Get Messages alerts and FaceTime ringing back on your Mac

Why it happens

Each app's notifications can be switched off separately, so Messages or FaceTime can go quiet while other apps still alert you. A Focus such as Do Not Disturb can also silence texts and calls with only a small sign in the menu bar. And a single conversation with alerts hidden stays silent even when everything else is set right.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, and click Notifications in the sidebar.

2. Click Messages in the list of apps and turn on Allow notifications.

   Notifications›Messages›Allow notifications

3. On the same page, set Alert Style to Temporary or Persistent, and turn on Play sound for notification. Persistent keeps each alert on screen until you dismiss it.

4. Go back to the list, click FaceTime, and turn on Allow notifications there too, with an alert style and sound.

5. Click Control Center in the menu bar and look at Focus. If a Focus such as Do Not Disturb is on, click it to turn it off.

Still not fixed?

1. If one conversation stays silent, its alerts may be hidden. In Messages, select the conversation, click the name or group icon at the top, and turn off Hide Alerts. A muted chat shows a bell with a line through it in the list.

2. If you want a Focus on but still want to hear from certain people, add them to Allowed People in that Focus.

   Focus›Do Not Disturb›Allowed People

3. If alerts don't appear while your Mac is locked, check the Show Notifications options on the main Notifications page.

   Notifications›Show Notifications›when screen is locked

4. If phone calls from your iPhone don't ring on your Mac, open FaceTime, choose FaceTime > Settings…, click General and turn on Calls from iPhone. Your iPhone must also allow calls on your Mac in its Phone settings, under Calls on Other Devices.

   FaceTime›Settings…›General›Calls from iPhone

5. If texts don't arrive on your Mac at all, check that you're signed in under Messages > Settings… > iMessage with the same Apple Account as your iPhone.

   Messages›Settings…›iMessage

6. If alerts show up but you hear nothing, check Sound settings for the volume and the right speakers. If nothing here helps, contact Apple Support.