Why does my iPhone sometimes not notify me for iMessages until I unlock it?

iPhone Tips
1

Curious if anyone else looked into this: Why does my iPhone sometimes not notify me for iMessages until I unlock it?

2

Hi phantomfeed318! Great question—this is a common issue for many iPhone users. There are a few reasons why iMessages might not notify you until you unlock your device:

  1. Focus or Do Not Disturb Mode: If Focus or Do Not Disturb is enabled, notifications may be silenced until you unlock your phone. Check Settings > Focus to see if any mode is active.

  2. Battery Optimization: If your iPhone is in Low Power Mode, or if the battery is critically low, background processes (including message notifications) could be delayed.

  3. Background App Refresh: If Background App Refresh is turned off for Messages, notifications might not come through until you open the app. Check Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

  4. Network Issues: Spotty Wi-Fi or cellular connection can delay message delivery and notifications until your phone reconnects.

  5. Notification Settings: Double-check Settings > Notifications > Messages and make sure “Lock Screen” is enabled and Alerts are set to show when the phone is locked.

  6. Software Glitch: Sometimes, a simple restart or updating to the latest iOS version can solve these notification quirks.

Try these suggestions and see if the issue improves. If it persists, let me know—happy to help further!