Facebook Messenger notifications not working Android

Facebook Messenger is one of the populous Instant Messaging apps across all platforms. And if you’re one of the billions of people who use Facebook, you probably chat with your Facebook friends via the  Messenger app. One of the prominent flaws many Android users has reported over the years is the Messenger notification not working issue. If you're also experiencing this on your Android phone, we can feel the amount of anger on your face for the chats and gists you've missed; but don't worry, we've come to your aid.

Your Messenger notifications not working could be because of invalid settings, network problem, or your phone closing the app aggressively. Fortunately, the fixes below will get your Messenger notifications working again, so you don't miss your chats next time.

Facebook Messenger notifications not working Android

Check Notifications Settings

Are notifications turned off for Messenger? Perhaps you had tampered with the notification settings unknowingly. And if that’s what caused the issue, it’s what you can fix in a few clicks. Android lets you customize notifications for various categories such as private chats, group chats, media, and others on the Messenger app. So, if you don’t receive notifications for your group chats, for instance, you might have disabled it. Follow the steps below to check your Facebook Messenger’s notification options on Android.

  • Open the Settings app on your phone.
  • Click Apps & Notifications, then tap the option to view all apps.
  • Look for Messenger on the list and click it.
  • Tap Notifications.
  • First, ensure you turn on Show notifications; then go through the notification categories to check if anyone is turned off.

Re-enable your notifications and ask a friend to message you to see if it works.

Make sure Do Not Disturb is not turned on

Despite enabling notifications for Messenger, you still won’t receive notifications when your phone is in DND mode. So, go to your sound settings, or simply open the quick-settings panel to turn off Do Not Disturb.

For the unaware, “Do Not Disturb” is a feature that restricts visuals or sounds from notifications on your phone. It’s quite beneficial if you don’t want distractions during work or study hours. But if you can’t receive notifications from Messenger, follow the steps below to check and disable DND mode on your phone.

  • Method 1: Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to access the quick-settings panel. Look for Do Not Disturb and turn it off if it's active.
  • Method 2: Go to Settings > Sounds > Do Not Disturb and make sure it's not turned on.

Restart your phone

Have you tried restarting your phone? Go ahead and do that now! Not receiving Messenger notifications on your phone could be because the system is overworked… perhaps it’s just a software bug. And if you’re one of those who use their smartphone for weeks without restarting it, you might experience software problems sometimes. Fortunately, most of them can be rectified by restarting your phone.

  • Hold down your Power button for a second to open the power menu. Tap Restart on the screen to reboot your phone. Also, you can force restart most Android phone by holding down the Power button for about 8-10 seconds.

Reconnect to the network

The messenger notification not working problem may also happen if you have a problem with your network, so check if you have an active internet connection before you continue. Maybe your network has timed out, you’re out of mobile data, the Wi-Fi network is out of range, or it’s just Messenger not detecting your connection. To fix that, toggle off/on your Wi-Fi or mobile network. Here’s how to do that.

  • Open the quick settings panel and look for Airplane mode. Tap to enable it, wait for a few seconds, then tap to disable it again.

Turning on/off Airplane mode should reconnect you to the network and re-sync your Messenger app. Now, try opening a webpage on Chrome to confirm if your internet is active. If you can successfully load a webpage, check Messenger again to see if it can post notifications now.  

Check settings for both Messenger and the regular Facebook app

Besides the Android notification settings, both Facebook and Messenger apps also have their notification settings, which you can control inside the app. Ensure you allow Messenger and Facebook to post notifications right from the app. To do that, open your Messenger/Facebook app, open the menu and locate Settings, find Notification settings and turn on the essential ones.

Turn off the Battery saver

Though battery optimization is not available for Messenger on some recent Android versions, it’s possible you still don’t receive notifications when the battery saver is active on your phone. And if your phone kills background apps aggressively, you might not receive notifications until you open the Messenger app. To keep Messenger active, open the quick settings panel and turn off the battery saver on your phone. In case you don’t find Battery Saver in the quick settings panel, open the Settings app, and go to the Battery Section.

