Birthday reminder not working on Android? 6 fixes
Short answer: most missed birthday reminders come from a blocked notification permission or battery optimization stopping the alarm. Fix those two first, then check the rest.
1. Allow notifications
Settings → Apps → your birthday app → Notifications → On. On Android 13 and later the app must ask, and a single "Don't allow" turns all reminders off.
2. Turn off battery optimization for the app
Settings → Apps → the app → Battery → Unrestricted. Samsung, Xiaomi and others also have "sleeping apps" lists; take the app off them.
3. Allow alarms and reminders
Settings → Apps → Special app access → Alarms & reminders. Without it, Android can deliver the reminder late.
4. Check Do Not Disturb
If the reminder time falls inside a Do Not Disturb schedule, it arrives silently. Pick a reminder time like 9:00 AM.
5. Restart and check again
Some apps lose scheduled alarms after a reboot or update. Open the app once after restarting to confirm the next birthday is still listed.
6. Check the date and lead time
A wrong year, a Feb 29 birthday or a lead time set to "none" can all look like a missing reminder.
Doing it with Wishnote
Wishnote asks for notification permission on first launch, reschedules every reminder after a restart, and lets you pick the day, 1 day, 3 days or a week ahead for each person.
FAQ
Why did my birthday notifications stop after an update or restart?
Some apps lose scheduled alarms on restart. Wishnote reschedules all reminders when the phone boots.
Does battery saver block birthday reminders?
It can. Set the app's battery usage to Unrestricted so Android doesn't delay or drop the alarm.
Do I need internet for reminders?
No. Wishnote schedules reminders on the phone, so they arrive offline.