Persistent Notifications iOS 11: How to Enable

Persistent notifications in iOS 11 keep an alert on your lock screen or at the top of your screen until you manually dismiss it, rather than disappearing after a few seconds. This guide shows you how to set up persistent alerts for any app, so you never miss an important message or reminder. You’ll need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 (or later, as the steps are similar) and a few minutes to adjust your notification settings.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or later installed.
• The app you want persistent notifications for (e.g., Messages, Calendar, WhatsApp).
• Access to the Settings app on your device.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app – Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen. This is where all notification preferences are managed.
2. Tap “Notifications” – Scroll down the Settings menu and select “Notifications.” You’ll see a list of all apps that can send notifications.
3. Choose the app – Scroll through the list and tap the app you want to make persistent. For example, if you want your text messages to stay on screen, tap “Messages.”
4. Enable “Allow Notifications” – Make sure the toggle at the top is green. If it’s off, turn it on. Without this, no alerts will appear at all.
5. Select “Alert Style When Unlocked” – Look for the section labeled “ALERTS.” You’ll see three options: “None,” “Banners,” and “Alerts.” Tap “Alerts.” This is the key step – Alerts stay on screen until you dismiss them, while Banners disappear automatically after a few seconds.
6. Adjust other options as desired – Below the alert style, you can toggle:
   • Badge App Icon – Shows a red number on the app icon.
   • Sounds – Plays a sound when the notification arrives.
   • Show in Notification Center – Keeps a record of the notification in the pull-down list.
   • Show on Lock Screen – Displays the alert on your lock screen when the phone is locked.

   For full persistence, ensure “Show on Lock Screen” is enabled, and consider enabling “Show in Notification Center” so you can review it later.

7. Repeat the process for other apps – If you want persistent notifications from multiple apps, go back to the Notifications list and repeat steps 3-6 for each one.
8. Test your setting – Send yourself a test notification (e.g., a text from a friend) or wait for a real one. When it arrives, it should stay on screen until you tap “Close” or “View.”

Common Mistakes

• Choosing “Banners” instead of “Alerts” – Banners are the default and disappear after a few seconds. You must select “Alerts” for persistence.
• Notifications disabled entirely – If “Allow Notifications” is off, you won’t see anything. Make sure it’s on.
• Do Not Disturb mode – If Do Not Disturb is enabled, notifications may be silenced or hidden. Check the moon icon in Control Center.
• Focus on the wrong app – Some apps (like certain games) have their own in-app notification settings that override the system. Check the app’s own settings too.

Tips

• Use Alerts for critical apps only – Persistent alerts can be annoying if used for every app. Reserve them for messages, calls, calendar events, and other high-priority notifications.
• Combine with “Show on Lock Screen” – For truly persistent alerts, enable “Show on Lock Screen” so the notification stays visible even when your phone is locked.
• Manage Notification Center – Even if you dismiss an alert, it remains in Notification Center (swipe down from the top) unless you clear it. This gives you a second chance to see what you missed.
• Use 3D Touch or long press – On iOS 11, you can press firmly on a notification (or long-press on non-3D Touch devices) to expand it and see more options, like replying directly or marking as read.
• Schedule Do Not Disturb – If you want persistent alerts during the day but not at night, set Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically during your sleep hours.

Troubleshooting

If your notifications still aren’t persistent, try these steps in order:

1. Restart your device – Press and hold the power button, then slide to power off. Turn it back on after a few seconds. This often resolves glitches.
2. Check the app’s own settings – Some apps have notification settings inside the app itself. For example, in WhatsApp, go to Settings > Notifications and ensure “Show Notifications” is on.
3. Reset all settings – If nothing works, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your data, but it will reset notification preferences, Wi-Fi passwords, and other system settings. You’ll need to re-enable your persistent alerts afterward.
4. Update iOS – If you’re on an older version of iOS 11, update to the latest version (Settings > General > Software Update). Apple has fixed many notification bugs over the years.
5. Check for a profile or restriction – If you have a device managed by a school or employer, restrictions may prevent you from changing notification settings. Contact your administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my notifications still disappearing after a few seconds?

You likely have “Banners” selected instead of “Alerts.” Go back to Settings > Notifications > [App] and tap “Alerts” under the alert style section.

Can I make notifications persistent for all apps at once?

No, iOS 11 doesn’t have a global “persistent” toggle. You must change the alert style individually for each app in Settings > Notifications.

Do persistent alerts work on the lock screen?

Yes, if you enable “Show on Lock Screen” for the app, the alert will appear on the lock screen and stay there until you dismiss it. Without that toggle, it may only show briefly.

Will persistent notifications use more battery?

No, the alert style doesn’t significantly affect battery life. The notification is already delivered; the difference is just how long it stays on screen.

Can I set different alert styles for different types of notifications within the same app?

No, iOS 11 only allows one alert style per app. You can’t make messages persistent but emails non-persistent within the same app.

Does this work on iOS 12 or later?

Yes, the steps are essentially the same in later versions of iOS. The option is still called “Alerts” and works the same way.

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