How to Enable Push Notifications on iPhone (Step by Step)
Turn on push notifications for any app in a few taps, customize how alerts appear, manage them, and fix notifications that are not working, all from your iPhone Settings.
Push notifications are the alerts apps send to your iPhone, on the Lock Screen, in Notification Center, and as banners, even when the app is closed. To enable them you open Settings › Notifications, pick the app, and turn on Allow Notifications. This guide walks through the full process step by step, shows how to customize and manage alerts, and fixes notifications that are not working. Building your own app? You can add push notifications to an iPhone app with Appy Pie AI, no code required.
What This Guide Covers
- Enable push notifications for any app in Settings
- Customize alert styles, sounds, badges and previews
- Manage alerts with Focus, grouping and summaries
- Fix push notifications that are not working
- Understand notification privacy on iPhone
- Send push from an app you build with Appy Pie AI
Works on iOS 15 and later. Written for everyday iPhone users and app creators alike. Rated 4.7/5 on G2 from 1,388 reviews.
Build an iPhone App with Push- Open Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Choose the app
- Turn on Allow Notifications
TL;DR Quick Summary
To enable push notifications on iPhone: open Settings, tap Notifications, select the app you want, and turn on the Allow Notifications toggle (it turns green). From the same screen you can choose where alerts appear (Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners), turn on Sounds and Badges, and set Show Previews. If notifications still are not working, check that a Focus mode is not silencing the app, confirm you are online, and make sure iOS and the app are up to date.
Build an iPhone App with Push →Table of Contents
Jump to any section: what push notifications are, how to enable them step by step, customizing and managing alerts, fixing notifications that are not working, privacy, sending push from your own app, and an FAQ.
Where Push Notifications Appear on iPhone
Before enabling them, it helps to know the four places iOS can surface an alert. You control each of these per app.
Lock Screen
Alerts appear on your locked screen for a quick glance without unlocking the phone.
Notification Center
Swipe down from the top to see a history of notifications you have not cleared yet.
Banners
Alerts slide in at the top while you use the phone, either temporary or persistent.
Badges & Sounds
A red badge counts unread items on the app icon, and a sound or vibration signals each alert.
How to Enable Push Notifications on iPhone
Enabling push notifications takes about a minute. The steps below work for any app, including apps built with Appy Pie AI. Follow them in order.
Open Settings and tap Notifications
Find the grey gear Settings icon on your Home Screen and open it, then scroll down and tap Notifications. This is the control center for every app’s alerts on your iPhone.
- Settings is the grey gear icon
- Scroll to and tap Notifications
- All your apps are listed here
Select the app you want
Under the app list, scroll to the specific app you want notifications from and tap it. If an app is missing, open it once first, some apps only register after first launch or do not support push at all.
- Tap the app to open its settings
- Missing app? Open it once, then return
- Each app is controlled separately
Turn on Allow Notifications
At the top of the app’s screen, tap the Allow Notifications toggle. When it turns green, push notifications are enabled for that app. This single switch is what most people are looking for.
- Toggle goes green = enabled
- Grey = notifications are off
- This is the main on/off switch
Choose where alerts appear
With notifications allowed, pick the alert styles: Lock Screen, Notification Center and Banners. For banners you can choose Temporary (auto-dismiss) or Persistent (stay until you act on them).
- Enable Lock Screen, Center and Banners
- Banner style: Temporary or Persistent
- Mix and match per app
Set sounds, badges and previews
Turn on Sounds for an audible alert and Badges for the red unread count on the app icon. Tap Show Previews to control how much content shows: Always, When Unlocked, or Never for privacy.
- Sounds = audible alert
- Badges = red unread count
- Show Previews: Always / When Unlocked / Never
Steps shown on iOS 17. Menu names are the same on iOS 15 and later. Last verified: June 2026.
Manage and Customize Your Notifications
Beyond on and off, iOS gives you fine control so you only see what matters, when it matters.
