The Problem Understanding the iOS 16.1 Text Message Alert Issue
Many iPhone users experienced a frustrating issue after the iOS 16.1 update where text message notifications for contacts in their address book stopped working. This often happened when users accidentally selected the 'delete and report junk' option for a message from a contact they meant to keep.
This inadvertently flagged the contact as spam, silencing future notifications. The core problem lies in how iOS 16.1 handles the 'delete and report junk' function, especially for contacts already in your address book. Users are understandably seeking a solution to restore their message alerts.
The Solution Steps to Recover Your Text Message Alerts
To fix this, you'll need to 'unblock' the contact. Open the 'Phone' app, tap the 'Contacts' tab, find the contact whose notifications are missing, and then tap their name. Scroll down to the bottom and see if the 'Block this Caller' option is available. If not, verify in settings that this is not a default behavior.
If blocked, tap 'Unblock this Caller.' This should restore text message notifications from this contact immediately. Then confirm Notifications are enabled in Settings > Notifications > Messages and that the correct alert style is selected
“Don't let accidental clicks silence your important text alerts! This guide will help you get your iPhone notifications back on track.
The iPhone Fix Team
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Prevention Preventing Future Text Message Notification Issues
To avoid this in the future, double-check the options before deleting text messages, especially from contacts in your address book. Be mindful of the 'delete and report junk' selection. Consider turning off 'Filter Unknown Senders' in your iMessage settings if you don't want to miss any messages.
Regularly update your iOS to ensure you're using the latest version, which often includes bug fixes. If problems persist, you may need to consult Apple support or an iPhone specialist.