Why is my music notification not showing?
What are music notifications?
Music notifications are system alerts that appear on your device when there is new music-related activity happening in certain apps. They are designed to keep users updated on things like new releases from favorite artists, music news, listening recommendations, and other music content. Music notifications can come from dedicated music streaming apps like Spotify or Apple Music, but also other apps like YouTube, social media, or online publications. The main purpose of music notifications is to notify listeners of new music content that may interest them and prompt them to take action, like checking out a new album release or playlist.
Music streaming services in particular rely heavily on notifications to engage users and drive listening. As Music Business Worldwide noted, “A notification done correctly is one of the most powerful tools within mobile phones” for music apps to reach users. [1]
Common reasons notifications don’t show
One of the most common reasons for music notifications not appearing is having an outdated version of the music app that needs updating or reinstalling. App developers frequently release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. However, if automatic updates are disabled, the app can become outdated and certain features may stop working properly.
For example, according to an Apple Music user, notifications stopped working entirely after an app update. Updating to the latest version of Apple Music resolved the issue. Similarly, Android users may need to update apps like Spotify or YouTube Music if notifications are missing.
If updating the app doesn’t work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the music app. This essentially performs a “hard reset” which often fixes persistent notification issues. Just be sure to backup any offline content first before uninstalling.
Overall, monitoring your installed apps and keeping them updated is key to avoiding problems with missing notifications in music apps. A simple update or reinstall typically gets notifications working again.
Notifications turned off
One of the most common reasons you may not be seeing music notifications is if you have notifications turned off for the Music app. To check your notification settings:
On iOS, open the Settings app, tap Notifications, and check if notifications are enabled for the Music app. You can tap into the Music app’s notification settings to customize which types of notifications you want to receive (source).
On Mac, open the Music app, click Account > Notifications in the menu bar. Make sure the toggle next to “Allow Notifications” is turned on. You can customize notifications under each category (source).
On Android, open the Music app’s settings to check notification preferences. Toggle notifications on and customize alerts (source).
If notifications were mistakenly disabled, be sure to re-enable them in your device and/or app settings.
Do Not Disturb Enabled
One common reason music notifications may not appear is if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled on your device. Do Not Disturb blocks notifications from making sounds or lighting up the screen while it is active (source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/3-ways-to-stop-ios-notifications-from-interrupting-music-playback/). This prevents interruptions from notifications while listening to music. Check if Do Not Disturb is toggled on by swiping down from the top of the screen on iOS or checking the quick settings on Android. Turn off Do Not Disturb and notifications should come through again during music playback.
App lacks notification permissions
One of the most common reasons for music notifications not showing is that you haven’t granted the music app permission to send notifications. Android requires apps to get explicit permission to send notifications, so if you haven’t enabled this, you won’t see any notifications from the app.
To edit app permissions on Android:
– Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions.
– Tap the app and enable “Notifications.”
– You can also long press the app icon, tap App info then go to Notifications.
If notifications still don’t show up, force stop the app, clear cache/data, then reopen the app and re-enable notifications. According to users on Reddit, this resolved the issue of no notifications from Spotify and other music apps (source).
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the app, then enable notifications again.
Outdated OS Version
One of the most common reasons for music notifications not appearing is having an outdated operating system (OS). Apple Music is constantly updated and optimized for the latest iOS and macOS versions. If your device is running an older OS, there may be compatibility issues preventing notifications from coming through.
For example, users reported problems receiving Apple Music notifications after updating to iOS 15, which indicates the app had bugs on older OS versions [1].
To fix this, it is recommended to update to the latest OS version available for your device. Keeping your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch etc up-to-date ensures maximum compatibility with apps like Apple Music.
On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for the latest iOS version. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update. Install any available updates, including major OS releases like iOS 15 or macOS Monterey. After updating, check if music notifications now work properly.
App is buggy
Certain music apps are known to have bugs that prevent notifications from appearing properly. For example, some users have reported notification issues with Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora on iOS and Android devices (https://forums.developer.apple.com/forums/thread/80222). The app may fail to display the notification title, text, or app name even when notifications are enabled.
Oftentimes, these notification bugs occur after an app update. Developers may inadvertently introduce bugs when pushing out new versions of the app. Updating to the latest version of the music app can potentially fix notification issues caused by bugs in older versions.
If the problem persists across app versions, it’s best to contact the app developer directly to report the bug. Most music apps have forums, email support, or in-app messaging where users can explain the issue. The more details provided (device model, OS version, steps to reproduce, screenshots, etc.), the better chance the developer has of squashing the bug in a future update.
Device storage is full
If your iPhone or other iOS device runs out of storage space, it can cause issues with receiving notifications. This is because iOS requires a certain amount of free space to function properly. When storage space gets critically low, iOS will start limiting background processes like downloading apps, media, and push notifications.
To fix notification issues caused by low storage, you need to clear up space on your device. Here are some tips:
- Offload unused apps – Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap on any apps you don’t use. Select “Offload App” to remove it while saving your data and documents.
- Delete old conversations – Messages can take up a lot of space over time. Open the Messages app, tap on a conversation, tap Delete, then select “Delete All”.
- Remove music/photos – Use the built-in Files app or iTunes on a computer to browse and permanently delete unneeded media.
- Turn off iCloud Photo Library – This feature stores all your photos in iCloud while leaving low-resolution thumbnails on your phone. Turn it off in Settings if you need to reclaim space.
Clearing several gigabytes of storage through these steps should allow notifications to start working again. You may need to restart your device after freeing up space.
If your phone is still consistently running out of storage, it may be time to upgrade to a model with more capacity.
Connectivity issues
One common reason your music app might fail to display notifications is due to connectivity problems. This could be an issue with your WiFi, cellular data, or VPN connection. Make sure your device has a strong signal and stable internet access. Try toggling airplane mode on and off to reset the connections. If you’re using a VPN, try disconnecting it temporarily as VPNs can sometimes interfere with notifications. Restart your router if the WiFi is spotty. Confirm cellular data and mobile networks are enabled in your device settings. Check for any software updates related to connectivity on your smartphone, tablet, or streaming device as well.
According to some users on Amazon’s forum, the “Music” notification can suddenly cause Fire TV devices to disconnect from the internet [1]. So connectivity issues seem tied to the erroneous notification in certain cases. Try rebooting your device fully if the “Music” alert coincides with losing internet access.
Factory Reset as Last Resort
Sometimes the cause of the music notification issue can be hard to pinpoint. If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps like checking settings, updating apps, and freeing up storage, but the problem persists, then a factory reset may be the nuclear option to fix it.
Before resetting your device, make absolutely sure to back up any important data. You can back up to the cloud, an external hard drive, or a computer. Photos, videos, music, documents, and app data could all be wiped out by a reset, so don’t skip this step.
On an iPhone, you can factory reset by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. For Android devices, go to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset. Always follow the on-screen prompts carefully.
Once the reset is complete and your device restarts, you can restore your data from the backup. With any luck, the reset clears out any glitches causing the missing music notifications. Just be prepared that you may need to reconfigure your settings afterward.