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Why does Facebook Messenger only notify after opening the app manually

A common situation goes like this: messages arrive on Facebook Messenger, but no notification appears. Hours later, you open the app yourself and suddenly multiple messages load at once. It looks as if Messenger was “offline” until you launched it.

In most cases, Messenger itself isn’t broken. The phone is preventing the app from running properly in the background, so notifications are delayed until the app becomes active again.

What usually causes it

Modern phones aggressively manage battery and memory usage. If Messenger is restricted, the system pauses its background connection to Facebook’s servers. Without that connection, push notifications cannot arrive in real time.

This typically happens after a system update, battery optimization change, data saver setting, or when the device automatically limits apps it thinks you don’t use often.

Fix 1: Disable battery optimization for Messenger

This is the most common reason notifications only appear after opening the app.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Apps or Apps & Notifications.
  3. Select Messenger.
  4. Tap Battery.
  5. Choose Unrestricted or turn off battery optimization.

On some Android devices, this option may appear under “Background usage limits” or “App battery management.”

Fix 2: Allow background data usage

If background data is restricted, Messenger cannot maintain a live connection.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Apps > Messenger.
  3. Select Mobile Data & Wi-Fi (or Data Usage).
  4. Enable Background data and Unrestricted data usage.

Fix 3: Check system notification permissions

Sometimes notifications are technically blocked even though the app looks enabled.

  1. Open Settings > Notifications.
  2. Find Messenger.
  3. Make sure all notification categories are allowed.
  4. Disable options like Silent notifications if enabled.

Fix 4: Remove Messenger from sleeping or restricted apps

Many phones automatically move apps into a sleep state.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Search for Sleeping apps, Background limits, or App power management.
  3. Remove Messenger from any restricted or sleeping list.

Fix 5: Refresh Messenger’s background connection

If settings look correct but notifications still delay, reset the app’s connection.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Messenger.
  2. Tap Force Stop.
  3. Open Storage and tap Clear Cache (not Clear Data).
  4. Restart the phone.

Optional: Check data saver or low power mode

System-wide Data Saver or Low Power Mode can silently delay push notifications. Temporarily disable these modes and observe whether notifications arrive normally.

Once Messenger is allowed to run freely in the background again, notifications should begin arriving immediately without needing to open the app manually.