You glance at your phone on the table and there's nothing on the lock screen — but later you unlock it and find a dozen missed alerts. When notifications stop showing on the lock screen, it's almost always a setting, not a bug. Here's how to get them back without exposing private message previews to anyone nearby.
Check the global lock-screen setting
The most common cause is the master switch being off:
- Stock Android: Settings → Notifications → Lock screen → choose Show conversational, default, and silent (or Show all notification content).
- Samsung: Settings → Lock screen → Notifications → toggle on, then pick what to show.
- Xiaomi/MIUI: Settings → Lock screen → Lock screen notifications.
Turn off Do Not Disturb
Do Not Disturb (or a Focus mode) hides notifications on the lock screen even when the global setting is on. Swipe down and check the DND / Focus tile — if it's active, either turn it off or open its settings and allow Notifications on lock screen or specific apps through.
Fix a single silent app
If most apps show on the lock screen but one stays quiet, its notification channel is set to "Don't show":
- Wait for that app's notification, then long-press it → tap the gear icon.
- Open Lock screen (or "On the lock screen") and switch it to Show.
- Repeat for each channel the app uses (some apps have several, e.g. "Messages", "Group", "Promotions").
Show alerts without the text
You don't have to choose between "nothing shows" and "everyone reads my messages". Use the middle option:
- Pick Hide sensitive content (Android) or Show notification icons only (Samsung) so the lock screen reveals that you got a notification but not the preview.
- This keeps your lock screen useful and private at the same time.