Quick answer
Check the three layers in order. 1. Your phone: make sure notifications are allowed for Facebook and that Focus/Do Not Disturb, Low Power Mode, battery optimisation or Data Saver aren’t holding them back. 2. The app: update Facebook and restart it. 3. Your account: in Facebook’s notification settings, make sure push notifications are on for the things you care about. Then ask a friend to comment on your post as a test.
Does this match what you see?
- You get no Facebook notifications on your phone at all.
- Notifications arrive late — only when you open the app.
- The red badge or number appears in the app, but nothing pops up on your lock screen.
- Notifications stopped after a phone update, a new phone, or turning on a battery-saving mode.
- Notifications work on one device but not another (for example phone but not computer).
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Phone settings are named slightly differently by iOS version and Android phone maker; Facebook’s own notification settings also move between app versions.
The three layers that can block a notification
Think of it as three switches in a row. If any one is off, the notification never reaches you — and the other two can look perfectly fine.
| Layer | What can block it | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Your phone (iOS or Android) | Notifications disabled for Facebook, Focus / Do Not Disturb, notification summaries, Low Power Mode, battery optimisation, Data Saver | Fix 1 to Fix 4 |
| 2. The Facebook app | Outdated or glitching app, or logged into a different account on this phone | Fix 5 |
| 3. Your Facebook account | Push notifications turned off for some activity types, muted posts, groups or people | Fix 6 |
Why this happens: the possible causes
These are the usual causes to check, starting with the quickest.
- Notifications turned off for Facebook on the phoneCheck this first
It’s easy to tap “Don’t Allow” when setting up a phone or reinstalling the app, and some phone updates reset notification choices.
- Focus, Do Not Disturb or a notification summaryCheck this first
On iPhone, Focus modes and notification summaries can silence or delay alerts. Android has Do Not Disturb and per-app notification categories that can be muted.
- Battery saving and background limitsCheck this first
Low Power Mode on iPhone and battery optimisation on Android can stop apps from refreshing in the background. Some Android phone makers add their own “sleeping apps” features that block notifications for apps you don’t open often.
- Data Saver or Low Data ModePossible
Google explains that with Data Saver on, most apps only get background data on Wi-Fi — which can delay notifications when you’re on mobile data.
- Facebook’s own notification settingsPossible
Facebook lets you choose which kinds of activity send push notifications. If some were turned off — or you muted a post, person or group — those alerts stop.
- An outdated or glitching appPossible
Old app versions and damaged cache can break push notifications, especially after a phone update.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Open Facebook and check the notifications tab. If new items are there, the notifications are being created but not delivered as pop-ups — check your phone’s settings and Facebook’s Push settings.
- Turn off Focus / Do Not Disturb and battery-saving modes, then test again.
- Make sure you’re logged into the same account on this phone that people are interacting with.
- Restart the phone.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Allow Facebook notifications in your phone’s settings
This is the master switch. If it’s off, nothing Facebook does will reach your lock screen.
iPhone & iPad
- Open Settings > Notifications.
- Scroll down and tap Facebook.
- Turn on Allow Notifications if it’s off, and make sure Lock Screen, Notification Centre and Banners are selected.
- Check Sounds and Badges are on if you want them.
- No sound? Also make sure your iPhone isn’t set to silent (the Ring/Silent switch or Action button, depending on model).
Android
- Open Settings > Notifications > App notifications (on some phones Apps & notifications).
- Find Facebook and turn notifications on.
- Tap Facebook to see its notification categories, and make sure the ones you want aren’t switched off or set to silent.
- Tip: you can also swipe down, touch and hold a Facebook notification, and tap Settings to get straight there.
- No sound? In Facebook’s notification categories, set the ones you want to alert (not Silent) and check the sound setting.
Did it work? Facebook appears as allowed in your phone’s notification settings.
Fix 2: Check Focus, Do Not Disturb and notification summaries
These features are designed to hold notifications back. They often switch on automatically by schedule, at bedtime or when driving.
iPhone & iPad
- Swipe down to open Control Centre and check whether a Focus mode (such as Do Not Disturb, Sleep or Work) is on. Turn it off to test.
- If you use Focus regularly, open Settings > Focus, choose the mode, and add Facebook to the apps allowed to notify you.
- Check whether Facebook is in a scheduled notification summary, which delivers alerts in batches: look under Settings > Notifications.
