Why is Gmail not notifying on Android?

Many Gmail users on Android have reported issues with notifications not working properly. Specifically, they are not receiving notifications for new emails, even though notifications are enabled in the app settings. This prevents users from seeing new messages in a timely manner, leading to frustration and missed communications. In this article, we will explore the potential causes and solutions for Gmail notifications not working on Android devices.

Confirm the Issue

Here are some steps you can take to confirm that Gmail notifications are enabled but still not working properly on your Android device:

1. Open the Gmail app and tap the three line menu icon in the top left corner. Then tap Settings.

2. Under your account name, tap Notifications. Make sure notifications are enabled by checking that the switches are flipped on for Email notifications and Priority notifications.

3. Scroll down further and make sure the setting for App icon badges is enabled.

4. Tap Inbox sounds and vibrations and confirm that sounds are enabled.

5. Return to the main Gmail menu and send yourself a test email. Wait several minutes and check if a notification appears. Also check if the Gmail icon displays the number of unread messages.

If notifications still do not appear even though the settings seem to be enabled, the issue likely lies elsewhere and is not due to incorrect notification settings within the Gmail app.

Potential Causes

There are a few common reasons why Gmail notifications may stop working on Android devices:

One possibility is that the Gmail app needs to be optimized. Over time, issues like caching or corrupted data can prevent notifications from going through properly. Trying basic troubleshooting like clearing the app cache or data from the Android Settings menu can help get notifications working again.

Android’s Doze mode or battery saver features may also be restricting Gmail notifications. These power-saving modes limit background app activity when the device is idle. Ensuring Gmail has proper exemptions from battery optimization and Doze can resolve notification problems.

Software updates, either on Android or the Gmail app, may inadvertently break notification functionality. Updating to the latest version of Android and Gmail can fix bugs introduced in older versions. Reinstalling the Gmail app after updates can also help.

Overall, app optimization issues, battery saving restrictions, and software bugs are common reasons for Gmail notification failure on Android. Checking these potential causes can help troubleshoot and restore proper notifications.

Check Gmail Settings

One of the first things to check is your Gmail notification settings. Open the Gmail app and tap the menu icon in the top left. Then go to Settings > [your email] > Notifications. Make sure notifications are enabled for your account. You can customize which notification types you receive, such as emails, chats, and reminders.

While in the Gmail settings, check that battery optimization is not enabled for Gmail, as this can prevent notifications. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Special app access > Battery optimization and make sure Gmail is not set to optimize battery usage.

Also check that Gmail has background data enabled. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Gmail > Mobile data & Wi-Fi > Background data and make sure this is enabled.

If notifications are enabled but you are still not receiving them, it could be an issue with your Android device’s notification settings.

Check Android Settings

One issue that can prevent you from getting Gmail notifications on Android is your device’s notification settings. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications to check that notifications are enabled for Gmail. You can also long press the Gmail app icon, go to App Info, and check that notifications are turned on.

Android’s battery saving features like Doze and App Standby can also block notifications when Gmail is inactive. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization and make sure Gmail is not set to Optimize. You can also add Gmail to your list of exempt apps in Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization > All Apps.

Checking these Android notification and battery settings can help resolve problems with missing Gmail notifications. According to Google’s Gmail help documentation, “On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app. In the top left, tap Menu. Tap Settings. Select your account. Tap Notifications and select a notification option.”

Update Gmail and Android

One potential cause of Gmail notifications not working properly is having an outdated version of the Gmail app or Android OS. Google frequently releases updates to improve performance and fix bugs. Ensuring you have the latest versions installed can help resolve notification issues.

Open the Play Store app on your Android device and search for “Gmail.” If an Update option is available, tap it to download the newest version. You can also enable auto-updates for your apps in the Play Store’s settings. After updating Gmail, restart your device for the changes to take effect.

You should also check for Android OS updates on your device. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update to see if any software updates are available from your manufacturer. Major Android releases like Android 12 or 13 can sometimes cause notification problems until subsequent fixes are rolled out.

