If you’re like most of us, you probably rely heavily on YouTube notifications to stay up to date on your favorite creators and channels.
But what do you do when those notifications suddenly stop working? It can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you’re not sure what’s causing the problem.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the various reasons why YouTube notifications may not be functioning properly and offer some potential solutions to get them back up and running smoothly.
So, if you’re tired of missing out on the latest videos and updates from your favorite YouTubers, read on for some helpful tips on fixing your notifications.
Why are my YouTube Notifications not Working or Showing Up?
So why is it that YouTube notifications are not working or appearing? Here are 8 possible reasons:
1. Notification Settings are Turned Off
You may have accidentally turned off notifications for YouTube on your device.
To check this, open the YouTube app, tap on your profile icon, select Settings, and then tap on Notifications to ensure that notifications are turned on for the types of activities you want to be notified about.
2. Background app refresh is turned off
If you have turned off background app refresh for YouTube, then notifications may not show up until you open the app.
To turn on background app refresh, go to your device’s Settings, select General, tap on Background App Refresh, and then toggle the switch for YouTube to on.
3. Incognito mode is turned on
If you have turned on incognito mode in the YouTube app, then notifications may not show up.
To turn off incognito mode, tap on your profile icon, select Turn off Incognito, and then confirm that you want to turn off this feature.
4. The YouTube app needs to be updated
If you are using an outdated version of the YouTube app, then notifications may not work properly. (Fix 3)
To check for updates, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and see if there is an update available for the YouTube app.
5. Device needs to be updated
If you are using an outdated version of your device’s operating system, then notifications may not work properly.
To check for updates, go to your device’s Settings, select General, and then tap on Software Update to see if there is an update available.
6. The notification bell is turned off
If you have turned off the notification bell for a particular channel, then you will not receive notifications for that channel.
To turn on the notification bell, go to the channel’s page, tap on the bell icon, and then select the types of notifications you want to receive.
7. YouTube Servers Are Down
If none of the above reasons apply and notifications are still not working, then it is possible that there is an issue with YouTube’s servers.
In this case, you can check YouTube’s social media accounts or support page to see if there are any known issues.
8. Do Not Disturb mode is turned on
If you have turned on Do Not Disturb mode on your device, then notifications may not show up.
To check if Do Not Disturb mode is turned on, go to your device’s Settings and look for the Do Not Disturb option. (Fix 4)
If it is turned on, you can either turn it off or customize the settings to allow notifications from certain apps.
How to Fix YouTube Notifications not Working, Showing up or Manually Disabled
1. Restart Your Phone
One of the first things you can try when troubleshooting issues with your device is to simply restart it. This can often resolve any minor issues or glitches that may be causing problems.
To restart your device, simply follow these steps:
- Press and hold the power button until the power options menu appears.
- Tap “Restart” or “Reboot.”
- Confirm that you want to restart the device.
Once your device has restarted, try opening YouTube and checking your notifications again. If they are still not showing up, there may be other issues at play.
2. Check your Phone’s Sound Settings
You should initially check your phone’s volume if YouTube alerts are still arriving but you can’t hear them. Make sure it isn’t muted so that you won’t hear the alerts as they arrive on your device.
At the same time, make sure your phone is not on “Silent Mode,” since this may be the reason your alerts aren’t being received.
When Silent Mode is activated, all notifications, including those from the YouTube app, have their sounds muted.
This implies that your phone’s silent mode and you will not hear YouTube notifications even though they are turned on.
Depending on the sort of Android smartphone you have, you might need to use the volume button or a specific sound button to turn off Silent Mode. For such, there is a toggle switch on iPhones located on the right side of the bar.
iPhone
Silent mode can be disabled by pressing the Silent/Ringer switch until it clicks toward the screen. You can still use Silent Mode on your phone if the orange line is visible.
Android
To disable or exit silent mode on Android phones, press the volume up button to increase the volume.
If your YouTube notifications are not showing on Samsung phones or any other Android phone, this can be useful.
3. Update the YouTube App
Keeping your app up to date is important for ensuring that it works properly. To update YouTube, go to the app store on your phone and check for updates.
If there is a new version available, install it to see if that fixes the problem.
To prevent these problems, it’s crucial that you update your YouTube app to the most recent and reliable version.
This will ensure that you have all the latest features and bug fixes, including any necessary fixes for notifications.
To update your YouTube app:
- Open the App Store or Play Store on your phone.
- Search for “YouTube” in the search bar.
- Tap on the YouTube app in the search results.
- Tap on the “Update” button next to the app.
4. Turn Off the “Do Not Disturb” Mode
If your phone is in “Do Not Disturb” mode, you won’t receive any notifications. Do Not Disturb Mode may be to blame if you aren’t getting any notifications from any app, including YouTube.
In order to receive notifications from YouTube, you must turn off the “Do Not Disturb” mode.
This is obviously helpful in situations where the user really doesn’t want to be disturbed.
To Turn off Do Not Disturb on iPhones (iOS)
- Go to “Settings > Focus” on your iPhone to switch off “Do Not Disturb Mode.”
