You check your Android phone and see no Teams alerts, even though messages and mentions keep arriving on your PC. This problem usually comes from battery optimization, notification permissions, or Teams background restrictions set by Android. This article explains the exact causes and walks you through every setting to restore reliable Teams notifications on Android.
Key Takeaways: Restoring Teams Alerts on Android
- Android Settings > Apps > Teams > Notifications: Confirms that Teams notification categories are enabled and not blocked by the system.
- Android Settings > Battery > Background restriction: Prevents Android from killing Teams in the background, which is the most common cause of missed alerts.
- Teams app > Settings > Notifications: Turns on the in-app notification toggles that control chat, mentions, and channel activity.
Why Teams Notifications Stop Arriving on Android
Teams on Android relies on a background service to receive push notifications. Android aggressively manages background processes to save battery, and it often suspends apps that are not actively used. When Android puts Teams to sleep, the notification service stops, and you miss alerts until you open the app again.
Another common cause is the in-app notification settings. Teams has a separate notification configuration that can be turned off without affecting the system-level permission. If a colleague mentions you in a channel but you only have chat notifications enabled, you will not see the alert.
Finally, Android versions differ in how they handle notification permissions. Android 13 and later require you to grant notification access explicitly. If you skipped that prompt during the first launch, Teams cannot post any alerts.
Steps to Restore Teams Notifications on Android
Follow these steps in order. Most users only need to fix the battery optimization and notification permission. Verify each setting before moving to the next step.
Step 1: Check Teams Notification Permission
- Open Android Settings
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps or Apps and notifications depending on your device model. - Select Teams
Tap See all apps, then find and tap Microsoft Teams. You may need to scroll through the list or use the search icon at the top. - Open Notifications
Tap Notifications. Make sure the top toggle is turned on. If it is off, tap it to enable all Teams notifications. - Verify Each Category
Check that important categories like Calls, Chat messages, Mentions, and Channel messages are each set to Allow. Tap each category to confirm its toggle is on.
Step 2: Disable Battery Optimization for Teams
- Go to Battery Settings
In Android Settings, tap Battery or Battery and performance. The exact path varies by manufacturer, but it is usually under Device care or Battery. - Open Background Usage Limits
Tap Background usage limits, App battery management, or Optimize battery usage. Look for a section that lists apps and their battery behavior. - Select Teams and Disable Optimization
Find Microsoft Teams in the list. Tap it and choose Don’t optimize or Unrestricted. This tells Android to keep Teams running in the background for notifications. - Repeat for Manufacturer-Specific Settings
On Samsung, also open Settings > Apps > Teams > Battery and select Unrestricted. On Xiaomi, open Settings > Apps > Manage apps > Teams > Battery saver and select No restrictions.
Step 3: Enable Teams In-App Notifications
- Launch Teams
Open the Teams app on your Android phone. Sign in with your work or school account if prompted. - Open the Settings Menu
Tap your profile picture or avatar at the top left corner. Then tap Settings at the bottom of the menu. - Open Notifications
Tap Notifications. You will see toggles for Chat, Mentions, Channel messages, and Calls. Turn on every toggle that you want to receive. - Check Quiet Hours
Tap Quiet hours and verify that no schedule is set. If a schedule is active, notifications are suppressed during those times. Disable it or adjust the times.
Step 4: Clear Teams Cache
- Return to App Info
Go back to Android Settings > Apps > Teams. Tap Storage and cache. - Clear Cache
Tap Clear cache. Do not tap Clear storage because that will sign you out and delete app data. - Restart Teams
Close Teams completely and reopen it. Sign in again if needed. Test a notification by sending yourself a message from another device.
Step 5: Reinstall Teams as a Last Resort
- Uninstall Teams
Press and hold the Teams icon on your home screen, then tap Uninstall. Confirm the action. - Install Teams Again
Open the Google Play Store, search for Microsoft Teams, and tap Install. - Grant Notification Permission
When you first open Teams, Android will ask for notification access. Tap Allow. Then repeat Steps 1 and 2 to set battery optimization to unrestricted.
If Teams Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
Teams Notifications Work on Wi-Fi but Not on Mobile Data
Your phone may restrict background data for Teams. Open Android Settings > Apps > Teams > Mobile data and Wi-Fi. Turn on Background data and Unrestricted data usage. On some devices, this is under Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data usage.
Only Some Teams Channels Produce Notifications
Teams lets you mute specific channels. Open the channel in Teams, tap the channel name, and select Channel notifications. Choose All activity or Custom to receive alerts for new posts and mentions. If the channel is muted, you will not get any notifications.
Teams Shows a Gray Dot Instead of a Number Badge
Android 13 and later use a gray dot to indicate notifications when the app icon badge is disabled. Open Android Settings > Apps > Teams > Notifications > App icon badges and select Number. This shows the count of unread Teams messages on the app icon.
Teams Alerts Arrive Only After Opening the App
This is a classic sign that Android killed the Teams background service. Recheck Step 2 and make sure battery optimization is set to Unrestricted. Also, check if your phone has a separate Auto-launch or App launch setting. On Xiaomi and Huawei, open Settings > Apps > Auto-launch and enable Teams.
Android System Settings vs Teams In-App Settings: Key Differences
| Item | Android System Settings | Teams In-App Settings |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Controls whether Teams can post notifications at the OS level | Controls which Teams events generate an alert |
| Location | Settings > Apps > Teams > Notifications | Teams > Profile > Settings > Notifications |
| Battery optimization | Settings > Battery > Background usage limits | Not available |
| Quiet hours | Not available | Teams > Settings > Notifications > Quiet hours |
| Badge count | Settings > Apps > Teams > Notifications > App icon badges | Not available |
After applying these fixes, you can verify that Teams notifications work by sending a test message from a second device. If alerts still do not arrive, check your device manufacturer’s battery settings for a dedicated app sleep list. Add Teams to the never-sleep list to guarantee background operation. Keep Teams updated from the Google Play Store, because newer versions include notification reliability improvements.