Installing the latest OS and app updates and restarting your device allows any notification-related bug fixes to be applied. Keeping your Android device and Gmail app up-to-date may resolve inconsistent or missing notifications issues.

Clear the Gmail App Cache and Data

One potential fix is to clear the cache and app data for Gmail. The cache stores temporary files and data on your device. Over time, this can build up and cause issues like notifications not working properly. Clearing the cache removes these temporary files which may resolve notification problems.

You can also clear the app data which resets the app back to its default settings. This erases your preferences and login details, but it does not delete your emails. After clearing the data, you’ll just need to log back into the Gmail app.

Follow these steps to clear the Gmail cache and data on Android:

1. Open your Android device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Tap See all apps.
4. Scroll down and tap Gmail.
5. Tap Storage & cache.
6. Tap Clear cache to clear the app cache.
7. You can also tap Clear data to reset the app.

Additionally, make sure to Force Stop the Gmail app after clearing the cache and data. You can do this by going back to the Gmail page in your Android settings. Tap Force Stop. This ensures the app is completely shut down before restarting it.

Once you’ve cleared the cache/data and force stopped Gmail, open the app again and check if notifications are now working. This often resolves notification issues after an app starts misbehaving.

Source: Systools Group

Uninstall and Reinstall

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps have resolved the issue, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Gmail app as a last resort. However, before uninstalling Gmail, it’s important to first remove your Gmail account from the Android device.

To remove the account, go to Settings > Accounts on your Android device. Tap on the Gmail account you want to remove. Then tap Remove account. This will disconnect the account from your device before uninstalling the app.

Once the account is removed, you can uninstall Gmail by going to Settings > Apps. Tap on Gmail and select Uninstall. Then simply reinstall the Gmail app from the Play Store and add back your Gmail account.

Re-adding the account and reinstalling the app essentially resets the app and syncs your account details again. This may resolve any issues causing notifications to not work properly. Just be sure to remove the account first before uninstalling Gmail to avoid losing any data.

Try Third Party Apps

If the native Gmail app still isn’t notifying properly, another option is to try using a third party email app instead. Some popular alternatives to consider include:

Spark – This app has a Smart Inbox feature that sorts mail into categories to reduce clutter. It also offers configurable notifications so you can customize how and when you’re alerted to new emails. Some users find Spark provides more reliable notifications than the Gmail app. [1]

Outlook – Microsoft’s email app connects to Gmail accounts while offering additional features like calendar integration and a focused inbox. The notification options allow granular control over notification sounds, vibrations, and frequency. Outlook sometimes provides a smoother Gmail notification experience. [2]

Edison Mail – This app has a simplified interface that makes it easy to customize notifications and see new emails at a glance. It offers VIP notifications, quiet hours, and notification channel options specifically for Gmail accounts. Switching to Edison Mail may resolve Gmail notification issues for some users. [1]

The downside is that third party apps may lack some native Gmail features or require re-configuring notification settings. However, for users prioritizing reliable notifications, an alternative email app is worth considering if the Gmail app itself is still not notifying properly.

Contact Google Support

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and Gmail notifications are still not working properly on your Android device, it’s time to contact Google Support for additional help.

The Gmail app is created by Google, so their support team will be best equipped to diagnose and resolve persistent notification issues.

To contact Google Support, open the Gmail app on your Android device and tap the Menu icon in the top left. Then tap Help & Feedback and select the option to contact support. This will open a form to provide details about your notification problem and submit a request for help.

You can also visit the Google Support website from a desktop computer and search for Gmail notification issues on Android. This provides access to troubleshooting articles and the ability to chat or call Google support.

When contacting Google Support, provide details like your Android device model, OS version, Gmail app version, and steps you’ve already tried. The more information you can share, the better they can identify potential causes and solutions.

Google’s own support team has the best chance of determining why Gmail notifications are not reliably working on your Android device and how to get them functioning properly again.

Just be patient as it may take some time to troubleshoot and push out a fix if it’s a bug on Google’s end. But persistent notification issues can often be resolved with help from Google Support.

Source: https://www.airdroid.com/parent-control/gmail-notifications-not-working/