The short answer
- 1Notifications that arrive only when you open the app mean battery saving.
- 2One silent chat means it is muted.
- 3Check in Telegram's order: app settings, mute, phone permission, battery.
In this article
Most notification problems are outside Telegram
If notifications only arrive when you open Telegram, the phone has usually put the app to sleep to save battery. If they never arrive for one chat, that chat is muted. Telegram's FAQ checks things in this order, and so should you:
- Telegram's own notification settings.
- Whether that contact or group is muted.
- The phone's notification permission for Telegram.
- The phone's battery saving.
1. Telegram's notification settings
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Notifications and Sounds
- Settings tab
- Notifications
- Bottom Settings tab
- Notifications and Sounds
Private Chats, Groups and Channels each have their own switch. On Android, tap a row to see its importance; Telegram's FAQ asks for High or greater. A chat listed under exceptions inside a row follows its own rule, not the main switch.
- Private Chats, Groups, Channels - each switch must be on; tap the row for importance and exceptions
Further down on Android, in the Other section, two switches help when the phone closes Telegram in the background: Keep-Alive Service ("Relaunch app when shut down. Enable for reliable notifications.") and Background Connection.
- Keep-Alive Service - restarts Telegram if the phone closes it
- Background Connection - keeps a light connection for notifications
2. Only one chat is silent
A muted chat shows a crossed-out speaker next to its name in the chat list. Unmute it from the chat's menu or profile. If muted chats should still alert you when someone mentions you, that is a separate setting; see only one chat doesn't notify you.
3. The phone's own settings
| Device | Check |
|---|---|
| Android | Phone Settings, Apps, Telegram, Notifications: notifications on, and no category set to silent. Importance (sometimes called Behaviour) high. Google Play Services installed, which the FAQ lists as a requirement |
| iPhone | Phone Settings, Telegram, Notifications: Allow Notifications on. See iPhone badges or previews not showing |
| Computer | The system's notification settings allow Telegram, and Focus or Do Not Disturb is off. See no desktop notifications |
4. Battery saving
If notifications pile in all at once when you open the app, battery saving is holding Telegram back. Allow it to run in the background in the phone's battery settings for Telegram. Telegram's FAQ singles out Huawei and Xiaomi phones, whose task killers interfere with notifications: on Huawei, add Telegram to Protected Apps in Phone Manager; on Xiaomi, enable Autostart for Telegram in the security app's permissions. The full set of steps is in late notifications on Android.
Still nothing
- On iPhone, the FAQ suggests: close Telegram, set its alert style to None in the phone's Settings, open Telegram, then set the alert style back to Banners.
- On Android, the bottom of Notifications and Sounds has a reset that returns all custom notification settings for contacts and groups to default.
- If notifications vibrate but make no sound, see notifications with no sound.
Next step: late notifications on Android.
FAQ
Why am I not getting Telegram notifications?
Usually the phone's battery saving or notification settings, or the chat is muted. Telegram's own settings come first in the checklist.
Why do Telegram notifications only arrive when I open the app?
The phone put Telegram to sleep to save battery. Allow it to run in the background.
What does Keep-Alive Service do in Telegram?
On Android it relaunches Telegram when the phone shuts it down, for more reliable notifications.
Sources
At a glance
- 1In Telegram
Private Chats, Groups, Channels on; importance High.
- 2On the phone
Notifications allowed; Google Play Services on Android.
- 3Battery
Let Telegram run in the background; Autostart on Xiaomi.
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