Fix: Discord Notifications not Working

The Discord application may not show notifications if you are using an outdated version of it. Moreover, the wrong configuration of different settings of your system/phone (battery optimization, quiet hours, Small Taskbar buttons, etc.) may also lead to the error under discussion.

The issue arises when the user does not receive any Discord notifications (sometimes notification sound was played) whether the notification frequency is set to All Messages or Mentions Only. The issue is reported on nearly all the platforms usually after an OS or application update. Some users only encountered the issue when Discord is running in the background. In some cases, the issue was limited to some channels or private messages only.

Before moving on with the solutions to fix Discord notifications, make sure notifications for other applications are working fine.  Also, restart your system/device and networking equipment. Additionally, enable/disable notifications settings of your system/phone to rule out any temporary glitch.  Also, keep in mind that a server having more than 2500 users will not push notifications to the users who are not mentioned.

Change Your Discord Status to Online

You may not receive notifications in the Discord application if your Discord status is not set to Online. In this context, setting your Discord status to online may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Discord application and click on the user avatar (near the lower-left corner).
2. In the status picker, change your status to Online and then check if Discord is clear of the error.
   

   

Update the Discord Application to the Latest Build

The Discord application is updated regularly to pace with the ever-evolving technological developments and patch the known bugs. Your Discord application may not work if you are using an outdated version of it. In this case, updating the Discord application to the latest build may solve the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss how to update Discord on a Windows PC.

However, many users reported that they are frequently getting a “Discord Update Failed” Error when opening their Discord client. In that case, check out our article on this issue.

1. Right-click on the Discord icon in your system’s tray. You may have to expand the hidden icons.
2. Now, in the menu shown, click on Check for Updates.
   

   

3. After updating Discord (if one is available), check if the Notifications issue is resolved.

Try Another Network

ISPs apply different methods and protocols to control web traffic and safeguard their users from online threats. In this process, they tend to block resources essential for Discord’s operation (a common issue for chatting, streaming, and online games). In this case, trying another network may solve the notifications problem.

1. Exit the Discord application and force close it (as discussed in solution 3).
2. Disconnect your system/phone from the current network. Now join the system/phone to another network. You can also try a VPN
3. Then check if the Discord application is clear of the error.

Try with Another Discord Account

If there is a communication glitch between your device & the Discord server and due to that glitch, the Discord server may have blocked your account temporarily. This can be confirmed by using another account to login to the Discord application.

1. Launch Discord and tap on the Settings/Gear icon (just beside your user name).
2. Now, near the bottom of the menu, click on Log Out and then confirm to log out of Discord.
   

   

3. Then, restart your phone and, upon restart, launch Discord.
4. Now log in using another Discord account and check if the issue is resolved.

Reinstall the Discord Application

You may fail to get Discord notifications if its installation is corrupt (and none of the solutions discussed above solved your problem). In this context, reinstalling the Discord application may solve the problem. You may have to re-login the application, so keep the credentials safe.

Android

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

   

4. Now confirm to uninstall Discord and then restart your phone.
5. Upon restart, reinstall Discord and check if the Discord notifications are working fine.

Windows

1. Exit Discord and make sure no Discord-related process is running in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Right-click on the Windows button and then, in the menu shown, select the Gear/Settings icon.
3. Then open Apps and expand Discord.
4. Now click on the Uninstall button and then follow the prompts on your screen to uninstall Discord.
   

   

5. Now, restart your system and, upon restart, launch the File Explorer of your system.
6. Then navigate to the following path:

   %appdata%

   

7. Now delete the Discord folder there and then navigate to the following path:

   %localappdata%

   

8. Now delete the Discord folder there and empty your recycle bin.
9. Then restart your system and, upon restart, reinstall Discord with administrative privileges to check if it is working fine.

For Windows:-

Disable Quiet Hours in the Action Center

Windows has a handy function that allows users to disable notifications during the quiet hours of your system, and if the said setting is enabled, you may encounter the error at hand. In this scenario, disabling quiet hours of your system may solve the problem.

1. Exit Discord and make sure no Discord related process is running in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Then, right-click on the Start button, and in the menu shown, click on the Gear/Settings icon.
   

   

3. Now select System and then in the left pane of the window, click on Focus Assist.
   

   

4. Then, in the window’s right pane, allow all the notifications by selecting Off (under Focus Assist).
5. Now, under Automatic Rules, disable all the options.
   

   

6. Then, launch Discord and check if it is working normally.
7. If not, set up an alarm, and when the alarm rings, check if the Discord notifications are working fine.

