Not getting text notifications on iPhone iOS 16

Several users have reported that iPhone text alerts not working after iOS 16 update. More specifically, iPhone users have reported problems with getting the notifications that let them know they have received a text message. This issue has affected iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11,, iPhone X and iPhone 8 users. It seems that for many users with this issue, text notification sounds and banners may or may not show up to indicate a new message. In this article, I’ll explain what to do when iPhone is not receiving text notifications after iOS 16 update.

Ways to Fix iPhone Not Receiving Texts notifications after iOS 16 update

If you find text notifications not working on iPhone running iOS 16, try the following tips to fix the issue.

1. Turn off Airplane mode

Airplane mode turns off all internet connectivity and prevents new text messages from coming in and sending you a notification.

1. Go to the iPhone home screen and pull down the Control Center from the upper right corner.
2. You will see Airplane mode icon from the menu. If it’s turned on, disable it.

Now you can ask the other person to send you a message again.

2. Disable Focus Mode

If you are not receiving text notifications after iOS 16 update, make sure to check if the Focus mode is disabled. The Focus feature can affect the kind of app notifications you receive, how notifications show up, and when you get one. Double-check to make sure this feature isn’t making your text notifications silent. To do so,

Start the Settings app on your iPhone and then tap Focus. Now, turn off the toggle next to the DND and Focus options.

You can also disable the options via the Control Center. Just swipe it down and tap on the Focus option to disable a Focus option.

3. Add exceptions to Focus

When you set up a Focus, you have to create exceptions for contacts and apps that can disturb you during that Focus. And may, that setting isn’t 100% perfect, so let’s get it sorted.

1. Go to Settings > Focus > select the Focus.
2. Under the Allowed Notifications section, tap
   People – Add people you want to receive a call from or tap on Calls From and select Everyone.
   Apps – Add apps that are allowed and Toggle on Time Sensitive notifications.

4. Disable Focus mode automation

So you are chilling in the knowledge that the Focus mode is turned off, and you shall receive texts notifications. But, surprise, surprise, your device was silent for some hours because the Focus is auto-enabled and not due to your popularity quotient.

Hmm! So, let’s get that sorted as well.

1. Go to Settings > Focus > select the Focus.
2. Under Turn On Automatically, tap Smart Automation, time, location, or place (depending upon automation previously set).
3. Toggle off the automation.

Note: You can also access Focus settings from Lock Screen or Control Panel; tap on the Focus icon → three-dot icon next to the Focus → Settings.

5. Turn off Shared Across Devices

One of the many great features of Focus is that you can enable it across all Apple ecosystems. But what if you want the Focus on your Mac/iPad but not on your iPhone?

1. Go to Settings > Focus.
2. Toggle off the switch next to Share Across Devices.

And just like that, all our Focus-related escapades are done. Now, it is time to hop on to the Notifications section.

6. Disable Notification Summary

Another reason why you are unable to receive text notifications on iPhone running iOS 16 could be the Notification Summary option. If enabled, this will end up showing all the notifications at a set time in iOS 16. Ensure you have it disabled. For this,

Start the Settings app and select Notifications. Next, select the Scheduled Summary option and turn it off.

7. Disable Attention Aware Alerts

This is another hack you can try to get text notification alerts. The Attention Aware Alerts feature checks for users’ attention before dimming the screen brightness, expanding a notification while the phone is locked, or decreasing the volumes of certain notifications. Here’s what to do:

Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Face ID and Passcode. Type in your passcode. Now, scroll down to reach the Attention Aware Alerts option. Tap on it to disable it.

8. Restart your iPhone

Are you still not receiving text notifications in iOS 16? There is no need to panic as we still have more troubleshooting tips for you. Restarting iPhone has turned out to be a reliable troubleshooter for fixing random iOS issues these days.

You might sometimes miss text notifications after iOS 16 update because of a temporary glitch that your device picked up during regular use. Restarting your iPhone can fix these problems. Press and hold both the side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears on the screen. Drag the slider from left to right.

9. Adjust Your Notification Setting

Another trick that you should try if the iOS 16 device is not getting text notifications is to adjust the notification setting. The iOS 16 lets you customize the notification setting of an app so that you can choose the desired alert sound and also pick a preferred badge style.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and choose Notifications.
2. Scroll down and tap Messages
3. Turn on Allow Notifications.
4. Next, make sure Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners, and Sounds are enabled.

10. Turn On Always Show Previews

This is yet another trick that has worked for many users facing iOS 16 not receiving text notifications issue. If iOS 16 device notifications are not working, you may have inadvertently turned Always Show Previews off in the Settings app. Notification previews are the little alerts from apps that appear on your iPhone’s display.

You can check this by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews. Make sure there’s a check mark next to Always.

11.. Check Sounds & Haptics settings

Is text tone not working after iOS 16 update? Make sure the sound for text is correct.

Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Sounds & Haptics. Tap Text Tone, and from the next screen, try selecting a different Alert Tone. Remember not to select “None” as it’ll turn off all the sounds.

If you’re receiving notifications on your iOS 16 device, but it doesn’t play a noise when you receive notifications, check Silent Mode. Look at the switch on the left side of your phone. If the switch is pushed away from your screen and showing an orange color strip, you have Silent Mode on. Flip the switch to turn it off.

12. Unblock or unmute the person or group

If you have blocked a person, you won’t get texts from them. This naturally means no notifications. To fix this, follow these steps.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap messages.
2. Tap Blocked Contacts.
3. Swipe left on an entry here and tap Unblock.

Next, check if any of your conversations have Hide Alerts enabled. In the Messages list, touch and hold a conversation. Look to see if Hide Alerts is toggled to the On position.

13. Check your Apple Watch for notifications

If you are also using another device, like an Apple Watch, your text notifications may be going to another device instead

When your iPhone is unlocked, notifications appear here and not on the watch. But, when you are wearing your unlocked Apple Watch and the iPhone is locked or asleep, the notifications are sent/mirrored to your wrist. They don’t light up the iPhone screen or play the sound there.

If you would instead like to have an app’s notification only on the iPhone, you can turn it off for Apple Watch by following these steps.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, and from the My Watch section, tap Notifications.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Uncheck Mirror my iPhone. If you are using Custom settings, tap Notifications Off. Now, that app’s notification won’t be sent to your Apple Watch and will always show on your iPhone.

14. Check if you are filtering unknown senders

iOS 16 can automatically filter unknown and spam texts. Due to this, in rare cases, you might also miss notifications for some important message that has the OTP or other valuable information. You can turn off this feature by going to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam. Now, toggle Filter Unknown Senders to the Off position.

15. Update iOS

iPhone not receiving text notifications might be due to a buggy build released by Apple. The company is usually quick to fix such glaring issues. So, if none of the tricks mentioned above has worked in fixing iOS 16 text notifications problem, update the software on your device. It would most likely fix the problem. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

16. Reset All Settings

Apart from force restart, resetting all settings is my go-to troubleshooter. Whenever a weird or a common issue crops up, this option can be given a try. For the notification issue, this can work too.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Reset.
4. Now, tap Reset All Settings and confirm. Once this is done, the iOS 16 text notification issue should be a thing of the past.

Solved iPhone not receiving text notifications in iOS 16

iOS 16 device failing to receive text notifications can be a head-scratcher for you. Go through the steps above and troubleshoot the issue in no time. We are sure that it will save a trip to the Apple store. Which one of the above-mentioned tricks has worked for you in solving the issue? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Why is my iPhone not notifying me when I get text messages?

How do I get notifications on my iPhone iOS 16?

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

Why am I not getting notifications on my iPhone after iOS 15 update?