Are app notifications delayed, missing, or silent in Windows? You are not alone. Many Windows users report email alerts that never arrive, WhatsApp pop-ups that do not show, or Calendar reminders that are quiet. In most cases the problem is a settings conflict, app permission, or a system component that needs repair. This guide covers practical, tested fixes for Windows 10 and Windows 11 so you can restore reliable notifications.
Common causes of missing notifications
Before applying fixes, understand the usual culprits:
- Notifications globally disabled in Settings
- Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb is on
- App-specific notification toggles or banner sounds are off
- Battery saver or background restrictions prevent apps from running
- System services for push notifications are stopped
- Corrupt app package or Windows notification database
- Group Policy or registry setting blocking toast messages
Quick checklist to try first
- Open Settings > System > Notifications and make sure notifications are enabled.
- Turn off Focus Assist (Windows 11: Quick Settings; Windows 10: Action Center or Settings).
- Check the app list under Notifications and enable banners, sounds, and lock screen display for the affected app.
- Disable Battery saver and allow the app to run in background (Settings > System > Power & battery).
- Restart the PC and test again.
Step-by-step detailed fixes
1. Check global and app-specific notification settings
Go to Settings > System > Notifications. Confirm the main toggle is on. Scroll to the app list, select the problematic app, and enable:
- Notifications
- Show notification banners
- Play a sound when a notification arrives
- Show notifications on the lock screen
2. Turn off Focus Assist and Quiet hours
Focus Assist can suppress banners and sounds. Open Quick Settings or Settings > System > Focus Assist and set it to Off. Also check scheduled rules that may turn Focus Assist on automatically (for example during presentations or at night).
3. Allow background activity and disable power restrictions
On laptops, Battery saver and background app restrictions can block notifications. In Settings > Apps select the app > Advanced options and allow background activity. In Power > Battery make sure Battery saver is not active or add exceptions for the app.
4. Restart notification services and Explorer
Open Services (services.msc) and ensure Windows Push Notifications System Service (WpnService) is running and set to Automatic (Delayed Start). Restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager to refresh the shell and notification center.
5. Repair or reset the app and re-register Windows apps
If a Microsoft Store app or built-in app is misbehaving, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, pick the app, and use Repair or Reset. To re-register system apps you can run PowerShell as Administrator and use a re-register command such as:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
Use this command carefully. It often fixes inbox app corruption that can stop notifications.
6. Registry and Group Policy checks (advanced)
If notifications remain disabled by policy or registry, check Group Policy under Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Notifications for a policy that turns off toast notifications. In the registry a common key is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPushNotifications
The value ToastEnabled should be set to 1 to allow toasts. Always back up the registry before editing and consider IT policies in managed environments.
7. System repairs: SFC, DISM and updates
Corrupted system files can block notifications. Run an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell and execute:
- sfc /scannow
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Then restart and install pending Windows updates.
8. Other useful tips
- Check app-specific settings inside apps such as Teams, Outlook, or WhatsApp to ensure notifications are enabled.
- Disable app picture-in-picture or floating-window features if those interfere with normal toast behavior.
- Create a new user account to see if the problem is profile-specific.
- If Start or Action Center shows a critical error, fix Start menu issues first because they can affect notifications.
When to contact support
If none of these steps restore reliable notifications, document what you tried and reach out to Microsoft Support or the app vendor. Provide details about your Windows version, recent updates, and any error messages. For managed devices, check with your IT team to confirm group policies are not blocking notifications.
Summary: Most notification problems in Windows are caused by Focus Assist, app toggles, background restrictions, or service failures. Work through the checklist: global settings, app permissions, background activity, service status, app repair, and system file checks. These actions resolve the bulk of issues and restore timely banners and sounds.
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