6 Fixes When Google Chat App Notifications Are Not Working

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Updated April 15, 2024 Reviewed & Updated by Afam Onyimadu Expertise: Microsoft, R, SQL

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Basic Fixes

Before plunging deeper into complicated fixes, try these basic fixes.

Fix 1: Verify In-App Notification Settings

You must go through the settings in the Google Chat app to ensure that notifications aren’t disabled. 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.

Google Chat App Android search Google Chat App Settings 1

Step 2: Enable the toggle for Mobile notifications on Android or Chat notifications on iPhone.

Enable Google Chat Notifications on Android 2 Enable Google Chat Notifications <a href=on iPhone 1 2" width="475" height="1026" />

Fix 2: Check Notification Settings for Google Chat

By default, the Google Chat app will send you notifications on your phone. However, if you have tweaked the notification settings to activate the Do Not Disturb or Focus modes on iPhone, the notifications might get paused. You must check that and enable notifications for the Google Chat app from your phone’s settings.

On Android

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

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

Open Google Chat App Info 1 Google Chat App Info notification Turn On Google Chat Notifications on Android Phone 1

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

Notification Categories for Google Chat App 1 Enable Google Chat Notifications on Android Phone 1

On iPhone

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

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

Google Chat App Settings <a href=on iPhone 1" width="475" height="1026" /> Google Chat Notifications <a href=on iPhone 1" width="475" height="1026" /> Allow Notifications for Google Chat <a href=on iPhone 1" width="475" height="1026" />

Fix 3: Check and Update Your Google Chat Status

When you set your Google Chat status to Do Not Disturb, the app mutes all the notifications until the mute duration expires. To end mute sooner, set your Google Chat status to Automatic by following the steps below.

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 current Google Chat status and select Automatic.

Google Chat App Android 1 Google Chat Status 1 Change Google Chat Status 1

Fix 4: Enable Notifications for Individual Chats

If the Google Chat app is not sending notifications for a specific chat or group conversation, you may have disabled notifications. Here’s how to re-enable them.

Step 1: In the Google Chat app, open the group or space conversation for which notifications are not working.

Step 2: Tap the tiny arrow beside the space or group name at the top.

Step 3: Tap on Notifications and select Notify always.

Notification for Space in Google Chat 1 Enable Notifications for Google Chat Group Conversation 1

Step 4: Similarly, if you’re missing notifications from a particular contact, tap the arrow next to the name at the top and enable the Notifications toggle.

Google Chat Conversation 1 Enable Notifications for Google Chat Conversation 1

Fix 5: 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 you 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 on General.

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

Background App Refresh on iPhone 2 1 Enable Background App Refresh for Google Chat 1

Fix 6: Clear App Cache (Android)

Google Chat may also fail to function or send notifications if the app’s cache data is corrupt. You can try clearing the cache data for the Google Chat app to see if that resolves the problem.

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

Step 2: Go to Storage and tap the Clear cache option.