How to Fix Microsoft Teams Notifications Not Working
Applies to
Microsoft Teams for Windows, macOS, web, work, school, and personal accounts
Last updated
6 July 2026
Problem
Microsoft Teams notifications are not appearing for chats, channel messages, mentions, calls, or meetings. You may receive messages inside Teams, but no desktop alert, sound, banner, or mobile notification appears. In other cases, notifications work on one device but not another.
This is usually caused by Teams notification settings, quiet hours, operating system notification permissions, Focus Assist, Do Not Disturb, browser permissions, or mobile battery restrictions.
Solution
Check notification settings inside Teams first, then confirm that Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, or your browser is allowing Teams notifications. If notifications only fail on mobile, check background activity, battery optimisation, and app permissions.
Step by step instructions
Check your status in Teams
Teams may suppress some alerts depending on your presence status.
Open Microsoft Teams.
Check your profile picture or initials in the top corner.
Review your current status.
Statuses that may reduce or suppress notifications include:
- Do not disturb
- Presenting
- In a call
- In a meeting
- Focusing
- Offline
Change your status to Available and test notifications again.
Check notification settings in Teams
Open Teams.
Select Settings and more near your profile picture.
Go to Settings.
Select Notifications and activity.
Review the settings for:
- Chat messages
- Mentions
- Replies
- Reactions
- Meeting notifications
- Calls
- Channel activity
Make sure important alerts are enabled as banners, feed notifications, or sounds depending on your preference.
Check channel notification settings
Channel notifications can be controlled separately from general Teams notifications.
Open the relevant team and channel.
Select the three dots next to the channel name.
Choose Channel notifications.
Check whether notifications are set to:
- All activity
- Mentions and replies
- Custom
- Off
If you are missing important channel updates, change the setting to notify you about the activity you need.
Check chat notification settings
If notifications are missing for a specific chat, that chat may be muted.
Open the chat in Teams.
Select the three dots next to the chat or conversation.
Check whether the chat is muted.
Unmute it if needed.
Also check whether the conversation has been hidden or moved out of view.
Check Windows notification settings
On Windows, Teams must be allowed to send notifications.
Open Settings.
Go to System.
Select Notifications.
Make sure notifications are turned on.
Find Microsoft Teams in the app list and confirm notifications are enabled.
Also check:
- Notification banners are enabled
- Notification sounds are enabled if required
- Do not disturb is not active
- Focus Assist is not blocking alerts on older Windows versions
Check macOS notification settings
On a Mac, Teams must be allowed to display notifications.
Open System Settings.
Select Notifications.
Find Microsoft Teams.
Allow notifications.
Check whether alerts, sounds, and badges are enabled.
If Focus mode is active, turn it off temporarily and test Teams notifications again.
Check browser notifications for Teams web
If you use Teams in a browser, open:
Check the browser’s site permissions.
Allow notifications for Teams.
Also confirm your browser is allowed to send notifications in your operating system settings.
Refresh Teams in the browser after changing permissions.
Check mobile notification settings on iPhone
Open Settings on your iPhone.
Select Notifications.
Find Microsoft Teams.
Make sure Allow Notifications is enabled.
Check that alerts are enabled for:
- Lock Screen
- Notification Centre
- Banners
Also check Focus modes, as these can silence Teams alerts.
Check mobile notification settings on Android
Open Settings on your Android device.
Select Apps.
Choose Microsoft Teams.
Open Notifications.
Make sure notifications are enabled.
Then check battery settings and ensure Teams is not heavily restricted in the background.
Sign out and restart Teams
If settings look correct but notifications still do not work, sign out of Teams.
Close the app fully.
Restart your device.
Open Teams and sign in again.
This refreshes notification registration between Teams, your device, and Microsoft services.
Optional methods or tools
- Use Teams on another device to confirm whether the issue is device specific
- Check Teams web at https://teams.microsoft.com to compare notification behaviour
- Ask your IT team whether notification policies are managed for your organisation
- Check mobile battery optimisation settings if notifications are delayed
- Reinstall Teams if notification registration appears broken
Best practices or tips
- Keep Teams updated on desktop and mobile
- Use channel notification settings carefully to avoid missing important updates
- Review muted chats periodically
- Check Focus, Do Not Disturb, and quiet hours after operating system updates
- Use mentions for messages that need clear attention
Microsoft Teams notification problems are usually caused by notification rules being blocked at either the Teams level or the device level. Checking both areas is important because Teams can be configured correctly while Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, or a browser still blocks alerts.
Once Teams notifications are allowed across the app and operating system, alerts for chats, meetings, calls, and mentions should work reliably. For work and school users, repeated notification problems may also be linked to organisational policies, so it is worth checking with IT if settings appear correct but alerts still fail.
