X (formerly Twitter) allows users to receive real-time desktop notifications for likes, retweets, messages, and other updates. However, many users report that Twitter notifications don’t appear on their desktop, are delayed, or fail to work entirely.

If X desktop notifications are not working, follow this step-by-step guide to fix them.

Why Aren’t X (Twitter) Desktop Notifications Working?

Several factors can cause Twitter notifications to fail on PC or Mac:

• Notifications disabled in Twitter settings – Push notifications may be turned off.
• Browser permissions blocking notifications – Chrome, Edge, or Firefox may not allow Twitter to send alerts.
• System settings preventing notifications – Windows or macOS may block Twitter notifications.
• Cache & cookies interfering – Outdated browser data can prevent notifications from working.
• Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb enabled – Silent mode settings may be blocking alerts.

Once you identify the cause, apply the correct fix below.

How to Fix X  Desktop Notifications Not Working

If X desktop notifications aren’t working, follow these steps to troubleshoot and restore them on Windows and macOS.

1. Enable Notifications in X Settings

Before troubleshooting further, ensure that Twitter notifications are enabled in your account settings.

• Open X > Settings & Privacy > Notifications.
• Go to Preferences > Push Notifications and make sure Desktop Notifications are turned on.
• If notifications were previously off, enable them and refresh the page.
• Log out and back in to apply the changes correctly.

This ensures that Twitter itself is not blocking notifications before checking browser or system settings.

2. Allow Twitter Notifications in Your Browser

Your web browser may be blocking Twitter notifications due to security settings.

For Google Chrome & Microsoft Edge:

• Open Twitter in the browser and click the lock icon in the address bar.
• Look for Notifications and change it to Allow if it’s set to Block.
• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Site Settings > Notifications, locate Twitter, and ensure it’s set to Allow.
• Restart the browser and test notifications again.

For Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the lock icon in the address bar and navigate to Permissions.
• If notifications are blocked, change the setting to Allow and refresh Twitter.
• If the issue persists, reset Firefox permissions by going to about:preferences#privacy > Permissions > Notifications > Settings and allowing Twitter manually.

After adjusting these settings, restart the browser and check if notifications appear.

3. Verify System Notification Settings on Windows & macOS

Even if Twitter and the browser allow notifications, your operating system may still be blocking them.

On Windows:

• Open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions.
• Find Google Chrome, Edge, or Firefox and ensure Allow Notifications is turned on.
• Scroll down to check “Get notifications from apps and other senders” and enable it if it’s off.
• Restart your PC and test Twitter notifications.

On macOS:

• Go to System Preferences > Notifications & Focus.
• Locate your browser (Chrome, Edge, or Safari) and enable Allow Notifications.
• If Focus Mode is on, turn it off and test if notifications appear.
• Check Alert Style and set it to Banners or Alerts for better visibility.

If notifications were disabled in system settings, enabling them should fix the issue immediately.

4. Disable Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb

Silent mode settings such as Focus Assist on Windows and Do Not Disturb on macOS may be preventing Twitter notifications.

• Windows users should check Focus Assist settings in the Action Center and set it to Off. If needed, adjust priority settings to allow Twitter notifications.
• Mac users should go to System Preferences > Focus Mode and disable Do Not Disturb.
• On both Windows and macOS, try enabling notifications manually and setting exceptions for Twitter.
• Restart your device after making changes to ensure the settings take effect.

Once these modes are disabled, Twitter should send notifications without restrictions.

5. Clear Cache & Cookies in Your Browser

Outdated or corrupt browser data can cause notification errors. Clearing cache and cookies can often fix these issues.

• Chrome/Edge: Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear Browsing Data.
• Select Cookies, Cached Images, and Site Data, then click Clear Data.
• Ensure Do Not Track settings are off, as they may interfere with notifications.
• Restart the browser and check if Twitter notifications work properly.

If clearing cache alone doesn’t work, try logging out of Twitter and logging back in after deleting cookies.

6. Reset Twitter Notification Permissions

If browser and system settings are correct, but notifications still don’t work, resetting permissions in Twitter may help.

• Open Twitter > Settings & Privacy > Notifications.
• Disable Push Notifications, refresh the page, and turn them back on.
• If notifications don’t appear, try removing Twitter from the browser’s allowed sites list and then re-enabling notifications.
• Log out and back into your Twitter account after making these changes.

Resetting permissions ensures that any previous settings conflict is removed and that Twitter properly syncs with your browser.

7. Try a Different Browser or Use Incognito Mode

Sometimes, browser extensions, ad blockers, or privacy settings interfere with notifications. To test this:

• Open Twitter in Incognito Mode (Ctrl + Shift + N in Chrome or Edge).
• If notifications work in Incognito Mode, disable browser extensions one by one to identify the cause.
• Try switching to Firefox or Microsoft Edge if Chrome has persistent issues.
• Reset browser settings by going to Chrome > Settings > Reset and Cleanup > Restore Settings to Default.

If switching browsers solves the problem, reset Chrome’s settings or adjust extensions accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Most Twitter notification issues are caused by disabled settings, browser restrictions, system notification blocks, or outdated cache data. Ensuring Twitter notifications are enabled, browser permissions are correct, Focus Mode is off, and cache is cleared can fix the problem in most cases.

If all else fails, switching browsers, resetting permissions, or reinstalling the browser may be necessary. Let us know in the comments if this guide helped you!