Focus modes
Do Not Disturb, Work, Personal and Sleep filter which apps and people can reach you. Set them in Settings › Focus.
Scheduled Summary
Bundle non-urgent notifications into a digest delivered at times you pick, in Settings › Notifications › Scheduled Summary.
Notification grouping
iOS groups alerts from the same app. Switch between Automatic and By App under each app’s Notification Grouping setting.
Time-Sensitive alerts
Some apps can break through Focus and the summary for urgent alerts. Allow or block this per app.
Fix Push Notifications That Are Not Working
Enabled notifications but still not seeing them? Work through these in order, the cause is almost always one of the first three.
Re-check app permissions
Settings › Notifications › [App]: confirm Allow Notifications is on and an alert style (Lock Screen / Banners) is selected.
Turn off Focus / Do Not Disturb
An active Focus mode is the most common cause. Make sure it is off, or allow the app through it.
Check your connection
Push needs an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Reconnect if you are offline.
Update iOS and the app
Outdated software breaks notifications. Update iOS (Settings › General › Software Update) and the app in the App Store.
Background App Refresh
Some apps need Background App Refresh on to fetch and deliver alerts. Enable it in Settings › General.
Restart or reinstall
A restart fixes minor glitches. If one app is affected, delete and reinstall it to reset its permissions.
Send Push From an App You Build
Everything above is about receiving notifications. If you are on the other side, building an app, push notifications are one of the most effective ways to bring users back. With Appy Pie AI you can add them to an iPhone app with no code.
Send in a few taps
Send instant, scheduled or segmented push to your users’ iPhones from a drag-and-drop dashboard.
Personalize content
Tailor each notification with custom titles, messages and deep links to the right screen.
Track engagement
See delivery and open rates with real-time analytics, then refine what you send.
Building an App? Reach Users with Push Notifications
Add push notifications to your iOS app with no code, then send instant, scheduled or segmented alerts and track every open with Appy Pie AI.
Build an iPhone App Learn What Push Notifications AreFrequently Asked Questions
How do I enable push notifications on my iPhone?
Open Settings, tap Notifications, select the app, and turn on the Allow Notifications toggle so it shows green. Then choose your alert styles (Lock Screen, Notification Center, Banners) and turn on Sounds and Badges if you want them.
How do I turn on notifications for a specific app only?
Go to Settings › Notifications, tap that one app, and enable Allow Notifications. Each app has its own settings, so turning one on does not change the others.
Why are my push notifications not working on iPhone?
The usual causes are an active Focus or Do Not Disturb mode, notifications switched off for that app, or no internet connection. Re-check Settings › Notifications › [App], disable any Focus mode, confirm you are online, and update iOS and the app.
What are push notifications on iPhone?
They are short messages an app sends directly to your screen, on the Lock Screen, in Notification Center, or as a banner, even when the app is closed. They alert you to messages, updates, reminders and offers.
How do I turn off push notifications on iPhone?
Use the same path: Settings › Notifications › [App], then switch Allow Notifications off. To silence everything temporarily instead, turn on a Focus mode or Do Not Disturb.
Why don’t some apps appear in my Notifications list?
An app usually only appears after you have opened it at least once following installation. If it still is not listed, the app may not support push notifications at all.
How do I stop notification previews from showing on my Lock Screen?
In Settings › Notifications › [App] tap Show Previews and choose When Unlocked or Never. You can also set a global default in Settings › Notifications › Show Previews.
How do I add push notifications to an app I’m building?
With a no-code platform like Appy Pie AI iPhone app builder you add push notifications without coding, then send instant, scheduled or segmented alerts and track engagement from a dashboard.
Stay in Control of Your iPhone Notifications
Enabling push notifications on iPhone takes just a few taps in Settings, and the same screen lets you fine-tune exactly what you see. If you are building an app, make those alerts effortless with Appy Pie AI iPhone app builder.
Create an iPhone App →Turn Your Idea Into an iPhone App with Push
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