When iPhone notifications stop arriving even though everything looks “enabled,” it’s usually a Focus setting, a delivery mode (Scheduled Summary), a network/VPN issue, or the app quietly being limited in the background.
Let’s walk through the quickest checks first, then the deeper resets.
1. Confirm you’re checking the right kind of alert (Lock Screen vs Notification Center)
Sometimes notifications are arriving, but not where you expect them.
- Swipe down from the top-left to open Notification Center and look for older alerts.
- If you only see them there, go to Settings > Notifications and ensure Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners are selected for the app.
- Also check Show Previews isn’t set to “When Unlocked” if you’re expecting visible lock-screen text.
2. Check Focus and “Allow Notifications” rules (this is the #1 silent blocker)
Focus can allow notifications for some apps/people while quietly blocking others.
- Go to Settings > Focus and open the Focus mode you use (Do Not Disturb, Work, Sleep, etc.).
- Under Allowed Notifications, confirm the app (or the people) are allowed.
- Also check Options: if Silence Notifications is enabled, alerts may go straight to Notification Center without appearing.
- Quick test: temporarily turn Focus off from Control Center and send yourself a test notification.
Focus can be scheduled, so it may be turning on by itself.
3. Look for Scheduled Summary and “Deliver Quietly” behavior
If alerts show up in batches, Scheduled Summary is often the reason.
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Summary.
- Turn it off to test, or remove the problem app from the summary list.
- Back in the app’s notification settings, set Immediate Delivery if that option appears.
Also, if an app’s alerts never “pop,” make sure its Banner Style isn’t set to none and that Sounds is on if you rely on audible alerts.
4. Make sure Low Power Mode and Low Data Mode aren’t delaying push
Power and data saving features can reduce background activity and make notifications feel delayed.
- Check Settings > Battery and turn Low Power Mode off for testing.
- Check Settings > Wi‑Fi (tap the “i” next to your network) and Settings > Cellular for Low Data Mode.
If notifications start flowing again, you can re-enable these later and adjust only what’s necessary.
5. Verify the app isn’t restricted in the background
Some apps need background refresh to deliver timely alerts (especially messaging, collaboration, and news).
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Turn on Background App Refresh globally (Wi‑Fi or Wi‑Fi & Cellular), then enable it for the specific app.
- In Settings > Notifications for that app, ensure Time Sensitive Notifications is enabled if you want them to break through some limits.
One more quick check: if you force-quit an app, some apps won’t behave normally in the background until you open them again.
6. Rule out VPNs, security apps, and flaky networks
Push notifications rely on a stable connection to Apple’s push service. VPNs and some “security”/ad-block DNS tools can interfere.
- Temporarily disable VPN (Settings > VPN) and test.
- If you use a custom DNS or filtering app, pause it briefly and test again.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then off.
- Try switching networks (Wi‑Fi to cellular, or another Wi‑Fi) to see if it’s network-specific.
If it only fails on one Wi‑Fi network, reboot the router and check whether it blocks Apple services.
7. Reset notification permissions for the app (cleanest per-app reset)
If the app’s notification permission is in a weird state, a simple off/on reset often fixes it.
- Go to Settings > Notifications and open the app.
- Turn Allow Notifications off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
- Open the app itself and look for its in-app notification toggle (many apps have one).
If the app supports it, send a test alert (for example: message yourself, trigger a test ping, or use the app’s “send test notification” option).
8. Update iOS and the app, then restart (small step, surprisingly effective)
Notification bugs are often fixed in app updates or iOS point releases.
- Update the app in the App Store.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install updates if available.
- Restart the iPhone (a full power off/on, not just locking the screen).
If you’re still stuck after updates, the next escalation is Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. That won’t erase data, but it will remove saved Wi‑Fi networks and VPN settings.
Final thoughts
When notifications are “enabled but not arriving,” Focus rules and Scheduled Summary are the most common quiet culprits—then background limits and VPN/DNS filtering.
If you tell me the app name and whether you miss alerts on Wi‑Fi, cellular, or both, I can help narrow it down fast.