- If your iPhone offers Summarize Notifications or Priority Notifications (newer iOS versions), check how they treat Facebook.
Android
- Swipe down and check whether Do Not Disturb is on. Turn it off to test.
- In Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb (names vary), check any schedules and the list of apps allowed to interrupt.
- Check whether your phone has another mode that silences apps, such as a bedtime or focus mode.
Did it work? With these modes off, a test notification pops up straight away.
Fix 3: iPhone: allow Background App Refresh and turn off Low Power Mode
Apple explains that Background App Refresh lets apps update their content in the background. It doesn’t control push alerts directly, but turning it on can help Facebook show up-to-date content when an alert arrives. Low Power Mode reduces background activity, so turning it off is a useful test if alerts seem delayed.
iPhone & iPad
- Open Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Make sure the main setting isn’t Off (choose Wi-Fi & Mobile Data if you want alerts away from Wi-Fi).
- Scroll down and make sure Facebook is switched on.
- Check Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode to test.
Apple also notes that if you swipe an app away in the app switcher, it might not be able to check for new content until you open it again. You don’t need to close Facebook to save battery.
Did it work? Alerts arrive while the app is closed, and the content is current when you tap them.
Fix 4: Android: stop battery optimisation and Data Saver blocking Facebook
Android aggressively limits background activity to save battery and data. That can delay or block notifications — especially on phones with extra “app sleeping” features.
Android
- Open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Facebook > Battery (or App battery usage) and choose Unrestricted or Not optimised if offered. Names vary by phone maker.
- If your phone has a list of sleeping apps, deep sleeping apps or similar in its battery or device-care settings, make sure Facebook isn’t on it.
- Check Data Saver: on Pixel phones, Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Unrestricted data, and turn on Facebook.
- Check Facebook is allowed background data: in the app’s Mobile data settings, make sure Background data is on.
Allowing Facebook to run unrestricted can use a little more battery. That’s the trade-off for timely notifications.
Did it work? Notifications arrive within moments while the phone is locked.
Fix 5: Update Facebook, restart it and refresh its data
Outdated versions and damaged temporary files can break push notifications, especially after a phone update.
iPhone & iPad
- Update Facebook: App Store > profile icon > App Updates > Update.
- Restart the iPhone.
- If notifications still don’t work, offload and reinstall: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Facebook > Offload App > Reinstall App. Then check Settings > Notifications > Facebook again.
- Make sure you’re logged into the right account on this phone, and log out of Facebook on devices you no longer use.
Android
- Update Facebook: Google Play > profile icon > Manage apps & device > Updates available.
- Restart the phone.
- If needed, clear the cache: Settings > Apps > See all apps > Facebook > Storage & cache > Clear cache (Pixel path; names vary by phone maker).
- Make sure you’re logged into the right account on this phone, and log out of Facebook on devices you no longer use.
Did it work? After the update, a test notification arrives.
Fix 6: Check Facebook’s own notification settings
Even with the phone allowing notifications, Facebook only sends push alerts for the activity types you’ve left switched on. Meta has help pages on adjusting push notifications and turning them on or off for people, Pages, groups and posts.
- In the Facebook app, open ☰ Menu (top left of the Home screen on iPhone, top right on Android), tap Settings and privacy — it expands right there in the menu — then tap Settings and, under Preferences, tap Notifications. (You can also type “notifications” into Search settings at the top of the Settings page.)
- Go through the activity types you care about (such as comments, tags, friend requests, groups, Marketplace) and make sure Push is turned on for each.
- Check you haven’t muted push notifications entirely for a period of time.
- Also look at Time management (it sits under Settings and privacy in the menu). If you’ve set up a quiet or limited-use period there, it may pause notifications during those times.
- For a specific post, group or Page that’s gone quiet, open it and check its notification setting — you may have turned it off.
Did it work? The activity types you want show push notifications as on.
Fix 7: Computer: allow notifications for facebook.com in your browser
Browser notifications need permission for the site, and your computer’s own notification settings must allow the browser.
Computer (browser)
- On facebook.com, click the padlock or site-settings icon next to the address bar and set Notifications to Allow.
- In the browser’s settings, check facebook.com isn’t listed under sites blocked from sending notifications.
- Check your computer allows notifications from the browser: on Windows, Settings > System > Notifications; on a Mac, System Settings > Notifications.
