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How to see notification history on a Samsung Galaxy

By Updated 12 November 20263 min read

Devices: Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5) and Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0) · Checked November 2026

Real screenshot · Galaxy A57 5G, One UI 8.5

In short

Open Settings, Notifications, Advanced settings, Notification history and switch it on. From then on, notifications from the last 24 hours are kept, including ones you dismissed by accident. Tap an app in the list to see them.

Well, swiping away a notification a split second before your brain caught up is one of those tiny daily disasters, and then you spend the afternoon wondering who it was from. Notification history keeps recent notifications, even ones you dismissed or cleared. It only records from the moment you switch it on, which is why it is worth switching on now, before the next one slips away.

4 of 4 steps show a real screenshot from our Galaxy A57 5G (One UI 8.5) and Galaxy S26 (One UI 9.0).

Steps

0 of 4 steps
  1. 1

    Open Notifications

    Open Settings and tap Notifications.

    Android screenshot: Open Notifications
  2. 2

    Tap Advanced settings

    At the bottom of the Notifications page.

    Android screenshot: Tap Advanced settings
  3. 3

    Tap Notification history

    It is the first row on the Advanced settings page.

    Android screenshot: Tap Notification history
  4. 4

    Switch it on

    Tap the switch at the top so it reads On. Below, Recently dismissed and Last 24 hours list the notifications by app. Tap an app to expand them. Ours was already on.

    Android screenshot: Switch it on

If you do not see this option

  • There is no Notification history row Samsung says to make sure the phone runs the latest software and to check that your model supports it, then restart the phone after switching it on. Source: How to Enable Notification History
  • You cannot find Advanced settings Samsung puts Notification history under Settings, Notifications, Advanced settings. Source: How to Enable Notification History

If this does not work

  • The history is empty It only keeps notifications from the moment you switch it on. Samsung also says alerts older than 24 hours might not be stored, and this varies by device.
  • Some notifications are missing Samsung says it may not store notifications from apps that do not support the feature, or system notifications during critical updates.
  • History cleared itself? Android's own documentation says that switching Notification history off deletes everything in it and stops new items being saved. If the switch was turned off, even briefly, the list starts again from empty when you turn it back on.
  • A message shows but the chat is gone? The history keeps a copy of the notification text only. If the sender deleted the message, or you deleted the chat, the app itself may no longer have it, even if the history line is still there.
  • Only a few recently dismissed items? Android describes Recently dismissed as a handful of the latest notifications. For anything older, look under Last 24 hours and tap the app to expand it.

Good to know

Notification history shows the text of messages, so anyone with your unlocked phone can read it too.

Notifications not arriving at all? Samsung Galaxy notifications not showing? 5 settings to check.

Keeping Notification history on means notifications stay in the history, by default for 24 hours. Samsung says it stores notifications even if they are dismissed or cleared.

To stop sensitive previews appearing in the first place, hide them on the lock screen or turn off notifications for that app. See turn off notifications for one app on a Samsung Galaxy.

About this guide

Device
Android
Shown on
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16, Samsung Galaxy S26 (SM-S942N, Korean model), One UI 9.0, Android 17 (build CP2A.260605.016.S942NKSU5BZJB)
App
Settings
Path
Settings › Notifications › Advanced settings › Notification history
Real screenshots
4 of 4 steps
Checked
November 2026
Sources
2 official, linked below

The screenshots are from a Samsung Galaxy S26 with One UI 9.0 and Android 17, in Dark mode, apart from step 1, from our Galaxy A57 with One UI 8.5. Samsung lists the feature for the Galaxy S24, S25 and S26 series, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series and the Galaxy A series. It was already on on our phone; the list is blurred.

Sources

Links checked November 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

What to do next

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  1. How to stack notifications on a Samsung Galaxy (One UI 9)Group them so the screen stays tidy.
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  3. Samsung Do not disturb turning on or off by itself? What to checkDo Not Disturb switching by itself? Here is why.

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