Swann Security App Not Receiving Push Notifications
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Push notifications in the Swann Security app depend on more than the notification setting in the app. A notification must first be triggered by a detected event, then delivered through the Swann Security service to your phone.
If you have already configured push notifications correctly but still receive no alerts, follow the steps below in order. Start by confirming that the system is actually detecting the type of activity that should trigger a notification, then work toward the phone and app.
Before You Start
Before troubleshooting, make sure:
- Your camera or recorder is powered on.
- Reboot you Swann device, phone, and internet — This resolves majority of the issue.
- Your phone has an internet connection through Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- You can sign in to the correct Swann Security account.
- You know which camera or recorder channel should generate the notification.
- You have access to the camera's view so you can perform a controlled motion test.
- You have read and followed this article for its basic configuration: How to Set Up Push Notifications in Your Swann Security App
- Choose Your Phone Type
- Choose Your Device Model Number
Common Causes
Missing push notifications are usually caused by one of these:
- Event detection: The camera or recorder is not detecting the expected event.
- Notification settings: The detection type, Mode, channel, or Push setting is not configured for notifications.
- Pause Mode: Pause Mode is active on a supported standalone camera.
- Device connection: The camera or recorder has lost its internet connection.
- Phone settings: The phone is blocking, delaying, or filtering Swann Security notifications.
- Battery restrictions: Android battery optimization is limiting the app in the background.
- App session: The Swann Security app's notification session needs to be refreshed.
- Device-specific issue: The problem affects only one phone, camera, channel, detection type, or Mode.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Check the Device and Test an Event
Check Whether the Camera or Recorder Can Communicate With the App
Short answer: Make sure the system is online and that the app can stream the camera.
Push notifications require the event to travel from the security system through the Swann Security service to your phone.
- Open the Swann Security app.
- Check the affected device.
- Try opening its live view.
Can't stream your cameras? It must be offline which is why it can't notify you. Fix it by following this guide:
- For recorders: Fix a Recorder That Went Offline
- For standalone cameras: Why Is My Swann Standalone Camera Offline
Important: A working live view does not automatically prove that push notification delivery is working. It only confirms that the device and app can communicate at that time.
If live view works and motion events are being generated, focus on the notification delivery path rather than changing camera detection settings.
Check the Device and Test an Event
Test the camera: Move in front of the camera and check whether a motion event or recording appears in the Swann Security app.
- Move through the camera's detection area.
- Wait for the movement to be detected.
- Open Swann Security app then go to Playback to check for a motion recording.
Possible results:
- Event or recording appears? Your device is detecting movement. You can continue to the next step.
-
No event or recording? Push notifications cannot be triggered until the device detects the event. Check your motion detection settings:
- For recorders: How to Configure Motion Detection on a Swann Security Recorder
- For standalone cameras: Make sure Pause Mode is off, then check the camera's motion detection settings: Pause Mode | Motion Detection
Once the device creates an event or recording, return here and continue to the next step.
Check Notification Settings
Check What Type of Event You Are Expecting
Short answer: Make sure the event you are testing matches the notification type that is enabled.
Not every notification is triggered by the same type of detection.
Depending on the device and Secure+ plan, Swann Security can provide notifications for events such as:
- Motion
- Sound
- Person
- Car
- Pet
- Package
- Doorbell ring or visitor detection
- Custom SwannShield "Notify Me When" events
For example, a camera detecting motion does not necessarily mean that it will generate a Person Detection notification if Person Detection is not enabled or supported.
- Identify exactly what notification you expect.
- Perform a test that should trigger that event.
- Check whether the corresponding event appears in the app.
- If another event type works but the expected event does not, troubleshoot that specific detection type rather than push notifications in general.
Check the Current Mode
Short answer: A notification can be enabled in one Mode but disabled in another.
Modes can have different notification settings. Changing from Home to Night or Away can therefore change which notifications are sent.
- Open the Swann Security app, go to
- Check which Mode is currently active.
- Tap the pencil icon to edit Modes
- For multiple units, choose a device you want to check
-
Choose a Mode that you want to check
- For recorders: Select a channel
- Check the notification setting for the camera.
Make sure the detection type you are testing is enabled. - Go back or tap back to save and exit.
Perform another controlled motion test.
In some instances, updating the current Mode doesn't take effect right away.
Try switching modes, leave it for a few seconds, then go back to the previously updated Mode.
For standalone cameras: If your Swann Security account only has standalone cameras paired to it, make sure Pause Mode is not active. Learn more how to turn Pause mode on or off here
Test Whether the Problem Is Limited to One Phone
Short answer: If another phone receives the same notification, the Swann Security system is probably generating the notification correctly.
If the Swann Security account is used on multiple phones:
- Make sure another authorized phone is signed in to the same account.
- Trigger a controlled motion event.
- Check whether the other phone receives the notification.
Possible results:
-
Phone receives the notification. The issue is likely specific to the original phone.
Continue troubleshooting the affected phone. - Neither phone receives the notification. The problem could still be caused by the Swann device or the phones. Continue to the next step
Check Your Phone
Check Phone-Level Notification Restrictions
Short answer: The phone can block or delay notifications even when Swann Security is configured correctly.
For Android, check:
- Settings > Apps > Swann Security > Notifications
- Make sure notifications are allowed.
- Check the notification categories and make sure the relevant category is not disabled or silently restricted.
- Check Settings > Battery and look for battery optimization or background-use restrictions for Swann Security.
