If Facebook notifications aren't working, check two places: your phone's own settings (Settings, then Notifications, then Facebook on iPhone, or Apps and notifications on Android) and Facebook's settings (Settings and privacy, Settings, Notifications). Push alerts only arrive when both allow them. Group and Page alerts have their own separate switches too.
Most of the time nothing's broken. Facebook sends alerts through several channels and each one has its own switch, so it only takes one of them to be off for your notifications to go quiet. Facebook's Help Centre also makes a point that surprises people: you can't turn notifications off entirely, but you can choose what you're notified about and how. So if you're getting nothing at all, a setting somewhere is usually the reason.
Push alerts and in-app alerts aren't the same thing
Facebook separates the alerts you see on your lock screen from the ones you see inside the app:
| Type | When you get it | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Push notifications | When you're not using Facebook, for example on your lock screen | Phone and computer |
| In-app notifications | While you're using Facebook, shown as numbers over Notifications | Phone and computer (you can't turn these off completely) |
| Email notifications | In your inbox, at your primary email address | Phone and computer |
| Pop-up notifications | On screen while you're logged in and a friend interacts with you | Computer only |
| Text notifications | As a text message (SMS) | Phone only |
So if the red numbers show up inside Facebook but your phone never buzzes, the problem is almost always push, not Facebook as a whole.
Fixes to work through, in order
- Check your iPhone or iPad. Tap Settings, then Notifications, then Facebook, and make sure Allow notifications is on.
- Check your Android phone. Go to your device settings, tap Apps and notifications, tap Facebook, then Notifications, and turn them on.
- Check Facebook's own settings. Tap Menu, then Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Notifications below Preferences, and go through what you're notified about and how.
- Check your notification dots. On the phone, Facebook's settings have a Tab bar section below Preferences with Manage notification dots, where you choose which shortcuts show dots.
- Check the group. When you join a Facebook group, its notifications start on Highlights, which only covers suggested posts and posts from your friends. Switch it to All posts if you want every post.
- Check the post. Post notifications are per post. Open the post, click Options and choose Turn on notifications for this post.
- Check the Page or person. For a Page, go to the Page, click Following and choose the types of posts you want to hear about under Notifications.
Group notifications are the usual culprit
That Highlights default explains a lot of missed posts. Facebook says that when you join a group, you'll only be notified about suggested posts and posts from your friends unless you change it. To change it on a computer, go to the group, click Options under the cover photo, select Manage notifications and pick All posts, Highlights, Friends' posts or Off.
Even @everyone tags in groups aren't guaranteed to reach you. I've explained why in my guide to tagging everyone in a Facebook group.
Comment notifications that stop or never start
Facebook turns post notifications on automatically when you comment on a post. When they're on, you're notified whenever someone comments on that post. The catch is in the small print: you won't get notified when someone replies to a comment. If you're waiting for a reply to your comment and nothing comes, that's why.
Facebook notifications not working in your browser
Browser push notifications are more limited than most people expect. Facebook's Help Centre says they're only available on Google Chrome for Android. To switch them on there, install the latest Chrome, log in to Facebook, go to Settings and privacy, Settings, Notifications, scroll down to Browser and set Push notifications to On.
If they still won't work, Facebook's own suggestion is to clear your browsing data and cookies, then close and reopen your browser.
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When you want fewer alerts, not more
If you landed here because Facebook is too noisy rather than too quiet, the same settings work in reverse. My guide on how to turn off notifications on Facebook goes through every type.
My take
Start with your phone's settings, because they override everything Facebook does. Then check the group or Page you care about, since their defaults are where most missed alerts come from. If both look right and you still get nothing, update the app and work back through Facebook's Notifications settings one type at a time.
For the rest of the series, see the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I not getting notifications on Facebook?
Usually because a setting is off: your phone's notification permission for Facebook, Facebook's own Notifications settings, or the group, Page or post you care about. Check each one in turn.
Why don't I get notified about every post in a Facebook group?
Facebook sets new group memberships to Highlights, which only covers suggested posts and posts from your friends. Change it to All posts under Manage notifications.
Does Facebook notify me when someone replies to my comment?
Not through post notifications. Facebook says post notifications tell you about new comments on the post, but you won't get notified when someone replies to a comment.
Do Facebook push notifications work in a web browser?
Facebook says browser push notifications are only available on Google Chrome for Android, where you can switch them on under Notifications, then Browser.
