Notifications are small instant messages that inform us of any app activity installed on our Android phone. These Android push notifications can be dismissed as soon as they appear with just a swipe. But what if you had a stream of flowing Android notifications all at the same time, and you accidentally swiped one which you wanted to read? Is there a way to get the Android push notifications back?
Well, the answer is ‘YES’ but up to a certain extent. You may not get the exact information as it is, but you can surely know which app sent you the notification along with a few other key points. Just put your Sherlock Holmes cap on, and connect the dots, and you will figure out what you missed or instead dismissed with a swipe.
How To Get Your Android Notifications History Log?
Google has undoubtedly improved its Android operating system over the years, adding new advanced features in every version. It seems Google does not pay much attention to the app notifications and has not provided the users to view notification history on Android. However, there is a simple way to do so, and that is to customize a widget. It might not provide a list of Android notifications in a readable format but does provide app names and some sort of coded structure.
By the way, for those, you don’t know what widgets are: A Software Widget in an Android device is a small application built to provide easy access to a particular function of more complex applications. You can set widgets as shortcuts on your mobile phone’s screen, and a single tap will open the task you wanted to carry out. Widgets have been there from the beginning of Android smartphones, but many don’t know about them even if they have been using them for a long time.
Prerequisites To Set Up the Android Notification History Widget
Some Android devices require the user to enable Developer options before setting up and viewing the widget that displays the Android notification history log. To enable Developer options, go to the Settings menu of your phone and type ‘Build Number’ in the top’s search box. Tap on it for at least 10 times, and you will receive a message stating, “You are now a Developer.”
How To Set Up A Widget To View Android Notification History Logs?
Setting up a widget to view notification history on Android can be done with a few simple steps:
Step 1. Press and hold on to an empty space on your Android screen. You will get three options: Wallpapers, Widgets, and Settings.
Step 2. Select Widgets. A list of apps that support widgets will appear on the screen, alphabetically.
Step 3. Locate Settings, and you will get a settings shortcut. Touch and hold on it to pick the widget for use.
Step 4. Once you hold it for long enough, it will create an icon on the desktop and give you options to select any one of the Android operating system’s internal functions.
Step 5. Select Notification Log from the list and tap once.
The Widget is created and placed on your Android screen. Click on it, and you will find a list of notifications along with the timestamp and the app name they belong to. If you further tap on any notification individually, then it will display text in coded form. However, some of the text can be deciphered and makes sense.
Note: Although this is a default feature in the Android operating system. Yet, some manufacturers do not allow the users to avail of this feature due to their custom operating systems built on Stock Android. Samsung users fall into this category and can use third-party apps to view their notification history logs.
Third-Party Apps That Display Android Notifications History Logs
Many apps enable the user to view their Android notification history on the Google Play Store. The best one which I have personally tried are:
Notify Catch- This is a simple app that allows the user to view all the notification logs grouped app-wise in a list form. If you tap the app’s name, you will find all the notifications from that app listed and sorted by time received.
Unnotification- This is another app that helps to capture Android notification logs. It captures all the Android push notifications on your phone and displays them in a presentable format. Having used all these apps, I observed that Unnotification captures every minute detail and displays it as a log entry. You can also blacklist an app, which means all the notifications from that app will not be recorded.
Notification History Log by ikva eSolutions is one of the best Android notification history apps, which records the notifications and enables the System notifications history log in Android. You can compare both notification entries in one app.
Nova Launcher. This is not an app but a complete system launcher itself. It provides different user experience, and the widget for the Android notification history can be activated using the primary steps listed above.
Note: These apps require the app notification access permission to capture app activity. They will not record the details unless the user grants them permission.
Bonus Feature: How to Change Android Notification Sounds on Your Device?
If you have been listening to the same notification sound which was set as default by the device manufacturer, then you must change the Android notification sound on your mobile immediately. There are many of us who never change the default sounds of their mobile phone and this can be confusing especially if you are around people with the same device. You might have noticed that when a notification tone is heard, many people check their phones at the same time because they all have the same notification sound. To change the Android Notification sound on your device, follow the following steps:
Step 1. Open the Settings in your Android device.
Step 2. Locate a setting labeled as ‘Sound’. Tap to open it.
Step 3. Scroll through the various sound options and locate ‘Default Notification Sound’ or something similar to it.
Step 4. The best part of this exercise is to tap all the options in the list, listen and choose the best one you like. Never try to copy anyone and Be Original.
Note: If this option is greyed out. It is probably because your phone is in Silent/Vibrate mode. Change your mode, and you will be able to access this setting.
What do You Think About Android Notification History?
It is estimated that on average, a normal person receives around 100 notifications every day. Most of them can be ignored, and that creates a habit of swiping these notifications as fast as they appear on the screen. Owing to that habit, we sometimes swipe off a few important ones trying to break our swiping records. But the solution is finally here, and we can finally view the Android notification history log and find out if we missed anything important. If you know of any other apps which records the notifications or can grant access to notification history logs, then do list them in the comments section, until then, Keep Swiping those notifications.
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