Messages app badge icon not showing up.

It appears that the iOS 11.2.2 update, released primarily to address the Spectre vulnerability, may have also fixed the missing red app badge problem on my iPad Pro. After installing the update, I noticed a red "3" above the iMessage app icon. Sure enough, there were 3 unread messages waiting that had arrived earlier this morning.

I really think this has to do with a cache file that isn’t getting cleared correctly. Things like a reboot and software updates are clearing it enough for it to work for a while, but eventually, you are bumping into the wrong bit.

mine has been working for a week now and I have done the update. I better not have just jinxed myself!

these are the steps I would recommend. Below is a copy/paste of my prior reply.

The same thing happened to me the first time (the fix only lasted a day)

the one thing that was different this time is that when I did the Reset All the kid at the Apple store noticed that my home screen picture did not reset, so we did it again.

I would recommend:

1. Reset All
2. do the bare minimum to logon and other stuff that you do for initializing a new device
3. power down/restart
4. do Reset All AGAIN
5. then go thru the setup completely

I know resetting all your custom stuff is a pain (particularly if you do a lot of customizing like I do), but hopefully this will be the last time! And it is better than a restore (which I refuse to do).

Interestingly, this morning‘s security update, iOS 11.2.2, appears to have fixed this problem, at least for me.

Looks like 11.2.2 fixed the issue. Didn't even have to reboot (except how it reboots on its own after an update).

I did do the update to 11.2.2. and the iMessage worked again, returning back to the "Swoosh" sound when sending a text, the notification sound and the missing badge icon all returned. Thank you for posting that this worked. I was going to do it anyways because of the security update to fix the flaw we have all being hearing about since last week, but your post gave me the bravery to bite the bullet and do it now and it worked.

Just did the 11.2.2 update and it is working

I did my 11.2.2 update and it is working now. They may added it to the security update. hurray!

Just updated to 11.2.5 and the badges have reappeared so hopefully this update fixes the issue for everyone else.

The same thing happened to me the first time.

the one thing that was different this time is that when I did the Reset All the kid at the Apple store noticed that my home screen picture did not reset, so we did it again.

I would recommend:

1. Reset All
2. do the bare minimum to logon and other stuff that you do for initializing a new device
3. power down/restart
4. do Reset All AGAIN
5. then go thru the setup completely

mine has been working since then (I hope I didn’t jinx myself!)

I know resetting all your custom stuff is a pain (particularly if you do a lot of customizing like I do), but hopefully this will be the last time! And it is better than a restore (which I refuse to do).

Same problem, but with iPad Pro 9.7 (2016). Started after 11.2.1 update. First, the badge app icon (red bubble with # in it on upper fight corner of app icon) froze at "2" notifications (it was obvious that I had no new messages). Called Apple Support. They escalated it to a second tier rep, but he was perplexed too. He sent a message to the engineers and made an appointment with me to check back in a few days. I wondered the heck would happen in those few days and thought, well, nothing.

So I tried to troubleshoot at home when all my devices (iPad, iPhone, iWatch) were on one WiFi. I erased everything in Messages app on iPad, but still had the "2" frozen on the badge app notification. Then, I thought it might be an iCloud issue or network issue so I logged out of messages on iPad and iPhone, turned off and turned back on all settings in notifications for Message app, changed network settings, rebooted all three devices, logged back into my WiFi all three devices, logged back into Message app on iPad and iPhone, and just in case, turned off and back on all notifications settings on iPad and iPhone. Then, tested iPad notifications with sending text from iPhone and NOTHING. iPad still stuck at "2" on the badge app icon while the iPhone updated the badge app icon with a "1" as normal.

What seemed to work (at first) was "Reset All Settings" on the iPad. It erased the frozen "2" count on the badge app icon. The badge app icon disappeared. HOWEVER, the main problem still persisted because I was not receiving any new badge app icon notices. I was able to open the app and see new messages with the blue bullet point for the message box that received the new message BUT that was it - no red bubble with a # in it when app was closed.

I had a week to test out this problem which persisted 100% of the time when I received texts - whether on cellular or WiFi. Then, the 11.2.2 update came along. At first, I noticed the badge app icon appear and disappear without me doing anything. Now, it seems to be working - after testing with the second their tech, again.

To date, the 11.2.2 update MAY HAVE FIXED IT. It's been 24 hours since I updated so that's as far as my opinion could go. BUT, this issue made me want to lessen my footprint with personal tech gadgets. I refuse to waste time troubleshooting basic functionality of a device when I paid $1,000 for it.

WARNING, the second tier rep claimed she fixed it by turning on the "Text Message Forwarding" in Settings => Messages. That is incorrect!!! Even on Apple's website, under Notifications page, it explains that Notifications are independent to each devices. Also, I asked why did I have to turn on the text forwarding for the iPad if the same notifications were working with my 2010 MacBook Pro and that one was NOT turned on. Huh? What the heck? So I turned it off for iPad when we got off the support call. I suggest you read Apple's pages on Notifications and Handoff. Apple Support was no help at all.

And if Apple Support is reading this, can you please make it easier to find the list of updates for each software update? And why was this fix not listed in the software updates list for 11.2.2?

I’m not trying to be rude, but everything you have posted has already been posted and tried multiple times. As reported by several people the software update seems to fix it only temporarily. I too have been through tier 1, tier 2 and the Genius Bar for resolution. Apple has not acknowledged this as a problem and likely won’t since their support believes there are fixes. Also, as annoying as it is, it is an iPad only problem (not iPhone nor Mac) and it doesn't stop the app from completely functioning, so it will be low on the fix list. So far, doing the Reset All twice has been working for me for over a week (see several of my previous posts and replies). Others who have tried this have not reported back that it has stopped working.

If you're like me and you step away from your iPad, only to return later not knowing whether or not you've received a message, here's what I've just done ... until the missing badge problem is corrected, I've set the Messages app notification alert in Settings to a Persistent banner. This way, when a message arrives, at least the banner that appears at the top of the screen will remain visible until you manually dismiss it.

Same here on iPad mini 2 running 11.2.1

going to try turning off imessages on iPad then back on

A persistent banner. That's genius!! Why didn't I think of that!

THANKS!

That aside, I can say that since the update to 11.2.2, it's been okay so far for me. I hope it stays that way.

To confirm, the complete wipe out and reset all, it's not worth it. Certainly makes things spanky new, but if you're having the problem, it's going to permanently fix it. The settings reset worked for me. It was a small pain to redo all the mobile data apps and background refresh, fingerprints, etc. But at least it's working still. I hope I didn't just jinx it!