If Messenger messages only appear after you wake or unlock your iPhone, the phone usually isn’t actually “late.” What’s happening is that iOS is holding background activity to save battery or data, so Messenger can’t deliver alerts in real time.
In most cases, this is caused by Background App Refresh being limited, Low Power Mode staying on, or notification delivery being restricted while the screen is locked.
Start With Background App Refresh
This setting allows apps like Messenger to stay updated while you’re not actively using them. When it’s off, notifications often wait until the device becomes active again.
- Open Settings.
- Go to General → Background App Refresh.
- Make sure it’s set to Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
- Scroll down and confirm Messenger is enabled.
After changing this, lock your phone and send yourself a test message if possible.
Check Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode is one of the most common reasons notifications pause until unlock. When enabled, iOS intentionally delays background network activity.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Turn off Low Power Mode.
If your battery frequently drops below 20%, the phone may be re-enabling this automatically, which explains why the issue seems inconsistent.
Make Sure Notifications Are Allowed on the Lock Screen
Sometimes notifications arrive, but iOS waits to show them because lock screen alerts are restricted.
- Go to Settings → Notifications → Messenger.
- Enable Allow Notifications.
- Under Alerts, check Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners.
- Set Banner Style to Persistent if available.
Disable Focus or Scheduled Modes
Focus modes can quietly hold notifications without making it obvious.
- Open Settings → Focus.
- Check Do Not Disturb or any custom Focus profiles.
- Either turn them off or allow Messenger under Allowed Apps.
Refresh Messenger’s Connection
If system settings look correct, the app itself may have a stale background session.
- Close Messenger from the App Switcher.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Open Messenger once and leave it logged in.
This forces a new push notification registration with Apple’s servers.
One Small Thing That Helps
Keep Background App Refresh enabled globally even if you manage battery carefully. Turning it off system-wide is almost guaranteed to delay messaging apps.
Once Messenger is allowed to run normally in the background and Low Power restrictions are cleared, notifications should arrive immediately — even while the screen stays locked.