Top 8 Ways to Fix Google Chat App Notifications Not Working on Android and iPhone

Google Chat is a great communication tool that allows for easy collaboration. While it works well on computers, it may not always deliver notifications on mobile devices. If you’re using the Google Chat app on your Android or iPhone, you might experience issues with notifications not being sent.

Previously known as Hangouts, Google Chat is a convenient way to chat with friends who also have a Google account. However, you may miss out on incoming messages or group discussions if the Chat app fails to send notifications. In this post, we will explore the potential causes and solutions for the issue of Google Chat notifications not working.

1. Close Active Gmail and Google Chat Browser Tabs on Your PC

If you have any Google Chat sessions open on your computer, notifications may appear there first instead of your phone. This is one of the most common reasons why you won’t get any notifications from the Google Chat app on Android or iPhone. Close any active Google Chat browser tabs on your PC and the Gmail tab if you’ve added Google Chat to your Gmail. Then, you will start receiving Google Chat notifications on your phone.

2. Verify In-App Notification Settings

Next, go through the settings in the Google Chat app to ensure notifications are enabled. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Open the Google Chat app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner and select Settings.

Step 2: Enable the toggle for Mobile notifications.

For iPhone users of the Google Chat app, simply enable the toggle for Chat notifications.

3. Check Notification Settings for Google Chat App

By default, the Google Chat app will send notifications to your phone. However, if you have activated Do Not Disturb or Focus mode on iPhone, the notifications may be paused. Check and enable notifications for the Google Chat app in your phone’s settings.

Enable Notifications for Google Chat App on Android

Step 1: Long-press the Google Chat app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Tap on Notifications and enable the toggle next to Allow notifications.

Step 3: Next, tap on Notification categories and enable toggles for all accounts.

Enable Notifications for Google Chat App on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap Chat.

Step 2: Go to Notifications and enable the toggle for Allow Notifications.

4. Check Your Google Chat Status

When you set your Google Chat status to Do not disturb, the app mutes notifications until the mute duration expires. To end mute sooner, set your Google Chat status to Automatic by following these steps.

Step 1: Open the Google Chat app and tap the menu icon in the top-left corner.

Step 2: Tap the downward arrow next to your Google Chat status and select Automatic.

5. Enable Notifications for Individual Chats

If the Google Chat app doesn’t send notifications for a chat or group conversation, you might have disabled them. Here’s how to re-enable them:

1. Open the Google Chat app and go to the conversation where notifications aren’t working.

2. Tap the arrow next to the group or space name.

3. Select Notifications and choose Notify always.

If you’re missing notifications from a contact, tap the arrow next to the name and enable the toggle for Notifications.

6. Enable Background App Refresh for Google Chat (iPhone)

Enabling Background App Refresh on your iPhone allows apps to sync data in the background and send timely notifications. However, if you’ve disabled Background App Refresh for the Google Chat app, notifications may not work. Here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap General.

Step 2: Tap on Background App Refresh and enable the toggle for the Chat app.

7. Clear App Cache (Android)

Google Chat may fail to function or send notifications if the app’s cache data is corrupt. You can clear the cache data for the Google Chat app to see if that resolves the problem. To do this, long press on the Google Chat app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Go to Storage and tap Clear cache.

8. Update the Google Chat App

If you have disabled automatic app updates on your phone, you may be using an outdated Google Chat app version. Updating the app should help if the notification issue is limited to your current app version. Simply update the Google Chat app from Play Store or App Store and see if that resolves the issue.

Get Notified

You may miss important messages, meetings, and events if Google Chat fails to send notifications on your Android or iPhone. These tips should help you resolve the Google Chat notification issue. Try them out, and let us know which solution works for you in the comments below.