Disable Small Taskbar Buttons and Enable Show Badges on Taskbar Icons

The Small Taskbar Buttons setting (when enabled) is known to cause the issue at hand. In this case, disabling the Small Taskbar Buttons setting and enabling Show Badges on Taskbar Icons may solve the problem.

1. Exit Discord (even from the system’s tray) and make sure no Discord related process is running in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Now, right-click on the Taskbar of your system and click on Taskbar Settings.
   

   

3. Then disable the option of Use Small Taskbar Buttons by toggling its switch to the off position.
4. Now, enable the option of Show Badges on Taskbar Icons and then launch Discord to check if it is clear of the error.
   

   

For Android:-

Completely Close the PC Client of Discord

The Discord application has a known bug in which you will not receive notifications on your phone if you are signed in and using Discord’s PC client. The same bug could be the reason behind the current issue. In this scenario, closing out the PC client of Discord may solve the problem.

1. Exit Discord on your phone and open the phone’s Settings.
2. Now open Apps and select Discord.
3. Then tap on the Force Close button and then confirm to force close Discord.
   

   

4. Then, on your PC, exit the Discord client and then right-click on the Taskbar of your system.
5. Now select Task Manager and then, in the processes, end all the processes/games belonging to Discord.
   

   

6. Then launch the Discord application of your phone and check if the issue is resolved.

Disable Battery Optimization for the Discord Application

Battery optimization is quite a handy feature in extending the battery time of your phone. The Discord notifications may not work if battery optimization is closing the Discord application (when operating in the background). In this context, exempting the Discord application from your phone’s battery optimization may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss how to exempt Discord in the battery optimization of an Android phone.

1. Open the Settings of your Android phone and select Battery (for some models, you may have to open More Settings).
   

   

2. Then open Battery Optimization and tap on Switch Display Content.
3. Now select All Apps and then tap on Discord.
   

   

4. Then select Don’t Optimize and restart your phone.
   

   

5. Upon restart, check if Discord is clear of the error.

Clear Cache and Data of the Discord Application

Like many other applications, the Discord application uses a cache to improve the user experience and boost performance. You may encounter the error at hand if the cache of the Discord application is corrupt. In this context, clearing the cache and data of the Discord application may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss how to clear the Android version of the Discord application’s cache and data. You may have to re-login the application, so keep the credentials safe.

1. Open your Android phone’s Settings and select Application Manager/Apps.
2. Now select Discord and then tap on the Force Close button.
3. Then confirm to force close the application and open the Storage option.
   

   

4. Now tap on the Clear Cache button and then tap on the Clear Data button.
   

   

5. Then confirm to clear the data and restart your phone.
6. Upon restart, check if the Discord application is clear of the error.

Allow All the Permissions Required by the Discord Application

The Discord application may not show notifications if the permissions required by it are not enabled. In this context, enabling the permissions required by the Discord application may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process of an Android phone.

1. Exit Discord and force close it (as discussed in solution 3).
2. Now, launch the Settings of your Android phone and open its Application Manager.
3. Then select Discord and open Permissions.
   

   

4. Now, enable every permission there and check if the issue is resolved.
   

   

5. If not, launch the Settings of your Android phone and open “Notifications and Control Center.”
   

   

6. Then select Notice Management and tap on Discord.
   

   

7. Now disable the options of Block All and Show Silently (which will enable notifications for Discord).
   

   

8. Then launch Discord and check if it is operating fine.

If the issue is still there, try to use a different platform for the Discord application (e.g., the issue is on an Android phone, then try to use the web version) until the issue is resolved. You can also revert to an older version of Discord (Warning: Set up files acquired through 3^rd parties may expose your system/phone and data to threats like viruses, trojans, etc.). If you are using a custom ROM, then make sure you have Google Services installed with it. If you are using Windows 7, then try to enable Windows Aero. If you are still having issues, try to mute/unmute the problematic channel or block/unblock a Discord contact.

Reset Your Device/System to the Factory Defaults

If none of the solutions could solve your issue, then the issue could be a result of the corrupt firmware/OS of your device/system. In this case, resetting your device/system to the factory defaults may solve the problem. Before proceeding, do not forget to create a backup of the essential data.

Android

Reset your Android phone to the factory defaults

Windows

Reset a Windows 10 PC to factory defaults

Mac

Reset a MacBook to factory defaults

After resetting your phone/system, check if the Discord notifications issue is resolved.