No notifications for some iMessages/text messages

Question

Level 1

6 points

No notifications for some iMessages/text messages

For several months, I have not been receiving any notification sounds or haptics for text messages from certain people. On both my phone and watch.

It's not consistent. If I have another app open, then sometimes the notification will sound. It used to just be the people I text the most (my husband and kids), but now it's expanding to nearly all text messages.

They are not muted or blocked.
I have alerts enabled for those specific conversations (and texts in general).
I have every notification enabled.
The phone is not on silent.
Other notifications are sounding and behaving properly.
This happens with the regular phone speaker and AirPods.
The phone is not in any focus mode.
The sound is an Apple-provided sound.
I've toggled on/off notifications and restarted my phone.
I have the most recent updates (And this has been happening through mutliple updates.)
I have been through Apple support.

iPhone 16 Pro, 18.6.1

Watch series 10 wifi+cellular, 11.6.1

Apple, please fix this issue. It's happening to multiple people in my family and friends.

[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Aug 20, 2025 07:13 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 20, 2025 08:55 AM in response to Jenn_Whitmer

Jenn_Whitmer wrote:

Apple, please fix this issue.

This platform is designed as a user-to-user forum with Apple Inc. acting as a moderator. The primary objective is to foster a community where users can participate in meaningful discussions while adhering to established guidelines.

This platform serves as a space for users to engage in meaningful conversations, share information, and exchange ideas related to Apple products. It's a community-driven initiative where users support each other by sharing their experiences and technical expertise in using Apple devices. While Apple Inc. is not actively participating in these discussions, the forum is a valuable resource for seeking guidance and assistance from fellow users who possess a wealth of experience with Apple products. Feel free to explore the discussions, ask questions, and benefit from the collective knowledge of this community.

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Answer 2

Aug 20, 2025 09:07 AM in response to Jenn_Whitmer

Messages App Behavior While Browsing

When you’re actively using the Messages app, new incoming messages still appear, but they typically don’t trigger a notification sound. This is by design—Apple assumes you’re already engaged with the app and aware of incoming messages, so it avoids redundant alerts. This behavior helps reduce distractions while you’re already focused on your conversations.

Attention Aware Features

Apple’s Attention Aware Features, available on iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later), use the TrueDepth camera to detect whether you’re looking at your screen. If enabled, they adjust your device’s behavior based on your attention:

Lower alert volume: If you’re looking at your phone when a notification arrives, the sound is automatically reduced.
Keep screen awake: Your display won’t dim or lock while you’re reading or watching something.
Privacy boost: Notification previews may expand only when you’re looking at the screen, keeping sensitive info hidden from others.
Battery savings: The screen dims when you’re not looking, helping conserve power.

You can toggle these features in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Attention Aware Features.

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