Pixel 2 not waking to notify text or gmail

[asolo73]

Hi, I am really frustrated. Just got a new Pixel 2 regular size. A key for me is the phone sits on my desk all black and then when I have an email or text it silently wakes and shows notification. I can't seem to get this to work. I went Ambient Display. I don't want Always On turned on. Everything else is On including what looks like the key: New Notifications.

I have read forums and I have no screen saver on phone. I do have a rubber case that goes around back and edges but have tried removing.

Ugghh, if anyone has advice or a link to where I should read I welcome. Double tap does work but I don't want to do that all day long seeing if I have a text or gmail. thanks in advance for any advice.

UPDATE: spent an hour with Google customer service today on phone. Could not solve. Interestingly, calendar item reminders and phone calls do wake up the phone. But no wakeup for Gmail or texts.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Go to Settings>Apps​, select Messages, then App Notifications. What Importance is it set to?

 

[GSDer]

Is it safe to assume that:
- you're running 8.1.0
- June security updates
- stock Android Messages app
- you did a setup as 'new' (ie you didn't transfer data from another device)

 

[asolo73]

Thank you for replying to both of you.

1) I am using Message+ as that seemed to backup to google drive for texts. When I go into it per B Diddy's question...settings>app notifications -- there is no Importance in the settings. I checked "Messages" as the other app assuming that is what is meant by Android Messages and that doesn't show "Importance". Just "Allow notification dot and then no sound and then additional in the app and nothing there.

2) running 8.1.0

3) I did setup by transferring using Verizon Content App. Maybe that is the problem? I transferred from my Droid Turbo2.

 

[asolo73]

Interestingly per your suggestion I switched to Messages and made "Importance" High. Unfortunately it makes a vibrating sound BUT it did wake notification on sleeping screen. So I guess we made progress. Nothing with Gmail and don't see importance there so that still does not wake phone with Icon.

 

[GSDer]

If you normally use the Verizon Message+ app then check: hamburger menu -> Settings -> Notifications and make sure that Notifications is enabled.
In Gmail it's: hamburger menu -> Settings -> General settings -> Manage notifications and make sure that Show notifications is enabled.
If those are all set properly then try booting into Safe mode and see if the Gmail notification works properly then. If it doesn't then I'd suggest a Factory Reset and setup as new; I'm thinking that something got buggered up when you transferred your setup from your old phone.

 

[Gary_Berg]

I have a vague memory of some option to prevent notifications from turning the screen on. I couldn't find it during a quick pass through settings.

 

[asolo73]

Just to update the forum, I had a new pixel 2 sent to me today. Set it up as "New". Turned on Ambient Display -- New Notifications turned on. Made sure I don't have Do Not Disturb turned on. Went to gmail notifications and Messages notifications making sure I am notified. And.....nothing. The screen will not wake to show I have an email or a text. I am at a loss here and surprised no one else is having this issue. Perhaps it is still something I am doing wrong but this just seems odd. I just need phone to sit on desk dark and then light up with notification when I have gmail or text. Ughh....very frustrated here.

 

[asolo73]

Another call with Pixel2 support and now I am confused and want to ask the community:

If you have your phone sitting on your desk where screen is completely darkened out. If you have Ambient Display - New Notifications, will the screen on it own and without you touching it, light up when you have an unread gmail or text? The call center rep felt you need to tap it. That makes no sense to me as if you are at work for example and phone is on your desk, you have to pro-actively keep double tapping to check your lock screen and see if you have an email? Could someone verify if they have screen wake on it's own to show notification of unread email or text? To me this is a huge development issue if you are constantly expected to look at your screen. I am coming from a Droid Turbo 2 that does a great job of breathing to life the display to show unread email...then you know to tap your phone. thanks.

