11 Tips to Fix WhatsApp Notifications Not Working on iPhone

User Concern

“I suddenly stopped getting WhatsApp notifications on my iPhone 16. It, however, does show a red icon that there is a new message or more...but when I swipe down, WhatsApp doesn't appear in the Notification Centre. Any help would be appreciated!”

If you use multiple messaging apps on your iPhone, checking each one individually for new messages can be a hassle. That’s where notifications come in handy. However, sometimes notifications may stop working properly.

Recently, many iPhone users have noticed they’re not getting WhatsApp messages until they open the app. Why does this happen, and how can you fix it? In this article, we will introduce 11 troubleshooting tips to fix WhatsApp notifications not working on iPhone. Let’s check out.

Why is My iPhone Not Notifying Me of WhatsApp Messages?

There are several reasons why WhatsApp notifications might not be working on your iPhone, including:

• Unstable Network Connection: A poor or unstable internet connection can prevent notifications from coming through.
• Restricted Background Data: If background data is turned off for WhatsApp, the app won't be able to use the internet in the background, so you'll only receive notifications when you open the app.
• Misconfigured App Preferences: Sometimes, app settings for WhatsApp can get misconfigured, leading to notification issues.
• Outdated App Version: Using an outdated version of WhatsApp can cause problems with notifications.
• Software Glitches: Bugs or glitches in iOS or WhatsApp itself can interfere with notifications.

Now that we know the possible reasons for WhatsApp notifications not working on iPhone, let’s dive into the solutions. Keep reading to find out how to fix it.

Tip 1: Turn On WhatsApp Notification

If you're receiving notifications from other apps but not from WhatsApp, check if the “Allow Notifications” setting is enabled for WhatsApp.

When you upgrade to a new iOS version, it can reset your settings, including app notifications. So, if WhatsApp notifications aren't working, this should be the first thing to check.

• Go to Settings from the iPhone home screen and select Notifications.
• Find the WhatsApp option and toggle on the Allow Notifications button.

Also, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Notifications to ensure that notifications for messages, groups, and calls are enabled.

Tip 2: Enable WhatsApp Sound

If you have enabled “Allow Notifications” for WhatsApp but still don’t get any notification sound, you may have forgotten to set it up from WhatsApp. Here’s how to check or turn on sound for your WhatsApp notifications:

• Open the WhatsApp app and go to Settings > Notifications.
• Tap on Sound and choose the sound you like, then click Save.

Tip 3: Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections on your iPhone, including Wi-Fi, cellular data, Bluetooth, and GPS. If Airplane Mode is on, you won’t receive WhatsApp messages or notifications.

To check, swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the Control Center. If Airplane Mode is on, tap the airplane icon to turn it off. If it’s already off, you can toggle Airplane Mode on, wait for 10 seconds, and then turn it off again.

Tip 4: Turn Off Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb option is helpful when you do not want to be interrupted. Any calls, alerts, and notifications will not make any noise when the device is locked.

If you've accidentally turned it on, WhatsApp notifications won’t appear. To fix this, open the Control Center and turn off Do Not Disturb. Alternatively, go to Settings > Do Not Disturb and switch it off.

Tip 5: Check Network Connection

The WhatsApp messages and notifications might not work properly if your iPhone is connected to a poor network.

• Check the signal of Wi-Fi or cellular data from the home screen. If it is a weak signal, you will need to switch it to a strong network that will allow WhatsApp messages and notifications to be received.
• If you are using Wi-Fi, try to turn it off, wait for 10 seconds, and then turn it on. Also, you can try to restart your Wi-Fi router and or modem.
• If you are using cellular data, you can also turn it off for about 10 seconds and then turn it on.
• If necessary, you can navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings to erase the old network settings and reconnect to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Tip 6: Force Stop WhatsApp and Restart iPhone

If the WhatsApp notification is still not working normally on your iPhone, force stop the WhatsApp app and restart the device, which may help to fix the problem.

• On iPhone 8 or earlier, simply double-click the Home button to display your recently used apps and close the WhatsApp app.
• If you use an iPhone X or later, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle, then swipe right or left to find WhatsApp and close it.

After that, restart your iPhone and then check if the notifications are working normally again.

Tip 7: Update the WhatsApp App

Sometimes, an outdated version of the WhatsApp app can also cause the notifications not to work properly. If you don’t want to delete and re-install the app, you can do an app update to fix the error.

To do that, just go to the App Store and tap Today, then tap on your profile icon, scroll down to find WhatsApp and tap Update next to it.

Tip 8: Update iOS to Latest Version

Apart from updating the WhatsApp app, it is also important to keep your iPhone’s operating system up-to-date. In most cases, installing the latest iOS updates can help fix glitches on your iPhone, including WhatsApp notifications not working.

Before updating, make sure to back up your device using iCloud or your computer. Once that's done, follow these simple steps to update your iOS:

1. Connect your iPhone to power and Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Choose the update you want to install, then tap Install Now. The update may take some time, so wait until it’s complete.

Tip 9: Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp

WhatsApp data may occupy large storage space and prevent the app from running properly. Sometimes, the WhatsApp notification will not work or be delayed due to the cache files.

In this case, the easiest method to fix the notification issue is to delete and reinstall the WhatsApp application.

• Before uninstalling, make sure to back up your important chats. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup, and tap Back Up Now to save your chats to iCloud.
• After the backup, press and hold the WhatsApp icon on your Home screen until it wiggles, tap the X icon, and select Delete to uninstall the app.

• Next, search for WhatsApp in the App Store, reinstall it, and follow the setup instructions. When prompted, choose Restore to recover your chats from the backup.

Tip 10: Log Out of WhatsApp on Other Devices

If you’ve logged in to WhatsApp on multiple devices, you may get the WhatsApp notifications on another device and then have no alerts on your iPhone.

You can try to log out of your WhatsApp on all other devices and keep logging in on your iPhone only. Please note that there is no Log Out option in WhatsApp; you need to sign out by directly deleting the app on other devices.

Tip 11: Fix WhatsApp Notifications Not Working without Data Loss

WhatsApp notifications not working on iPhone often happens after an iOS update. There might be system bugs caused by iOS installation that stop WhatsApp notifications from working properly. In such a case, we recommend you use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. This professional iOS repair tool is capable of fixing various iOS issues easily and quickly. Below are some of its most noticeable features:

• Fix various iOS system issues, such as black screen, stuck on recovery mode, app notification issue, keep rebooting, iPhone won't turn on, etc.
• In most cases, it can help you fix iOS and bring your iPhone back to normal without causing data loss.
• It is safe and easy to use, working with all iOS devices (iPhone 16 included) running iOS 18 or earlier versions.

Here’s how to fix WhatsApp notifications not working on iPhone without data loss:

Step 1: Select “Standard Mode” once you have downloaded and run the program on your computer.

Step 2: Then connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable and wait for the program to detect the device.

Step 3: Then you’ll be required to confirm the device information; tap on “Download,” and the program will download the firmware package for your iPhone to fix the issue.

Step 4: When the firmware is downloaded and verified, click “Fix Now” to repair the iOS and get the WhatsApp notifications working properly on your iPhone.

Conclusion

Hope that you've fixed the WhatsApp notifications not working issue on your iPhone after following the solutions mentioned above. By the way, if you don't want to go through all the solutions one by one, we recommend you use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to save time and resolve the problem in a few simple clicks.