Samsung Galaxy S25 notifications not working? You're not alone

Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 series has hit the shelves, but instead of basking in the glow of their premium displays, some users are squinting at a more puzzling problem — missing notifications.

Reports are flooding in from frustrated Galaxy S25 users who are experiencing a peculiar issue: notifications are either completely MIA, significantly delayed, or only show up once the phone is unlocked. This glitch isn’t picky either — whether you’re fresh off an S24 Ultra, Z Fold 4, or even a trusty old Galaxy Note 10+, the problem seems to persist across different migration paths.

Users with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in particular, are noticing that their devices simply refuse to deliver notifications as expected. Whether it’s Gmail, Discord, or even Google Home, alerts are either delayed or non-existent until the phone is unlocked.

Interestingly, some affected users set up their devices using Samsung’s Smart Switch, transferring data seamlessly from older models. However, this ‘seamless’ process seems to have brought along some invisible baggage — notification glitches. But it’s not just Smart Switch to blame. Some users who relied on Samsung Cloud for app data transfers are in the same boat.

While Samsung hasn’t officially addressed the issue, the problem appears to stem from a combination of factors. Some users suspect it’s related to SmartSwitch which may not be playing nicely with notification settings during the migration process. Others point to app-specific quirks, particularly with Google apps like Gmail, which seem to be the most common offenders. After all, Gmail is a notorious offender when it comes to notifications issues.

Battery optimization settings could also be the culprit. Many apps, especially on Android, have their notifications throttled to save battery life. If an app’s battery usage is set to “Optimized” or “Restricted,” it might not be allowed to run in the background, leading to missed or delayed notifications.

Interestingly, the Galaxy S25 introduces a new notification setting for alert customization, allowing users to fine-tune how and when they receive alerts. However, some users may not have fully explored these settings, which could contribute to the confusion. Additionally, the new split Quick Settings and Notification Panel design, while sleek and intuitive, might be causing some users to overlook critical notification settings.

The notification issue isn’t the only hiccup users are reporting. Some Galaxy S25 users have encountered glitches with Work Profile, GoodLock, and Gemini integration, but these are unlikely to interfere with app notifications. These issues, while separate, highlight the growing pains of a new device launch.

While it’s frustrating to deal with these hiccups on a brand-new device, it’s worth remembering that early adoption often comes with a few growing pains. Samsung is known for rolling out timely updates to address user concerns, so it’s only a matter of time before these notification issues are ironed out.