Clear cache data for the Messenger app

Another fix for your Messenger notifications not working is to clear its cached data. Android apps usually cache some data temporarily to make the apps work efficiently and use fewer resources. But it could also pose problems when its too much or corrupted, so its recommended to clear it now that your messenger app is not working properly. Follow the steps below to do that.

  • Launch Settings on your phone.
  • Click Apps & Notifications, then tap the option to view all apps.
  • Look for Messenger on the list and open it.
  • Tap Storage & Cache.
  • Click on Clear cache to wipe it.

Ask someone to chat with you via Messenger to see if you can receive notifications now.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Messenger app

You can re-install the Messenger app if none of the fixes above has worked for you; this will delete your old data, reset Messenger's data library, but it won't affect your chats and data. Follow the steps below to uninstall and reinstall your Messenger app.

  • Open the Play Store on your phone and search for
  • While on the Messenger app page, hit Uninstall to remove it from your phone.
  • Tap the Install button again to reinstall the Messenger app once it has been removed.

Open the Messenger app after reinstalling it and sign in to your account. Try asking a few people to chat you up to see if the notifications are working now.

End all Facebook sessions and reset your password

Signing out your Facebook account on all of your devices and resetting your password could also fix your Messenger notifications. Here's how to go about it.

  • Launch your Facebook app and open Settings & Privacy (you need to first tap the menu icon, then scroll to the bottom)
  • Further, select Settings, then tap Security and Login
  • Under the "Change Password" tab, hit
  • Confirm your old password and set a new one.
  • On the next screen, tap Review Sessions. Scroll the bottom and tap Log out of all sessions.

Now, sign-in to your Facebook account on Messenger again to see if the issue is fixed.

Update your phone

Is the notifications problem truly caused by the Messenger app? Sometimes, it could be because you’re running a buggy or outdated software build on your phone. To fix that, you need to update your phone to its latest version if there’s an available update. Follow the steps below to do that:

  • Open the Settings of your phone, scroll to the bottom and select
  • Hit System Update, followed by Online Update and follow the screen instructions to check and update your phone. You might need to connect to a Wi-Fi network in the process to avoid s high data consumption.

Restart your phone and try using Messenger again to see if the notifications are now working.

Reset All Your Settings

We recommend you reset your apps and network preferences if you're yet to find a perfect fix for your Messenger notifications. Resetting your phone settings (apps and network) won't affect your data or wipe your phone; so you're safe. Follow the steps below to get started.

  • Launch your phone Settings, select System, then tap Reset options.
  • First, select Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth and confirm it to reset your network settings.
  • Next, navigate back to Reset options and click Reset app preferences. Confirm it to reset your apps settings.

Find a service centre

Trying all the above fixes without solving your Messenger notification problem doesn't mean you have to ditch Messenger forever; visiting a technician might be what you need. Hopefully, they can help you look into the software, device settings, or even the hardware to find the culprit and fix it.

If you use Infinix, TECNO, or itel smartphone, you're already at the right place. We are the official after-sales service provider for these brands; we exist to ensure you enjoy using your phone always. And now that your Messenger notifications are not working, visit our service centre near you for a lookup.

Why am I not getting Messenger notifications on my Android?

Go to your app drawer and locate Facebook Messenger. Hold down its app icon until the selection screen shows up. Next, tap on App Info and access the Notifications page. Lastly, enable the 'All Messenger Notifications' option.

Why are my FB Messenger notifications not working?

If your device is in Do Not Disturb mode, you will not receive any notifications, whether Messenger or any other app unless you customized it. Disable DND mode to start receiving Messenger notifications. As is common with Android, the wording may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and Android version to version.

How do I get Facebook Messenger notifications on my Android?

Turn Messenger notifications on or off.
Tap Settings in the bottom right..
Tap Notifications & sounds..
Tap the toggle next to On to turn on and off..
Choose how long to turn off notifications and tap OK..

Why am I not getting notifications even though they are turned on?

Cause of Notifications Not Showing up on Android Do Not Disturb or Airplane Mode is on. Either system or app notifications are disabled. Power or data settings are preventing apps from retrieving notification alerts. Outdated apps or OS software can cause apps to freeze or crash and not deliver notifications.