- Turn off any Focus or Do Not Disturb mode on the computer.
Browser notifications usually only work while the browser is running.
Did it work? A notification appears in the corner of your screen when someone interacts with you.
Fix 8: Send yourself a test notification
Guessing wastes time. A controlled test tells you instantly whether your changes worked.
- Lock your phone and put it down.
- Ask a friend to comment on one of your posts or send you a friend-type interaction (such as a reaction or tag).
- Watch for the notification within a minute or so.
- If nothing pops up, open Facebook’s notifications tab. If the item is there, check your phone’s settings and Facebook’s Push setting for that activity type. If it isn’t there at all, check you’re logged into the right account and that you haven’t muted that post, person or group.
Did it work? The test notification appears on your lock screen.
Feed not updating instead?
If your notifications work but the feed is stuck on old posts or says “Couldn’t refresh feed”, that’s a different problem. Follow Facebook feed not updating.
How to know it worked
- A test interaction produces a notification on your lock screen within moments.
- Notifications still arrive with the app closed and the phone locked.
- Alerts arrive on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Check whether notifications work for other apps. If none do, the problem is your phone’s notification system — follow Apple’s or Google’s notification guides in Sources.
- Log out of Facebook on devices you no longer use, then log back in on your phone.
- If the notifications are email notifications, check spam/junk folders and Meta’s help page on missing email notifications.
- If Messenger notifications are the problem, Messenger is a separate app with its own notification settings — repeat Fix 1 to Fix 4 for the Messenger app.
- If nothing works on a fully updated app, report the problem to Facebook (see Official help routes).
Official help routes
Phone settings are documented by Apple and Google; Facebook’s own settings are documented in Meta’s Help Center.
- Adjust your mobile push notifications from FacebookFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Not receiving email notificationsFacebook Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Apple: use notifications on iPhoneApple Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Google: control notifications on AndroidAndroid Help (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why am I not getting Facebook notifications on my iPhone?
Check Settings > Notifications > Facebook is allowed, that no Focus mode is on and that Facebook isn’t in a scheduled summary. Then check Facebook’s own Push notification settings.
Why are my Facebook notifications delayed?
Common culprits are a notification summary or Focus schedule, battery saving (Low Power Mode, Android battery optimisation or “sleeping apps”), and Data Saver limiting background data on mobile networks.
Why do I see a red number in Facebook but get no notification?
Facebook is recording the activity but not delivering a pop-up. That can be your phone (notification permission, Focus/Do Not Disturb, battery settings) or Facebook’s own Push setting for that activity type being off — check both.
Do I need to keep Facebook open to get notifications?
No. With notifications allowed and background activity permitted, alerts arrive while the app is closed. Apple notes that swiping an app away can stop it checking for new content until you reopen it.
Why is my Facebook feed not showing new posts?
That’s usually a feed problem rather than a notification one. See Facebook feed not updating.
Why did my notifications stop after a phone update?
Updates sometimes reset permissions or enable new summary or battery features. Re-check Facebook’s notification permission and battery settings, and update the Facebook app.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Adjust your mobile push notifications from Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
- I’m not receiving email notifications about my Facebook account (external site, opens in a new tab)
- See the most recent posts in your Feeds tab on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Use notifications on your iPhone or iPad (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Switch apps on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to manually update apps from the App Store (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Control notifications on Android (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Use less mobile data with Data Saver (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Turn on background data (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to update apps on Android (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Fix an installed app that isn’t working on a Pixel phone (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 20 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 18 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 21 October 2026: Feed troubleshooting moved to the new Feed not updating guide.
- 20 October 2026: Owner confirmed the iPhone app matches Android except the ☰ Menu button, which sits on the opposite side; iPhone steps updated and hedges removed.
- 20 October 2026: Confirmed Settings > Preferences > Notifications and the Search settings bar from an owner screenshot.
- 20 October 2026: From owner screenshots: where the ☰ menu sits on Android, and that the ⋯ at the top right of your profile opens Profile Settings (Profile status not yet seen in that list; owner checking further down).
- 20 October 2026: Confirmed the Android Settings and privacy menu (expands in place; Settings, Time management) from an owner screenshot.
- 20 October 2026: Added where to find Feeds on Android (☰ > See more > Feeds), confirmed from an owner screenshot.
- 20 October 2026: First published.
- 20 October 2026: Editorial audit corrections applied.
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