Where notifications come from and how to find the settings
Notifications arrive through three separate channels: your phone's operating system (iOS or Android), individual apps you have installed, and websites you visit in your browser. Each one has its own on-off switch, and you need to flip the right one for the notification to actually reach you. If you turn on notifications in an app but your phone's system-level settings block that app, you will see nothing. The same goes backwards — your phone can be set to allow notifications, but the app itself can refuse to send them.
The fastest way to turn on a notification is usually through the app itself. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (often a gear icon), and search for a word like "Notifications" or "Alerts". Most apps show you a list of notification types — messages, reminders, activity updates — and let you toggle each one separately. Some apps also let you choose how the notification arrives: as a sound, a badge on the app icon, a banner across your screen, or silently in your notification center.
If you turn on notifications in the app but still do not receive them, the problem is usually at the phone level. Your phone's operating system sits between the app and you, and it has the final say on whether a notification gets through.
Key Takeaways
- Notifications require permission at two levels: the app must be set to send them, and your phone's operating system must be set to allow them.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app name to turn notifications on; on Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications.
- Websites can ask for notification permission the first time you visit, and you can change that choice later in your browser settings.
- Some notifications are tied to specific features — like location services or contacts access — and you may need to grant those permissions separately.
- If notifications stop arriving after you have turned them on, check both the app settings and your phone settings, as updates sometimes reset your choices.
Turning on notifications on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app on your phone that can send notifications. Tap the app name. At the top of that screen, toggle "Allow Notifications" to on (it will turn green). Below that, you will see options for how the notification appears: "Lock Screen", "Notification Center", and "Banners". You can turn each one on or off separately.
If you want the app to make a sound when a notification arrives, make sure "Sounds" is toggled on. If you want a red number badge on the app icon showing how many unread items you have, turn on "Badges". Some apps also offer a "Critical" option, which means the notification will come through even if your phone is in silent mode — use this sparingly, as it overrides your phone's do-not-disturb settings.
After you have turned on notifications in Settings, go back to the app itself and check its own notification settings. Some apps have additional choices there that do not appear in the phone's Settings app. For example, a messaging app might let you turn on notifications for direct messages but turn off notifications for group chats.
Turning on notifications on Android
Open Settings and tap Apps (or Applications, depending on your phone model). Find the app you want notifications from and tap it. Look for "Notifications" or "App Notifications" and tap that option. You will see a toggle for "Allow Notifications" — turn it on. Below that, you may see options for notification channels, which let you control different types of notifications separately. For example, a calendar app might have one channel for event reminders and another for invitation notifications.
Some Android phones also let you control notifications from the notification shade itself. Pull down from the top of your screen twice to open the full notification shade, find a notification from the app you want to hear from, press and hold it, and tap "Show Notifications". This is faster than going into Settings, but it does not give you as many options.
After you have enabled notifications at the phone level, open the app and check its own settings. Like iPhone apps, Android apps often have notification choices that only appear inside the app itself, not in your phone's system settings.
Turning on notifications from websites
Websites can send notifications to your computer or phone through your web browser. The first time a website wants to send you notifications, your browser will ask for permission with a popup that says something like "Allow notifications from this site?" You can click "Allow" or "Block". If you clicked "Block" by mistake, or if you want to change your mind later, you can go back and change it.
On Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, click the lock icon next to the website address in your address bar. You will see a list of permissions the site has asked for, including notifications. Find "Notifications" and change it from "Block" to "Allow". On some browsers, you may need to go into the browser's main Settings menu and search for "Notifications" to see a list of all websites that have permission.
Website notifications work differently than app notifications — they usually appear as a small popup in the corner of your screen, and they only show up when you have that website open in your browser (or, on some browsers, when the browser is running in the background). If you close the browser, website notifications stop arriving.
When notifications require additional permissions
Some notifications depend on other permissions. A fitness app that sends you reminders to move might need access to your location or your motion sensors. A messaging app that notifies you when a contact is nearby needs permission to access your contacts and location. A calendar app that sends notifications about events might need access to your calendar data. If an app asks for these permissions and you say no, the app may still send some notifications, but not the ones that depend on that data.
If you have turned on notifications in the app and in your phone settings but still are not receiving them, check whether the app needs a permission you have not granted. Go back to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Permissions and look for anything marked "Not Allowed" or "Denied". Turn on the permissions the app needs. You can always change your mind later if you decide you do not want the app to have that access.
What to do if notifications stop working after an update
When you update an app or your phone's operating system, notification settings sometimes reset to the default. This is frustrating, but it is straightforward to fix — just go back through the steps above and turn notifications back on. The same thing can happen if you have not used an app for a long time; some phones automatically turn off notifications for apps you have not opened in weeks, to save battery.
If notifications still do not arrive after you have turned them on at both the app level and the phone level, try closing the app completely and opening it again. Sometimes a notification permission does not take effect until the app restarts. If that does not work, try restarting your phone. If notifications still do not arrive after a restart, the problem may be with the app itself — check the app's support page or contact the developer to see if other people are reporting the same issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn on notifications for some types of messages but not others?
Yes. Most messaging and social apps let you customize notifications by conversation, contact, or message type. Open the app's settings and look for "Notification Channels" or "Advanced Notifications". You can often turn on notifications for direct messages from specific people while turning them off for group chats, or turn on notifications for mentions while turning off notifications for likes.
Why do I see a notification on my lock screen but not in my notification center?
Your phone is showing you the notification, but it is not saving it for later. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [App Name] and make sure both "Lock Screen" and "Notification Center" are turned on. On Android, check the app's notification settings and look for an option like "Show in Notification Center" or "Persistent Notification".
What is the difference between a banner and an alert?
A banner appears at the top of your screen for a few seconds and then disappears. An alert is a popup that stays on your screen until you dismiss it. Banners are less intrusive; alerts demand your attention. On iPhone, you can choose which one you prefer in Settings > Notifications > [App Name]. On Android, this option varies by app and phone model.
Can I get notifications on my computer from an app on my phone?
Only if the app is designed to do that. Some apps, like email clients and messaging apps, can send notifications to both your phone and your computer. You usually have to turn this on separately in the app's settings on each device. Some apps use your phone as the main device and send notifications only there, even if you are using your computer.
Do I need to keep the app running for notifications to work?
No. Once you have turned on notifications in the app and in your phone settings, the app can send notifications even if you have closed it. Your phone's operating system handles the notification in the background. The only exception is website notifications, which usually only work when your browser is open or running in the background.