How to Fix Windows 11 Notifications Not Showing

Meta description: Restore missing notifications in Windows 11 and make alerts appear correctly again, while Kudu helps optimize system health.

What Causes This?

Windows 11 notifications usually stop appearing because notification settings were turned off, Focus assist/Do not disturb is blocking alerts, or specific apps lost permission to send notifications. It can also happen if Windows Explorer glitches, background app activity is restricted, or system files and services related to notifications are not working properly. In some cases, outdated Windows components or corrupted settings are the real cause.

Common Symptoms

• No pop-up banners appear for email, chat, or system alerts
• Notifications show up late or only inside Notification Center
• Certain apps never send alerts, even though they used to
• Sounds play, but no visible notification appears
• Notifications stopped working after an update or settings change

How to Fix It Manually

1. Make sure notifications are enabled

   1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to System > Notifications.
   3. Turn Notifications On.
   4. Expand the notification options and make sure these are enabled:
      • Show notifications on the lock screen
      • Allow notifications to play sounds
      • Show notification banners

2. Turn off Do not disturb

   1. In Settings, go to System > Notifications.
   2. Check whether Do not disturb is turned on.
   3. If it is, switch it Off.
   4. Click Turn on do not disturb automatically and disable any automatic rules that may be muting alerts during certain hours or activities.

3. Check notification permissions for the affected app

   1. Stay in Settings > System > Notifications.
   2. Scroll down to the list of apps.
   3. Select the app that is not showing notifications.
   4. Make sure Notifications are On for that app.
   5. Enable Show notification banners and Show notifications in notification center if available.

4. Restart Windows Explorer

   1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   2. In the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer.
   3. Right-click it and choose Restart.
   4. Wait a few seconds and test notifications again.

5. Allow apps to run in the background

   1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   2. Click the three dots next to the affected app, then choose Advanced options.
   3. Under Background apps permissions, set it to Power optimized or Always.
   4. Repeat for any app that is missing alerts.

6. Check date, time, and Windows updates

   1. Go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
   2. Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
   3. Then go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
   4. Install any pending updates and restart your PC.

7. Repair corrupted system files

   1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
   2. Run this command:

      sfc /scannow

   3. Let the scan finish, then restart your PC.
   4. If notifications still do not work, run:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   5. Restart again after the command completes.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

If you do not want to dig through Windows settings and repair tools, Kudu can help find the cause faster. It can detect notification-related misconfigurations, background app issues, and system health problems that may be blocking alerts, then apply safe fixes to restore normal behavior.

Download Kudu Free →