If you’re a Twitter user, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of seeing a notification pop up on your phone, eagerly opening the app to see what’s new, only to be met with…nothing.
No message, no new video, and no explanation for the notification. It’s like a cruel joke, taunting you with the promise of content only to leave you hanging.
This problem can have a variety of causes, ranging from issues with your notification settings to problems with your internet connection.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the main reasons why you might not be receiving messages on Twitter despite getting notifications, and offer some solutions for how to fix the problem.
Why do I have a message notification on Twitter but no message?
Here are some possible reasons why you have a notification on Twitter but nothing there.
1. There’s a Glitch in the Twitter App
Perhaps the most likely cause of a Twitter message notification with no accompanying message is a glitch in the app.
We’ve all experienced the occasional hiccup in our technology, and Twitter is no exception. It could be that the notification was sent in error, or that the message was deleted before you had a chance to view it.
In this case, the solution is simply to wait it out and see if the notification resolves itself.
2. The Message Notification Was Sent from a Deleted Account
Another possibility is that the notification was sent from a blocked or deleted account. If you’ve blocked someone on Twitter, or if they’ve deleted their account, their messages will no longer appear in your inbox.
In this case, the notification is essentially a ghost of a message, a vestige of a past interaction that has since been erased.
3. The Twitter Algorithm is Trying to Promote Content to You
It’s also possible that the notification was sent as a result of Twitter’s algorithm trying to promote certain content to you.
If you’re seeing a notification with no message, it could be that Twitter is trying to get you to follow a particular account or watch a particular video.
In this case, the notification serves as a sort of bait, luring you in with the promise of new content only to redirect you to something else entirely.
Ultimately, the cause of a Twitter message notification with no message is likely to be one of these three possibilities.
Whether it’s a glitch, a blocked or deleted account, or an algorithm trying to promote content to you, the solution is the same: patience and a little bit of detective work.
So don’t despair if you see a notification with no message – there’s likely a perfectly reasonable explanation, and with a little bit of digging, you can figure out what’s going on.
How to Fix Twitter Message Notification but no Message (iPhone and Android)
1. Check your Notification Settings
The first step to troubleshooting this problem is to check your notification settings on Twitter.
It is possible that you have mistakenly turned off the notifications.
Hence, it is imperative to turn on push notifications for Twitter and double-check which specific events about which you want to be notified by Twitter.
To Enable Push Twitter Notifications:
- Tap on your profile picture after logging in to Twitter.
- From your profile page, scroll to the bottom and tap on “Settings and privacy.”
- Tap on “Notifications.”
- Tap on “Preferences” then proceed to “Push notifications.”
- Ensure you have turned on the toggle next to “Push Notifications.”
- Next, you will see notification settings for various uses, such as notifications for photo tags, moments, new followers, notifications of contacts who joined Twitter, Twitter DM notifications and more. Ensure you have checked the boxes of all the Twitter notifications you want to receive.
By turning on push notifications for Twitter, you can be sure to fix Twitter notifications not working.
2. Check and Improve your Internet Connection
A weak or unstable internet connection can cause a variety of issues with Twitter, including not receiving messages. To check your internet connection, try restarting your router or switching to a different network.
You can test to find out the strength of your internet connection using sites like fast.com or Speed Test by Ookla.
Also, check that your device’s data connection or Wi-Fi is turned on.
It’s also worth noting that Twitter requires a stable internet connection to function properly. If your connection is slow or spotty, you may experience problems with the app.
To help improve connection stability, you might close other apps that are running in the background or lower the quality of your Twitter videos.
3. Check for Twitter Updates
Updates for Twitter are regularly released to fix bugs and improve performance. In some cases, not receiving messages on the app could be caused by an outdated version of the app.
To check for updates, open the App Store or Google Play Store, and search for Twitter. If an update is available, tap on “Update.”
It is always recommended to keep the app updated for the best performance. Updating the app may resolve the issue of not receiving messages on Twitter.
4. Clear Cache of the Twitter App
Twitter saves certain information on the user’s device to help with performance, and over time this data can accumulate and cause issues.
In some cases, clearing the app data may help fix the issue of not receiving messages.
Here’s how to clear cache on Twitter:
- Go to “Settings” and tap on “App Management.”
- Proceed to “App List” to see all the apps you’ve installed on your phone.
- From the list of apps displayed, select Twitter.
- Tap on “Storage & Cache.” Proceed to tap on “Clear Cache.”
On an iOS device, to clear the app data, go to your device settings > General > iPhone Storage > Twitter > Offload App.
Conclusion
Not receiving messages on Twitter despite getting notifications can be a frustrating problem, but it’s often relatively easy to fix.
By checking your notification settings, and an internet connection, making sure your app is up to date, and clearing app data, you can get back to enjoying the full range of features on the app.