How to Fix Notifications on Battery Saver (Android and iOS)

Is your phone missing notifications while Battery Saver is on? You’re not alone, and it’s usually a simple fix. This guide explains why alerts fade when power saving is active and what you can do now.

In short, Battery Saver and similar modes pause background tasks to save juice, which can block push notifications from apps like messaging, email, and social media. The result is delayed or missing alerts until the mode is turned off or adjusted. We’ll walk you through quick checks for both Android and iOS so you can get real-time notifications back.

You’ll learn a practical, step by step plan that fits most phones. From turning off the mode to adjusting app permissions and battery settings, these fixes are straightforward and proven to work. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to keep essential alerts flowing without sacrificing battery life.

Why battery saver can block notifications

When your battery is running low, your phone may switch into a power saving mode. This keeps the device running longer, but it can also slow or pause background tasks. That means some notifications arrive late or don’t show up right away. Below you’ll find a clear look at why this happens, which apps are most affected, and how OS versions handle these changes.

How background activity is limited

Battery saver modes are designed to keep your phone working with less power. They do this by slowing down or pausing processes that run in the background. Think of it as a busy worker taking a shorter break and handling fewer tasks at once. The result is less frequent or less immediate background work from apps you rarely open.

Because push notifications often rely on background checks or background data syncing, this slowdown can delay those alerts. If an app only checks for new messages every so often, the chance that it catches new information while the mode is active drops. In short, background activity is reduced by design, and notifications depend on that activity to arrive promptly.

• Background data may be restricted for many apps.
• Background processes are limited to save power.
• The system may delay non urgent tasks to keep the device responsive.

This isn’t a complete shutdown. Core notifications can still come through, but they’re more likely to arrive after you interact with the app or once you exit the saver mode. If you need a steady stream of alerts, you’ll often have to adjust the saver settings or allow exceptions for essential apps.

Which apps are most at risk

Apps that rely heavily on background data or constant syncing are the ones most likely to feel the pinch. Email clients, messaging apps, social networks, news apps, and some productivity tools fall into this category. The degree of impact depends on the platform and the exact settings you’ve chosen.

• On smartphones that use strict background limits, even essential alerts may be delayed if the app isn’t whitelisted or exempted.
• Apps that depend on push services can still send alerts, but if the push service itself is throttled by the OS, you may notice delays.
• Standalone apps that perform background tasks but don’t require real time updates will show more noticeable delays.

For practical guidance, start with these steps:

• Identify apps you rely on for urgent information (messages, calendar reminders, critical work notes).
• Check if these apps have background activity or data usage enabled.
• Consider marking them as “priority” or exempt in the battery saver settings, if your device offers that option.

In Android, some devices let you pick how aggressive the limits are. If you have a Galaxy or Pixel phone, look for battery saver or device care sections to create exceptions. On iOS, Low Power Mode can be stricter about background refresh, so app expectations may differ. A helpful rule of thumb: if an app must alert you the moment something changes, plan to allow it to run in the background while you’re using the device.

• For messaging apps, enable background refresh where available.
• For email, allow periodic fetches or push if supported.
• For calendar and reminder apps, enable local notifications to ensure alerts even when the device is saving power.

The key idea is that the more an app depends on wakeups from the background, the more likely it is this mode will slow or block its notifications. You’ll want to tailor permissions to the level of urgency you expect from each app.

OS behavior changes over versions

Both Android and iOS update how background work is handled with each major release. The core goal stays the same—save battery while keeping the user experience intact—but the specifics shift.

• iOS: Low Power Mode reduces background activity and can postpone certain kinds of notifications. Over time, Apple has refined how background tasks are scheduled and how push services behave. The result is a fairly predictable pattern: you may see some delays for apps that rely on background refresh, while direct push notifications continue to arrive when possible.
• Android: Battery Saver behavior varies by OEM and version. Newer Android releases tend to offer finer control over which apps can run in the background and how aggressively data syncing is allowed. Some devices let you customize per-app limits, while others apply broader rules. In general, Android tends to be more aggressive about background limits, which can lead to more noticeable delays for non essential alerts.

