There is nothing more frustrating than a smart security camera or a leak sensor that fails to alert you because the Smart Life app is "asleep." On Android, the system is designed to save battery by killing apps that haven't been opened recently. To ensure your home stays safe, you must tell Android that Smart Life is an Essential App that should never be restricted. This guide covers the four critical settings to fix notification lag permanently.
Keywords: Smart Life app notifications fix, Android battery optimization smart life, Tuya app alerts not working, background data smart life android, push notification delay fix
Contents 📋
Fix 1: Set Battery Usage to "Unrestricted"
This is the most important step. Android’s Battery Optimization (also called Doze Mode) will pause the Smart Life background sync if you do not open the app for several hours. Setting it to Unrestricted prevents this.
How to change it:
- Long-press the Smart Life app icon on your home screen.
- Tap the "i" (App Info) icon.
- Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- Select Unrestricted. (Note: On Samsung devices, this may be under "Battery" > "Optimize battery usage" > change dropdown to "All" > toggle Smart Life OFF).
Fix 2: Enable "Allow Background Data"
If your phone is in Data Saver mode or has restricted background data, the Smart Life app cannot "check in" with the cloud to see if a notification needs to be sent. You must allow it to use data even when the app is closed.
How to enable:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Smart Life.
- Tap on Mobile Data & Wi-Fi.
- Ensure the toggle for Background Data is ON.
- Ensure the toggle for Unrestricted data usage is also ON (this allows notifications to come through even when Data Saver is active).
Fix 3: Disable "Pause App Activity If Unused"
Introduced in Android 12 and 13, this feature automatically removes permissions and stops notifications if you haven't opened the Smart Life app in a few weeks. For a smart home app, this is dangerous.
How to disable:
- Open App Info for Smart Life (Long-press icon > "i").
- Look for the section labeled Unused app settings.
- Toggle OFF the switch that says "Pause app activity if unused" or "Remove permissions and free up space."
Fix 4: Check In-App "Message Center" Logic
Sometimes the issue isn't Android—it's the internal settings within the Smart Life / Tuya ecosystem. The app has a master switch for "Do Not Disturb" that can override your system settings.
Check these internal settings:
- Open the Smart Life App and tap Me (bottom right).
- Tap the Settings Gear icon in the top right.
- Tap App Notification.
- Ensure Enable Notifications is ON.
- Check the Do Not Disturb Schedule. If this is active, the app will suppress alerts during specific hours, even if your phone is not on silent.
- Ensure Alarm and Bulletin toggles are both enabled.