 

[anon(10092459)]

Another call with Pixel2 support and now I am confused and want to ask the community:

If you have your phone sitting on your desk where screen is completely darkened out. If you have Ambient Display - New Notifications, will the screen on it own and without you touching it, light up when you have an unread gmail or text? The call center rep felt you need to tap it. That makes no sense to me as if you are at work for example and phone is on your desk, you have to pro-actively keep double tapping to check your lock screen and see if you have an email? Could someone verify if they have screen wake on it's own to show notification of unread email or text? To me this is a huge development issue if you are constantly expected to look at your screen. I am coming from a Droid Turbo 2 that does a great job of breathing to life the display to show unread email...then you know to tap your phone. thanks.

My set up is below... I agree with you, that when I receive any notification, the ambient lights up briefly on it's own... No need to double tap for that to happen..

 

[cnjvh]

I use Glimpse Notifications:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.nullgrad.glimpse

Works great for me.

 

[asolo73]

Looks like a potential solution. Installed. Turned on settings. Also have Ambient display on within android display settings. Nothing. Emailed myself and screen doesn't turn on. Thanks for suggestion.

 

[TraderGary]

I keep my Pixel 2 XL phone beside my Windows 10 computer when working and on my computer I keep Outlook 365 active and minimized.

When an email comes in, my computer dings with a notification that new email has arrived and at the same time my phone dings and my Always On Display briefly shows the heading of the latest message.

I have no problem with how everything is working. I always read my new email on my Windows 10 computer and I only use my phone to read email messages if I'm away from my computer.

My Pixel 2 XL AOD screen will also show any incoming text messages that I may want to respond to. And I also get notifications for any Twitter messages that I'm subscribed to receive.

I assumed all Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones worked the same way.

 

[GSDer]

Nothing. Emailed myself and screen doesn't turn on.

I shouldn't make assumptions but, you DO have Screen Lock enabled, right? And in 'Lock screen preferences' you have 'Show all notification content' selected?

 

[asolo73]

Under Screen lock I see no enable but Screen Lock is set up with PIN. Under Lock Screen preferences, I have "Show all Content". I know my Screen Lock is turned on as after 20 or so seconds, it goes black and I need to enter pin to get back in. Appreciate the try here.

 

[GSDer]

Hmm. Under Settings -> Apps and notifications -> Notifications do you have 'Blink light' enabled? If so do you actually see the LED blink when these 'missing' notifications come in?
If you look in the 'Recently sent' list at the bottom (you can expand it to show all notifications in the last 7 days) do you see those apps listed at the appropriate times?

 

[asolo73]

As an update, I installed Glympse notifications per suggestion above. I then went into GMail and Messages (texts) and put for Importance (Urgent) and have no sound as I want it silent. It now seems to pop up notification in locked screen and wake phone. Never got android's own Ambient to work but hopefully this is the solution to keep this phone. Thanks.

 

[Morty2264]

As an update, I installed Glympse notifications per suggestion above. I then went into GMail and Messages (texts) and put for Importance (Urgent) and have no sound as I want it silent. It now seems to pop up notification in locked screen and wake phone. Never got android's own Ambient to work but hopefully this is the solution to keep this phone. Thanks.

I'm sorry that you weren't able to find a Google solution for this, but that's great that you found an app workaround!

 

[B. Diddy]

1) I am using Message+ as that seemed to backup to google drive for texts. When I go into it per B Diddy's question...settings>app notifications -- there is no Importance in the settings. I checked "Messages" as the other app assuming that is what is meant by Android Messages and that doesn't show "Importance". Just "Allow notification dot and then no sound and then additional in the app and nothing there.

Sorry for the late response. Regarding this issue, when you're in the App Notifications menu for the Android Messages app, scroll down until you see Default. Tap that word (i.e., don't tap the toggle switch on the right), and you'll see another menu with the Importance setting. There, you should also be able to toggle Vibrate on or off.

Not sure if this will help your underlying issue. I don't have my phone set to wake the screen with notifications, but I'll try turning that on and see if my screen turns on appropriately.