When you’re troubleshooting, check your OS version and any device‑specific tweaks. A feature that exists on one model may be slightly different on another, even within the same Android version. If you’re unsure, test a few scenarios: send yourself a notification from a few apps, then observe how quickly they arrive with the saver on versus off.

• Newer OS versions may add easier controls for exemptions.
• Some devices ship with manufacturer tweaks that tighten background limits further.
• Hardware differences can affect how aggressively limits are applied.

If you’re managing a device in a family or workplace setting, consider creating a short checklist for OS version checks. Keeping track of your version and the device’s power saving behavior helps you apply the right fixes quickly.

This overview helps you understand why battery saver can block or delay notifications. The next steps will guide you through practical fixes and quick tests so you can restore timely alerts without sacrificing battery life.

Immediate fixes to restore notifications

When Battery Saver or similar power modes are active, notifications can slow down or stop. These quick fixes help you keep alerts while still saving battery. The goal is to let essential apps wake up and push notifications reliably, without turning off power saving for every app. Follow the steps below and test after each change.

Check Do Not Disturb and Focus settings

Do Not Disturb (DND) on Android and Focus modes on iOS can silence alerts by default. Even if you don’t think you’ve turned them on, they can be enabled by accident or by automation. Start here to verify that DND or Focus isn’t masking essential apps.

• Android
  • Quick check: swipe down twice to open Quick Settings and look for the DND tile. If it’s highlighted, tap to turn it off.
  • If you prefer more control, go to Settings > Notifications and review your DND settings. Make sure the mode is off or that important apps are allowed.
  • Exceptions matter: in DND settings, add key apps (messaging, email, calendar) to the allowed list so alerts come through even when DND is on.
  • If DND keeps turning on by itself, inspect App permissions. In Settings > Apps, find critical apps, open Special access, and ensure they don’t have DND control privileges.
  • For auto-silence issues, check “Silence notifications while driving” or similar automations and disable them if they block essential alerts.
• iOS
  • Open Settings > Focus and review any active Focus profiles. Ensure that your notifications aren’t being silenced for critical apps.
  • In each Focus profile, verify allowed people and allowed apps. Add your messaging and calendar apps if needed.
  • If Focus is hard to exit, use the Control Center to quickly disable it, then test notifications with a friend’s message or a calendar reminder.

Why this helps: DND and Focus can block or delay non urgent alerts. By confirming they’re off or that essential apps are whitelisted, you restore timely notifications without giving up power saving.

Adjust battery optimization per app (Android)

Battery optimization can throttle background activity at the app level. Excluding important apps from optimization ensures they can fetch updates and deliver notifications when the device is conserving power.

• Open your device’s Settings and go to the battery or device care section.
• Find Battery optimization or a similar per-app control.
• Select the apps you rely on for timely alerts (messaging, email, calendar, critical productivity tools).
• Choose “Not optimized” or “Ignore optimized” for those apps. Some phones label this as “Unrestricted” or “Allow background activity.”
• Confirm and exit. Restart the phone if asked to apply changes.

Why this helps: When an app is optimized, the OS may limit how often it wakes to check for new data. Allowing background activity keeps push events flowing, even during power saving.

Tips to consider:

• On some Galaxy or Pixel devices you can set different levels of background limits per app. Use the least restrictive option for essential apps.
• If you see battery drain spikes after changing limits, monitor usage for a day and adjust as needed.

Enable background data and unrestricted data usage

Background data and unrestricted data usage let apps fetch updates even when you’re not actively using them. If those settings are restricted, you may miss timely alerts.

• Android
  • Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps.
  • Tap a critical app, then Mobile data & Wi‑Fi. Ensure both are allowed and that “Background data” is enabled.
  • If your phone has a data saver mode, disable it for these apps or whitelist them.
  • Check system-wide data usage: Settings > Network & internet > Data usage > Data saver. Turn it off or add exceptions for essential apps.
• iOS
  • Open Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Enable it for the apps you rely on.
  • Ensure your device isn’t restricted to Wi‑Fi only if you expect data from mobile networks. In the same section, confirm that background refresh is allowed over cellular data where appropriate.
  • For critical apps like messaging, calendar, and email, you can set background fetch to a frequent interval if available.