- On the next screen, tap any Focus mode that is marked as “On” to switch it off.
To Turn off Do Not Disturb on Android
- Navigate to Settings.
- Tap on “Sound & Vibration.”
- Tap on “Do Not Disturb” then proceed to toggle it to the left to turn it off (if it was on).
5. Check YouTube’s General Notification Settings
In addition to your phone’s notification settings, YouTube has its own notification settings that you can customize.
You won’t receive notifications even if you enable the in-app notification settings for YouTube if the system settings have YouTube’s notifications off.
To Check your device’s settings for the YouTube app’s notification preferences.
- On Android, go to “Settings.”
- Tap on “App management” and then proceed to “App List.
- Select YouTube from the list of apps.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Turn on the toggle to enable notifications for YouTube that you want to receive.
Your device’s notification settings may have some settings that are interfering with YouTube push notifications. Because of this, you might have unintentionally turned off notifications on your device in the past.
By enabling these specific notifications on the YouTube app, you can be sure that you will receive all those notifications without any issues.
6. Disable Battery Saving Mode
The majority of gadgets offer a battery-saving mode that extends the time between charges.
However, YouTube notifications and other notifications could be affected if the battery-saving mode is always enabled on your phone.
The explanation is that when the device is turned off, Battery Saving Mode pauses all background operations. Your YouTube alerts may not display as a result of this minor power-saving adjustment.
To solve the problem, you must disable the battery-saving mode.
For iOS (iPhone Users)
- Go to “Settings” then proceed to “Battery” on your iPhone to disable battery-saving mode.
- Deactivate “Low Power Mode” by turning it off.
For Android Users
- Navigate to “Settings.”
- Tap on “Battery” then proceed to “Battery Saver.”
- Turn off the battery saver mode.
For Tecno phones, tap on “Battery Lab” from the settings. Navigate to “Advanced Settings” and tap on “Battery Saver.” Turn off the toggle labelled “Use Battery Saver.”
7. Enable Background Data Usage for YouTube
Push notifications for YouTube may also be problematic depending on your mobile data and Wi-Fi connection settings.
Users who disable Background Data Usage typically don’t get notifications while using mobile data. But as soon as they connect to Wi-Fi, they’ll be inundated with notifications.
Try turning on Background Data Usage on your smartphone if this sounds familiar to you.
To enable background data usage for YouTube on Android:
- On Android, go to “Settings.”
- Tap on “App management” and then proceed to “App List.
- Select YouTube from the list of apps.
- Tap on “Mobile data & Wi-fi.”
- Ensure the “Background data” toggle is enabled to “enable usage of mobile data in the background.
In essence, this setting gives the YouTube app internet access even when it’s not open when utilizing cellular data. Consequently, the app may continuously update and send you timely notifications.
8. Log out of YouTube and Log in Again
If YouTube notifications are enabled in the system settings and the app but you are still not receiving them, you can try signing out and then back into YouTube.
This is sometimes all it takes to resolve the YouTube notifications not working issue.
After logging out, log in again and check if you will get subsequent notifications from YouTube.
9. Reinstall YouTube to Fix the Notification Issue
Reinstalling YouTube can fix your issue if everything else fails. A fresh copy of the program will include all the most recent updates while uninstalling the app deletes all the data related to YouTube, some of which may be damaged and interfere with alerts.
To uninstall and re-install YouTube:
- Long-press on the YouTube app and choose “Uninstall” or “Remove.”
- Confirm the action by tapping on “OK.”
- Go to Google Playstore (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhones) and search for “YouTube.”
- Tap on “Install” or “Get” to get it installed.
After reinstalling YouTube, you can expect the notifications to work again.
10. Clear YouTube App’s Cache to fix the Notification Issue
The technology behind caching in apps can be really helpful in the smooth functioning of the app.
However, corrupt cached files and data can occasionally cause issues such as the one under discussion – YouTube notifications not working.
If the YouTube notifications issue is caused by cached files and data, then it’s essential to clear the cache to get it resolved.
To clear YouTube cache on Android
- Go to “Settings” and tap on “App Management.”
- Proceed to “App List” to see all the apps you’ve installed on your phone.
- From the list of apps displayed, select YouTube.
- Tap on “Storage & Cache.” Proceed to tap on “Clear Cache.”
To get YouTube cache and data cleared on an iPhone, simply uninstall it, then reinstall.
In conclusion, YouTube notifications not working or showing up on Android and iPhones can be a frustrating experience for users.
However, there are several reasons why this might happen, and we have outlined some of the most common ones in this blog post.
By checking your notification settings, ensuring that your device and app are up to date, and verifying your YouTube account, you can troubleshoot and solve most notification issues.
Additionally, by keeping an eye on YouTube’s social media accounts and support page, you can stay informed about any known issues with the platform.
With these tips and tricks, you can get your YouTube notifications back up and running smoothly, and never miss out on the latest videos and updates from your favorite channels.