- Allow Swann Security to run normally in the background.
See also: Allow Notification on Android
Android menus vary between manufacturers and software versions. If your phone has features such as Battery Saver, Adaptive Battery, Background Restrictions, Sleeping Apps, Deep Sleeping Apps, or App Battery Management, check whether Swann Security is being restricted.
For iOS, check:
- Settings > Notifications > Swann Security
- Make sure Allow Notifications is enabled.
- Make sure notifications are allowed on the Lock Screen, Notification Center, and as Banners.
- Check whether a Focus mode is active.
- Check whether notification delivery is being scheduled or summarized instead of displayed immediately.
See also: Allow Notification on iOS
Check Do Not Disturb and Other Notification Filters
Short answer: A phone or Swann Security notification filter can prevent an alert from appearing even though the notification was generated.
First check the Swann Security app:
- Open Swann Security app then
For Android: Tap
For iOS: Tap -
Do Not Disturb must be
disabled
Then check the phone itself for:
- Do Not Disturb
- Focus modes
- Sleep modes
- Driving modes
- Battery Saver
- Notification filtering
- Notification summaries
- App-specific notification categories
If the notification appears in the phone's notification history but no sound or banner was shown, the Swann Security system may already be sending the notification correctly and the phone is controlling how it is displayed.
Check the Network Used by the Phone
Short answer: Test the phone on a different internet connection.
A notification can be generated correctly but fail to reach the phone because of the phone's current network or network restrictions.
Try:
- If connected to Wi-Fi, temporarily switch to mobile data.
- If using mobile data, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network.
- Trigger another motion event.
- Check whether the notification arrives.
If notifications work on one network but not another, investigate the affected network for:
- VPN use
- Private DNS
- Network-level filtering
- Firewall or security software
- Restricted mobile data
- Public or corporate network restrictions
⚠️ Do not change camera settings if the test shows that the problem follows the phone's network rather than the camera.
Your Swann device is working as expected. The remaining issue appears to be with how your phone is receiving or allowing notifications. The steps below can help you check the phone settings that may be preventing Swann Security notifications from coming through.
Refresh Swann Security
Refresh the Swann Security App Session
Short answer: If the system detects events and another phone works, refreshing the affected phone's app session can restore notification delivery.
Before doing anything more disruptive:
- Close the Swann Security app.
- Reopen the app.
- Check the affected device.
- Perform another controlled motion test.
If this does not help, sign out and sign back in, then test again.
Update the App and Phone
Short answer: Make sure the Swann Security app and phone operating system are supported and up to date.
- Check the app store for a Swann Security update.
- Install the update if one is available.
- Check whether your phone has a pending operating system update.
- Restart the phone.
- Open Swann Security and test notifications again.
If the problem started immediately after an app or operating system update, note the version when contacting Support
Reinstall the Swann Security App
Short answer: Reinstalling the app can refresh the app's local state and notification registration when all previous checks have already passed.
Only do this after completing the earlier steps.
- Make sure you know your Swann Security account login details.
- Uninstall the Swann Security app from the phone.
- Restart the phone.
- Install the latest Swann Security app again.
- Sign in to the correct account.
- Allow notification permissions when prompted.
- Confirm the affected device is available.
- Trigger another controlled motion event.
CAUTION: DO NOT reset or unpair the camera just because push notifications are not working. If the camera is detecting and recording events normally, the problem may be entirely on the notification delivery or phone side.
Still Not Receiving Notifications?
If your Swann device:
- ✅ Creates motion recordings
- ✅ Another phone receives notifications
- ✅ "Do Not Disturb" is disabled on the affected phone
Then, your Swann system is working as expected. The remaining issue is likely related to the affected phone's notification settings, operating system, or network.
Review your phone's notification and network settings or contact your phone manufacturer's support team for further assistance.
Why This Happens
A push notification is the final part of a chain. The camera or recorder must first detect an event, the applicable Mode and device settings must allow that event to generate a notification, the system must communicate with the Swann Security service, and the phone must allow the notification to be delivered and displayed.
This is why checking every setting at random can make troubleshooting unnecessarily complicated. For example, if motion recordings are already being created, the system is already detecting motion, so the investigation should move to the notification and delivery stages instead.
Related Questions
Why do I receive recordings but no push notifications?
A recording proves that an event was detected, but it does not necessarily prove that push notifications are enabled for that event, Mode, channel, or phone.
Why does the Swann Security app receive notifications on another phone but not mine?
This usually points the investigation toward the affected phone's notification permissions, battery restrictions, Focus/Do Not Disturb settings, network, or app session.
Do I need motion detection for push notifications?
For motion notifications, yes. The system needs to detect the event before it can generate a motion alert.
Why do I receive some notifications but not others?
Different detection types can have separate settings and requirements. Check the specific detection type and the active Mode.
Can Pause Mode stop push notifications?
Yes. On supported standalone cameras, Pause Mode temporarily disables motion-triggered recordings and push notifications.
Why are my notifications delayed?
Short delays can occur because notification delivery depends on network communication between the security system, Swann Security service, and phone.
Summary
If Swann Security push notifications are not arriving, first confirm that the camera or recorder is actually detecting the event. If motion recordings are already being created, move past motion detection and check the notification settings, active Mode, recorder settings, phone permissions, battery restrictions, notification filters, network, and app session.
Avoid factory resetting or unpairing the camera unless troubleshooting specifically identifies the camera configuration as the cause.