Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!

Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >

Newsroom Update

Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, matching watch face, and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers as a way to champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn more >

Announcement

Introducing the iPad Pro with Apple M4 chip, the redesigned iPad Air in two sizes, and the all‑new Apple Pencil Pro. Watch the event >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

cg21734 Author

Level 1

26 points

iMessage notifications won’t go away

My iPad (iOS 11.2.1) Messages App is showing a badge that indicates I have two unread messages, even though I have no unread messages. I cannot get this badge to clear. I have tried:

1. Quitting the app, turning off all Notifications, turning off iMessage, restarting the iPad, then turning Notifications and iMessage back on. This did not work.

2. Deleting ALL Messages, then reperforming #1. There are ZERO messages from Contacts & SMS and Unknown Senders. The badge icon saying I have two unread messages is STILL there.

Screenshoots attached. How do I reset the Notifications and make this go away???

[Re-Titled by Host]

iPad Air Wi-Fi, iOS 11.2.1

Posted on Dec 27, 2017 2:24 PM

Best reply

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Posted on Dec 29, 2017 3:19 PM

Hello cg21734,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!
I understand from your post that the badge app icon on the Message app will not go away even though you have no messages. You have done some great troubleshooting so far. The next steps I would recommend would be to backup and reinstall the software.

The following article has the steps on how to backup your iPad:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

By using the steps as listed from the following article you can reinstall the software on your iPad:
If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Put your device in recovery mode and set it up again

Make sure that you're using the latest version of iTunes.

If iTunes is already open, close it. Connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. If you don't have a computer, borrow one from a friend or go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.

While your device is connected, force restart it with these steps:

On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad, or iPod touch: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don't release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Don't release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Update. iTunes will try to reinstall iOS without erasing your data. Wait while iTunes downloads the software for your device. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits recovery mode, let the download finish, then repeat these steps.

After the Update or Restore completes, set up your device.

Best Regards.

View in context

31 replies

Jan 15, 2018 7:27 AM in response to SkimAJ

Hi SkimAJ. Supposedly, this is fixed in iOS 11.2.2. Have you tried updating?

SkimAJ

Level 1

9 points

Jan 15, 2018 7:32 AM in response to Diana.McCall

Yes, my iPad was/is running iOS 11.2.2. It still had that issue.

Jan 17, 2018 7:28 AM in response to SkimAJ

I am having the same issue and it started right after I did the 11.2.2 Update. I tried everyone of the above fixes and nothing works. 😠 Very frustrating.

Feb 11, 2018 5:37 PM in response to raina_b22

Seriously, the only fix is to completely reinstall iOS on the iPad??

That doesn’t seem like a very intelligent solution!!!

Apple, really? No other ideas??

grpronk

Level 1

8 points

Mar 7, 2018 11:58 AM in response to raina_b22

Hi,

On my iPhone SE it doesn't work - screen just goes black after the Apple logo appears. The other method doesn't do anything.

Apr 24, 2018 9:15 AM in response to cg21734

I tried everything on all of the responses.

What DID work to remove the error badge: HARD REBOOT

Good luck, this was so annoying.

May 23, 2018 9:28 AM in response to raina_b22

Thank you very much. By far the easiest fix I found for this problem. Worked like a charm. Thank you!

ctoon

Level 1

8 points

May 25, 2018 5:29 PM in response to kanewskep

Knawskep‘s suggestion worked for me too! Except I didn’t have any unseen messages. Thank goodness I didn’t have to do a clean reinstall that would have been Painful. Thanks!! 🙂

lridge

Level 1

8 points

May 26, 2018 9:23 AM in response to cg21734

Here’s what worked for me. Go to Settings, Messages. Turn Messages off (which signs you out). Turn it back on and at the prompt, sign in.

jfreyba

Level 1

11 points

May 27, 2018 10:12 AM in response to kanewskep

Thanks a lot, kanewskep. It worked like a charm for me. The false badge has completely dissappeared.

Jun 12, 2018 4:53 AM in response to cg21734

I just signed out of iCloud restarted the iPad and it cleared.

evebardo

Level 1

4 points

Jun 27, 2018 5:48 AM in response to cg21734

I wasn’t ready to do a complete reset. I just procrastinated. And suddenly, a new Apple update fixed the problem by itself. Phew !Yay !

dhnva

Level 1

4 points

Jun 28, 2018 7:19 PM in response to raina_b22

That’s a ridiculously complicated solution to a trivial problem. It should be easier to fix. Or better yet, never happen in the first place.

Jul 4, 2018 6:36 AM in response to kanewskep

Many thanks for this very simple solution. I had this problem on an iPad mini with all updates installed. No hidden messages seen but the annoying icon has now disappeard.

Jul 31, 2018 3:38 AM in response to SkimAJ

This worked for me also! Thanks!!!

iMessage notifications won’t go away