How to Fix iPhone Text Messages No Sound or Alert Issue

Is your iPhone not notifying you of texts? You might not get new text notifications due to misconfigured settings or software bugs. Usually, the issue is temporary, and you can solve it with some quick, straightforward fixes.

If text messages are not showing up on your iPhone, your device isn’t displaying notifications for an incoming SMS or iMessage, or your locked iPhone makes no sound while receiving text, look at these handy solutions to fix such issues.

1. Check Notification Settings for Messages

When your iPhone is not receiving text notifications, make sure the Messages app is configured to show notifications on the Lock Screen, Notification Center, and elsewhere.

To do this, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Settings ⇒ Notifications ⇒ Messages.

2. Make sure the switch next to Allow Notifications is turned on.

3. Under Alerts, check Allow on Lock Screen, Allow in Notification Center, and Allow as Banner. Next, tap Sounds and choose a loud message tone.

4. If you don’t see the actual message content on your iPhone Lock Screen, tap Show Previews and choose Always.

After following the above steps, new text messages via SMS and iMessage should show up on your iPhone and make a sound when the device is locked.

2. Ensure the Person Isn’t Muted

If you’re wondering why your iPhone is not notifying you when you receive a text message from one person, you might have muted that person. Once you mute a person or group, your iPhone won’t alert you when they send you a new text or iMessage. Here’s how to fix this:

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone and go through your conversations.

2. Swipe left on the conversation that has a gray slashed bell icon.

3. Tap the bell icon to unmute this message thread and receive alerts.

See also: What Happens When You Mute Someone on iPhone Messages App?

3. Check Sound Settings

1. Go to Settings ⇒ Sounds & Haptics, then do the following:
   • Make sure Silent Mode is turned off.

   • Drag the slider under Ringtone and Alerts toward the right to increase the volume.

   • Tap Text Tone and ensure None is not selected.

4. Turn Off Focus

When your iPhone is in a Focus mode like Do Not Disturb, it does not vibrate or play a sound for new texts. You can fix this by opening Control Center and ensuring the Focus icon doesn’t say Do Not Disturb. If it does, tap it to turn the feature off.

5. Force Quit the Messages App

Restarting the Messages app can fix minor glitches preventing your iPhone from receiving text notifications. On your iPhone, swipe up slowly from the bottom to the middle of the screen and hold until you see the App Switcher. Now, swipe up on the Messages app card to force quit. This should clear minor glitches preventing the app from receiving notifications.

6. Ensure iMessage Is Enabled

If you aren’t receiving iMessage notifications on your iPhone, check if iMessage is enabled. Go to Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Messages and make sure iMessage is enabled.

Next, tap Send & Receive and ensure the correct phone number and email address are selected. After this, you should start receiving iMessage notifications again.

7. Restart Your iPhone

Your iPhone might not be receiving text message alerts due to temporary software glitches. Usually, a quick restart fixes these issues.

To restart your iPhone, go to Settings ⇒ General ⇒ Shut Down. Drag the Slide to Power Off slider from left to right. After a minute, turn on your iPhone by pressing the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

8. Turn Off Screen Unknown Senders

iPhone users can screen messages from unknown senders. While this is off by default, you may have accidentally turned it on. If so, you could be missing notifications from numbers you haven’t saved. Messages from unknown senders will be sorted into a separate list without alerts.

To fix this, go to Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Messages and turn off Screen Unknown Senders. While you’re here, make sure Text Message Filter is set to None and Filter Spam is turned off.

9. Disconnect Bluetooth Devices

If Bluetooth earbuds or devices are connected to your iPhone, the text message sound may play through them instead of your phone. To fix this, go to Settings ⇒ Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth. Alternatively, disconnect devices from Control Center by tapping the Bluetooth icon.

10. Make Sure the Person Isn’t Blocked

After you block a person, they can’t call or text you. If your iPhone isn’t getting texts from a specific person, make sure they aren’t on the block list.

1. Go to Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Messages.

2. Tap Blocked Contacts.

3. If the person is listed, swipe left on their name or number and tap Unblock.

11. Ensure Custom Text Tone Isn’t Set to “None”

If you set “None” as the alert tone for a particular contact and forgot about it, that’s likely why you aren’t receiving text message alert sounds for that person. Here’s how to assign a proper tone:

1. Tap the person’s name in the Contacts or Phone app.

2. Tap Text Tone and choose a different alert tone instead of “None.” Tap Done to save.

If you don’t see Text Tone in step 2, you likely didn’t set a custom tone for that person. Move on to the next fix.

12. Enable “Notify Me”

Were you receiving too many group iMessage notifications and muted the conversation? If yes, go to Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Messages and turn on Notify Me under Mentions. You’ll receive notifications only when someone mentions you in a muted conversation.

13. Disable Text Message Forwarding

If you choose to receive texts on your Mac or iPad, sometimes notifications may not show on your iPhone. To fix this, go to Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Messages ⇒ Text Message Forwarding and turn it off for your other Apple devices.

14. Are You Using an Apple Watch?

If text notifications are enabled on your Apple Watch, they may not appear on your iPhone. Make sure both your iPhone and Apple Watch are running the latest versions of iOS and watchOS. Then, turn off text notifications on the Apple Watch from the Watch app on your iPhone.

15. Have You Opened the Messages App on Your Mac?

If you keep Messages open on your Mac, new messages may appear there first, causing your iPhone not to play the notification sound. Quit the Messages app on your Mac if you want notifications on your iPhone.

16. Other Solutions

If none of the solutions above help, don’t worry—hope isn’t lost.

First, make sure your mobile plan allows you to receive text messages. Ensure your cellular plan is active and that you have no pending bills.

If you suspect glitches are causing your iPhone not to receive notifications, update iOS. Go to Settings ⇒ General⇒ Software Update. Bugs like missing text notifications are often fixed by installing the latest update.

Fixed No Sound When Receiving Text on iPhone

iPhone making no sound when receiving text is annoying, but you should start receiving text notification alerts and sounds again after trying the solutions above.

See also: What does “Hide Alerts” in Messages mean?