see the notification is there - in the notification area...

But no sound was played, and screen was not waked up.

Also, no notification coming to the watch...

But if i disable the bluetooth - everything works just fine.


Just download the update - 11.0.3 - hoping that that update will fix the issue - but its still there. Still no notificatinos...


UPDATE: After the 11.0.3 update I restarted the watch and everything started to work...

Oct 12, 2017 9:13 AM in response to xMXUx

This page was very helpful to solve my problem. I tried a lot of things so I’m not sure which one did the trick.


https://appletoolbox.com/2017/08/fix-messages-and-imessage-problems-in-ios-11/


https://appletoolbox.com/2017/09/no-text-or-message-notification-alerts-or-sound s-on-iphone-fixes/


I deleted the conversations on my phone.

I disabled notifications for iMessage rebooted and re-enabled

I changed silence mode to be “when phone unlocked” instead of always.

Upgraded to IOS 11.03

Oct 12, 2017 12:48 PM in response to TomNYC

I have discovered that since installing iOS 11, if bluetooth is enabled, I get no sound on the lock screen. I use a FitBit so BT is always enabled. My FitBit buzzes with the incoming text, but not the phone. This is a problem, a bug that certainly needs to be fixed. Other annoyances since this upgrade include horrible lag time and frequent screen freezes on apps that have worked perfectly before. My battery drains faster now too. I regret doing the upgrade. My iPad wants me to upgrade from 10.3.3 to iOS 11.0.3 (which is on my phone) and I am holding off for now.

Oct 12, 2017 3:12 PM in response to uVr4BsveiHdOxXNI

Sounds similar to what I'm experiencing. I reset the phone yesterday and message alerts came through and the screen lit up. This morning, nothing again. Made a purchase at the supermarket this afternoon and got a customary credit card alert and the screen lit up (as it always did before iOS11.x.y.z). I don't have time to experiment with various settings so the issue appears to come and go depending on my phone's mood.


I'm a bit tired these constant OS updates for what appears to be update's sake. I need RELIABLE tools that I can depend on to help me get my job done, Apple.

Oct 12, 2017 6:38 PM in response to TomNYC

I just troubleshot my mom’s phone which was experiencing this issue. We realized that she had accidentally tapped “do not disturb” in control center. We recommend that everyone double check this, as the inverted color scheme on the icon isn’t immediately obvious as being “on” or “off “ if you don’t use this feature regularly. There is still value to skeuomorphic UI conventions.

Oct 18, 2017 1:49 PM in response to TomNYC

Here’s a quick check...You don’t have to turn off Bluetooth, but if you have any bluetooth device ON, then the text sound will get ported to that item and you will not hear it. It will be playing on your bluetooth device. So for example if you have a headset using Bluetooth....but it is NOT on your ear, and it is sitting at your desk....and it is left on and connected to your phone...the sound will play, but it will be ported to your headset so you won’t HEAR IT. The phone ringer will still ring on the phone and the headset. The sound for text will not. Not turning OFF your headset and NOT having it in your ear will drive you nuts looking for how to turn the sound back on.

Oct 20, 2017 1:24 AM in response to TomNYC

If you are upgraded to ios 11 or higher, check your date& time if it is automatically set or not, If not, go to SETTINGS> GENERAL> DATE & TIME> and tick the "SET AUTOMATICALLY" to ON (GREEN button). Once done, try restarting your phone for about 5 minutes. After that try a "test" text message to one's number so that you can see if it works for you!


I have the same problem like you, my usual time on phone is 10 minutes in advance before updating to ios 11, I haven't encountered this "out of order messaging" and "not receiving notified Text" until I recently updated to ios11, tried so many suggestions from the forum but nothing works, so lately (just this today) I found out that ios 11 requires automated time and date. This works on me, try it. Hope I could help.

Oct 21, 2017 8:18 AM in response to TomNYC

Just like others in this thread, I have this problem on my new 8 Plus on 11.0.3, and after trying EVERYTHING mentioned, I will get very temporary (like one or two alerts) resolution, and then always goes back to no alerts.


The one and only thing that solves the iMessage alerts is to turn off Bluetooth. Even if Bluetooth is on with NO devices connected, I eventually end up with no alerts.


I have a smart watch as well (Garmin VivoActive 3 in my case). Turning off Bluetooth is not a solution. My wife has the 7 plus on the same software version and a Garmin smartwatch connected by Bluetooth and she has never had this issue. It is very frustrating trying to come up with a commonality to all our phones and this problem.


Regards,

TD

Oct 21, 2017 8:46 AM in response to TomNYC

I also noticed that turning off BT works, but I use a FitBit so not an option. This was NEVER an issue in iOS 10, so if Apple thinks it's a new 'feature' They got it wrong. Apple, please listen to your user community, this is a real issue and needs to be corrected. At the very least we need the 'option' for iMessages to notify when BT is on. The crappy thing is, sometimes out of the blue, I get a message notification when the phone is locked and literally nothing has changed. The next message won't notify. This smacks 'bug' to me.

Oct 21, 2017 6:09 PM in response to TomNYC

Same here for two members of my family with Apple Watches. Turn off Bluetooth and notifications work on the lock screen. Turn it back on, Apple watches connect and no notifications on the locked phone. Notifications do work on the watch. Is this a new feature vs. a bug? Is Apple trying to reduce the disruption of notifications by only alerting on one device?

iPhone not getting text notifications

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