Why this helps: Notifications often come via background fetch or push services. If data fetch is blocked, alerts are delayed or missing. Unrestricted background activity helps ensure alerts arrive promptly.

Caution: Some devices and carriers still penalize heavy background data use. Balance needs with battery life by whitelisting only the apps that truly require constant updates.

Update apps and restart your phone

Software updates can fix bugs that affect notifications. A simple restart can also clear stuck services that block alerts.

• Update apps
  • Open your app store and install any pending updates for critical apps.
  • If your device handles updates automatically, you still benefit from manual refresh to confirm the latest versions are in use.
• Update the OS
  • Check for the latest system update in Settings. A minor version bump can include important fixes for push services and background tasks.
• Restart
  • Power off the device, wait 15–30 seconds, then turn it back on.
  • After reboot, test a few notifications to confirm real-time delivery.

Why this helps: Updates patch known issues with notification delivery and how the OS manages background tasks. A restart clears transient glitches that can stall services.

Practical check after changes:

• Send yourself a message from a separate account or a friend and verify it arrives quickly.
• Open an email or calendar event reminder to ensure the alert fires in a timely manner.
• Try a push notification from a news app to confirm real-time updates.

By running through these steps in order, you’ll restore reliable notifications while keeping battery life in check. If issues persist, you may need to revisit each setting with a fresh eye, as some devices apply power saving rules in subtle, model specific ways.

Platform specific steps for Android and iOS

Your smartphone handles battery saver a bit differently on Android and iOS. These platform-specific steps build on the quick fixes you already tried. They target power-saving features directly so notifications arrive on time. Pick your OS and follow along to customize settings for key apps like messaging or email.

Android specific steps

Start with battery saver settings on your smartphone. Swipe down from the top screen to open Quick Settings. Tap the battery icon to access saver mode. Here, you can set a schedule or choose how strict it runs. For notifications, look for exceptions: go to Settings > Battery > Battery saver, then tap the gear icon. Add apps that need alerts by selecting them from the list.

Next, handle app optimization. Battery saver often pairs with this to limit background work. Open Settings > Battery > Battery optimization. Pick “All apps,” find your essential ones, and set them to Not optimized or Unrestricted. This lets them check for updates without full restrictions.

Don’t skip background data. In saver mode, data sync slows down. Go to Settings > Apps, select an app, then Mobile data & Wi-Fi. Turn on Background data and Unrestricted data usage. Check system-wide too: Settings > Network & internet > Data saver, and add exceptions for priority apps.

Do Not Disturb can overlap with saver mode and silence alerts. Swipe down for Quick Settings and turn off the DND tile. For finer control, head to Settings > Sound & vibration > Do Not Disturb. Allow notifications from key apps or conversations.

Finally, keep apps and your OS updated. Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile, and hit Manage apps & device. Update critical apps first. Then check Settings > System > System update for Android patches that improve notification handling during saver mode.

Test changes by sending a test message. Your smartphone should now push alerts reliably.

iOS specific steps

On iOS, Low Power Mode kicks in at 20% battery and limits background tasks. To adjust, go to Settings > Battery. Toggle off Low Power Mode if active, or learn its impact. For ongoing use, you can’t fully exempt apps, but tweaks help.

Turn on Background App Refresh next. Open Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Set it to Wi-Fi & Cellular for must-have apps. This allows them to fetch data and send notifications even in Low Power Mode.

Review Notifications settings. Go to Settings > Notifications, pick an app, and ensure Allow Notifications is on. Enable Sounds, Badges, and Lock Screen options. Low Power Mode won’t block these if set right.

Focus modes can hide alerts too. Tap Settings > Focus. Check active modes like Do Not Disturb or Personal. In each, go to Apps or People and allow your key apps or contacts. Turn off Focus from Control Center for quick tests.

Update apps and iOS last. Open the App Store, tap your profile, and update essentials. For system updates, visit Settings > General > Software Update. New versions often fix how Low Power Mode handles pushes.

After these steps, your iPhone delivers notifications smoothly. Send a test alert to confirm.

