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How to fix delayed WhatsApp notifications when phone screen stays locked

You receive WhatsApp messages, but nothing appears until you unlock your phone. The moment the screen turns on, several notifications arrive at once. To most users, it feels like WhatsApp suddenly “wakes up” only after interaction with the device.

This behavior usually isn’t a WhatsApp problem. In most cases, the phone is preventing the app from running properly while the screen is locked in order to save battery power. Modern Android and iPhone systems aggressively pause background activity, which delays push notifications until the system allows the app to reconnect.

Check Battery Optimization Settings

Battery optimization is the most common cause. When enabled, the system restricts background data and delays notification delivery.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Apps or App Management.
  3. Select WhatsApp.
  4. Tap Battery.
  5. Choose Unrestricted, Don’t optimize, or No restrictions (wording varies by device).

After changing this, lock the phone and send yourself a test message.

Allow Background Activity

Some devices separate battery limits from background permissions. If background activity is blocked, notifications wait until the phone wakes.

  1. Open Settings → Apps → WhatsApp.
  2. Tap Mobile Data & Wi-Fi or Data Usage.
  3. Enable Background data.
  4. Turn on Allow background activity if available.

Disable System Power Saving Modes

Power Saving or Low Power Mode can silently delay real-time notifications while the device is idle.

  1. Open Settings → Battery.
  2. Turn off Power Saving, Ultra Power Saving, or similar modes.
  3. If you prefer keeping it enabled, add WhatsApp to the allowed or excluded apps list.

Verify Notification Permissions

If notifications are restricted on the lock screen, the system may delay delivery.

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → WhatsApp.
  2. Ensure Allow Notifications is enabled.
  3. Enable Lock Screen Notifications.
  4. Allow banners, alerts, and background notifications.

Remove WhatsApp From Sleeping or Deep Sleeping Apps (Android)

Many Android brands automatically move apps into a sleep list after inactivity.

  1. Open Settings → Battery → Background Usage Limits.
  2. Check Sleeping Apps and Deep Sleeping Apps.
  3. Remove WhatsApp if listed.

Check Background App Refresh (iPhone)

  1. Open Settings → General → Background App Refresh.
  2. Make sure it is enabled globally.
  3. Confirm WhatsApp is allowed.

Optional: Reset Network Connection

If delays only happen on Wi-Fi or after long idle periods, the device may be dropping its persistent connection to notification servers.

  1. Toggle Airplane Mode on for 20 seconds, then turn it off.
  2. Reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
  3. Restart the phone once.

Once battery restrictions and background permissions are corrected, WhatsApp notifications should arrive normally even while the phone remains locked.