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Android notifications delayed when battery optimization is automatically enabled

You open your phone and suddenly several notifications arrive at once — messages, emails, or app alerts that should have appeared much earlier. The apps themselves work normally when opened, but background notifications seem late or inconsistent. Many users notice this happening after a system update or after the phone has been idle for a while.

In most cases, the delay is caused by Android’s automatic battery optimization system. When enabled aggressively, the system limits background activity to preserve power. Apps that rely on constant background connections — messaging, email sync, cloud backups — may be paused until the device wakes fully or the app is opened again.

Check if Battery Optimization Is Restricting the App

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Apps or Apps & Notifications.
  3. Select the app with delayed notifications.
  4. Tap Battery.
  5. Choose Unrestricted or Don’t optimize.

This allows the app to maintain background activity so notifications can arrive in real time.

Disable Adaptive Battery (If Enabled)

Adaptive Battery learns usage habits and may silently restrict apps it believes you rarely use. Sometimes it becomes overly aggressive.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Battery.
  3. Tap Adaptive Battery.
  4. Turn it off temporarily and observe notification behavior.

If notifications return to normal, the feature was limiting background syncing.

Allow Background Data Usage

Battery optimization often works together with data restrictions. Even if optimization is disabled, blocked background data can still delay alerts.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Apps → select the affected app.
  3. Open Mobile Data & Wi-Fi or Data Usage.
  4. Enable Background data and Unrestricted data usage.

Remove the App From Sleeping or Deep Sleeping Lists

On many Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and similar devices, manufacturers add additional power-saving layers beyond standard Android controls.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Battery → Background usage limits (name may vary).
  3. Check Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps.
  4. Remove messaging or email apps from these lists.

Turn Off Automatic Power Saving Schedules

Some devices automatically enable power saving during certain hours or when battery drops below a threshold. This silently pauses background sync.

  1. Open Settings → Battery.
  2. Open Power Saving Mode.
  3. Disable scheduled or automatic activation.

Optional: Reset App Notification Connection

If delays continue, resetting the app’s background connection can help.

  1. Go to Settings → Apps.
  2. Select the affected app.
  3. Tap Force Stop.
  4. Reopen the app and sign in again if required.

Once battery optimization restrictions are removed and background activity is allowed, notifications should begin arriving normally again without delay.