How to Fix Discord Notifications Not Showing Up

The Discord application may not show notifications if you are using an outdated version. Furthermore, incorrect configuration of various system/phone settings (such as battery optimization, quiet hours, Small Taskbar buttons, etc.) may also lead to this error.

The issue arises when the user does not receive any Discord notifications (sometimes the notification sound is played), regardless of whether the notification frequency is set to All Messages or Mentions Only. This problem has been reported on nearly all platforms, typically following an OS or application update. Some users only encounter the issue when Discord is running in the background. In some instances, the issue was limited to certain channels or private messages only.

Before proceeding with the solutions to fix Discord notifications, ensure notifications for other applications are working properly. Also, restart your system/device and networking equipment. Additionally, enable/disable the notification settings of your system/phone to rule out any temporary glitch. Keep in mind that a server with more than 2,500 users will not push notifications to users who are not mentioned.

Change Your Discord Status to Online

If your Discord status is not set to Online, you may not receive notifications. Setting your Discord status to Online might resolve this issue:

1. Open the Discord application and click on your user avatar (located near the bottom-left corner).
2. In the status picker, change your status to Online, then check if the error has been resolved.

   

Update the Discord Application to the Latest Build

To keep up with technological developments and address known bugs, Discord is updated regularly. Running an outdated version may cause functionality issues. Update your app to the latest build to avoid such problems. Below, we will discuss how to update Discord on a Windows PC.

1. Right-click on the Discord icon in your system’s tray and expand the hidden icons, if necessary.
2. In the context menu, click on Check for Updates.

   

3. After updating Discord (if an update is available), verify that the notification issue is resolved.

Try Another Network

ISPs implement various methods and protocols to manage web traffic and protect their users from online threats. In doing so, they might block resources critical for Discord’s operation—a common issue for chat, streaming, and online games. Using a different network could resolve this issue:

1. Close the Discord application and force stop it (as discussed in solution 3).
2. Disconnect your system/phone from the current network, then connect it to a different network. Alternatively, try using a VPN.
3. Verify whether the Discord application is now free of errors.

Try with Another Discord Account

If there is a communication glitch between your device and the Discord server, your account might be temporarily blocked by the server. Confirm this by logging in with a different account:

1. Open Discord and click on the Settings/Gear icon next to your username.
2. Near the bottom of the menu, click on Log Out and confirm the action.

   

3. Restart your phone, then reopen Discord.
4. Log in with a different Discord account and check if the issue is resolved.

Reinstall the Discord Application

A corrupt installation might prevent you from receiving Discord notifications. If none of the above solutions resolved the problem, reinstalling Discord could. Ensure you have your login credentials on hand as you will need to sign in again.

Android

1. Clear the cache and data of the Discord application (as discussed in solution 3).
2. Open the Settings of your Android phone and select Apps or Application Manager.
3. Select Discord and tap on Uninstall.

   

4. Confirm to uninstall Discord, then restart your phone.
5. After restarting, reinstall Discord and confirm its notifications are working properly.

Windows

1. Close Discord and ensure no Discord processes are running in the Task Manager.
2. Right-click on the Windows button and select the Gear/Settings icon in the context menu.
3. Open Apps and find Discord in the list.
4. Click on Uninstall and follow on-screen prompts to remove Discord.

   

5. Restart your PC, then open File Explorer.
6. Navigate to the path by entering `%appdata%` in the address bar.

   %appdata%

   

7. Delete the Discord folder, then go to the following path:

   %localappdata%

   

8. Delete the Discord folder there as well and empty your recycle bin.
9. Restart your PC again and reinstall Discord with administrative privileges to see if the issue has been resolved.

For Windows:

Disable Focus Assist in the Action Center

Focus Assist is a Windows feature that, when enabled, can prevent notifications from appearing. Disabling it might solve your problem:

1. Close Discord and make sure no Discord processes are running in Task Manager.
2. Right-click on the Start button and select the Gear/Settings icon.

   

3. Select System, then click on Focus Assist in the left pane.

   

4. In the right pane, select Off to allow all notifications.
5. Under Automatic Rules, disable all options.

   

6. Reopen Discord and check for normal operation.
7. If the issue persists, set an alarm and check Discord notifications when the alarm rings.

Disable Small Taskbar Buttons and Enable Show Badges on Taskbar Icons

Enabling Small Taskbar Buttons has been known to cause notification issues. Disabling this setting and enabling Show Badges on Taskbar Icons may help:

1. Close Discord (including from the system tray) and verify that no related processes are running in Task Manager.
2. Right-click on the Taskbar and choose Taskbar Settings.

   

3. Toggle off Use Small Taskbar Buttons to disable the setting.
4. Enable Show Badges on Taskbar Icons, then open Discord to check if the issue is resolved.

   

For Android:

Completely Close the PC Client of Discord

A known issue with the Discord application is that notifications may not arrive on your phone if you’re also signed into the PC client. To remedy this, close the PC client:

1. Close Discord on your phone and open the phone’s Settings.
2. Go to Apps and select Discord.
3. Tap Force Close and confirm.

   

4. On your PC, shut down the Discord client, then right-click the Taskbar and choose Task Manager.
5. Close any Discord-related processes.

   

6. Reopen Discord on your phone and check if the issue is fixed.

Disable Battery Optimization for the Discord Application

Battery optimization can extend your phone’s battery life but may also close apps running in the background. To avoid Discord being shut down, disable battery optimization for the app:

1. Access your phone Settings and select Battery.

   

2. Enter the Battery Optimization section and go to Switch Display Content.
3. Select All Apps, and then tap on Discord.

   

4. Choose Don’t Optimize and then restart your phone.

   

5. After restarting, confirm that Discord is error-free.

Clear Cache and Data of the Discord Application

Corrupted cache can sometimes lead to application errors. Clearing Discord’s cache and data may address the issue:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings and select Application Manager or Apps.
2. Choose Discord and tap on Force Close.
3. Confirm the action and open the Storage option.

   

4. Hit both the Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons.

   

5. Confirm to clear the data and then restart your phone.
6. Post-restart, ensure that Discord is functioning correctly.

Allow All the Permissions Required by the Discord Application

Lack of necessary permissions may prevent Discord from functioning as expected. Granting these permissions can rectify the issue:

1. Exit Discord and force stop it (as outlined in solution 3).
2. Launch your phone’s Settings and navigate to Application Manager.
3. Select Discord and open Permissions.

   

4. Enable every permission listed, then check if the issue has been resolved.

   

5. If not, return to the Settings of your Android phone and select “Notifications and Control Center.”

   

6. Choose Notice Management and tap Discord.

   

7. Disable the Block All and Show Silently options to enable notifications for Discord.

   

8. Restart Discord and check if it’s functioning correctly.

If the issue persists, consider using a different platform for the Discord application (e.g., if the issue is on an Android phone, try using the web version) until the problem is resolved. You can also revert to an older version of Discord (Warning: Setup files obtained from third parties may expose your system/phone and data to threats such as viruses, trojans, etc.). Make sure to have Google Services installed on your device if you are using a custom ROM. For Windows 7 users, try enabling Windows Aero. If issues remain, consider muting/unmuting the problematic channel or blocking/unblocking a Discord contact.

Reset Your Device/System to the Factory Defaults

If all else fails, there might be a deep-seated issue with your device/system’s firmware or OS. A factory reset could address this problem. Before proceeding, remember to back up any important data.

Android

Reset your Android phone to factory defaults

Windows

Reset a Windows 10 PC to factory defaults

Mac

Reset a MacBook to factory defaults

After resetting your device/system, verify if the Discord notifications issue has been resolved.