Testing and ongoing maintenance

Maintaining reliable notifications while Battery Saver is active takes a proactive, repeatable approach. This section lays out a practical testing plan, a cadence for reviewing settings, and clear signs that it’s time to seek help. Use these steps as a living checklist you can revisit after OS updates or device changes. A well-tuned setup means essential alerts arrive when you need them, even on power saving.

Test after each step

Give yourself a simple test plan you can repeat on both platforms. The goal is to confirm that critical notifications still reach you promptly while the saver is on.

• Android
  • Turn on Battery Saver in Settings > Battery. Send a test notification from three different apps (messaging, email, calendar) and note the arrival time for each.
  • Next, open each app and perform a routine action (like sending a message or receiving a calendar invite). Check if the notification pops up in real time.
  • Enable an exempt list for high-priority apps in Settings > Battery > Battery optimization. Re-test with the same three apps.
  • Finally, turn off Battery Saver and repeat the tests to compare results. Look for any remaining delays or misses.
• iOS
  • Activate Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery. Send test notifications from three apps and log arrival times.
  • Test with Focus by temporarily disabling it or whitelisting essential apps. Confirm alerts come through without delay.
  • Ensure Background App Refresh is enabled for those apps in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
  • Turn off Low Power Mode and repeat the tests to see if notifications improve. Compare the before and after results.

After each platform test, note:

• Which apps delivered alerts on time
• Any delays or missed notifications
• Whether sounds or vibrations were present
• If a quick interaction (unlocking or opening the app) seemed to trigger a backlog of alerts

Tip: keep a simple timestamp record for quick comparison. If you notice consistent delays for one app, focus on its per‑app settings first. This approach keeps smartphone use smooth without compromising battery life.

Set up reminders to review settings

A steady check cadence helps you catch changes that come with updates. Schedule a recurring reminder to review how Battery Saver and related controls affect your alerts.

• Monthly checks
  • Quick audit of DND/Focus status and app exemptions
  • Confirm critical apps still have background activity and are not blocked
  • Re-test notifications from messaging, email, and calendar apps
• Quarterly checks (or after OS updates)
  • Review OS changes to power management and background tasks
  • Update apps and system software, then run the test plan again
  • Reassess data restrictions and per‑app optimizations

Best practice: keep a small, shareable log. Note any changes you made and the resulting test outcomes. This makes it easier to spot trends, such as certain apps gradually losing background capabilities after updates. A simple approach works: a one-page checklist you can tick off each time you test.

Know when to seek help

Sometimes a problem goes beyond routine tweaks. Recognize signs that you should contact support or your carrier.

• Persistent delays across multiple apps despite following the test plan
• Alerts that only arrive when you interact with the phone or after you unlock it
• Noisy, inconsistent behavior after OS updates or major app updates
• DND or Focus settings that repeatedly reset to blocked unless you manually adjust them
• Carrier data restrictions or plan issues that limit background syncing or push services
• Hardware-related clues, such as overly aggressive battery saving modes that can’t be overridden

What to do if you need help

• Gather evidence: a short log of test results, app names, timestamps, and the exact settings you changed
• Reach out to app support with the test log and a description of your device, OS version, and carrier
• If the issue seems device‑level, contact the device manufacturer or your carrier’s technical support
• Consider visiting a local store for a hands-on check if behavior remains inconsistent despite updates

Having a clear, documented record helps support teams reproduce the issue quickly and offer targeted fixes. It also shortens the time you spend chasing symptoms instead of root causes.

By following these sections, you’ll keep notifications reliable while preserving battery life. If problems persist, revisit each setting with fresh eyes and run the test plan again. The right mix of tests, reminders, and know‑how will prevent minor glitches from turning into ongoing annoyances.

Conclusion

If you want reliable notifications while Battery Saver is on, follow the fixes in order and test after each step. Start by checking Do Not Disturb and Focus settings, then adjust per app battery optimization, followed by enabling background data and unrestricted data usage. Keep your apps and device software up to date, as updates often fix notification glitches and power management quirks. A quick test after each change helps you confirm real-time alerts without sacrificing battery life. For smartphone users who rely on timely updates, this disciplined approach keeps essential alerts flowing and makes power saving truly practical. If you still notice issues, revisit the settings with fresh eyes and document the results to share with support.