Since update to Electrum 4.6.2 no audio and pop-up notifications on windows 11

[bulldozer2025]

Hi all,

I normally used Electrum version 4.5.8, which worked perfectly without any issues. Since switching to version 4.6.2, I suddenly no longer receive pop-up notifications or audio alerts when funds are received.

I’ve already reinstalled the software in several ways, including clean installations—tried everything. But it still doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. I also don’t see any settings within the software related to notifications.

I’m running Windows 11 version 25H2. This latest update was installed on 17-10-2025 (dd-mm-yyyy). Before this update everything worked normally, although I was still using Electrum 4.5.8.

The app also doesn’t appear under System → Notifications. As far as I understand, the app uses its own internal notification system rather than Windows’ notification system.

Do you have any idea how to fix this?

[nc50lc]

The app also doesn’t appear under System → Notifications. As far as I understand, the app uses its own internal notification system rather than Windows’ notification system.

AFAIK, it simply sends a notification to the OS's system tray and the OS will handle how it's presented (sound/pop-up).
For Windows11, it'll appear in that list once it successfully displayed a notification, not automatically included after install.

And Electrum 4.6.2's notification is working at my end and listed in system notifications.
But it's an older version of Windows11 so I can't reproduce that issue.

Do you have any idea how to fix this?

Do you have other apps that display notification and you can confirm that are working in your current setup?
Because if others do not work, it may be "system wide" and not specific to Electrum.

[noorman0]

I read the release notes for version 4.6.0 because the list was very long and interesting to read. They did migrate the GUI framework from Qt5 to Qt6 (because I'm sure your issue is just an interface issue). I searched for that keyword, and it led me to an article in Qt forum. My conclusion is that the Qt6 framework of electrum failed to adapt to Windows updates, which is why electrum notification popups aren't appearing.

I'm not sure if my approach is really relevant. Anyway, you can try downgrading to a previous version to confirm. You might also try opening a testnet wallet and claiming some sats on a faucet site.

[ABCbits]

I searched for that keyword, and it led me to an article in Qt forum. My conclusion is that the Qt6 framework of electrum failed to adapt to Windows updates, which is why electrum notification popups aren't appearing.

I visited link you mentioned, but that thread actually talk about Qt 5 application on Windows 10. Meanwhile, OP talk about Qt 6 application on Windows 11. So personally i doubt it's highly related with OP's issue.

Anyway, you can try downgrading to a previous version to confirm.

If OP decide to try this approach, i would recommend him to backup his wallet file first.

[noorman0]

I visited link you mentioned, but that thread actually talk about Qt 5 application on Windows 10. Meanwhile, OP talk about Qt 6 application on Windows 11. So personally i doubt it's highly related with OP's issue.

Yes, that makes sense.
I only came to this conclusion because at the end of the discussion, OP didn't find any issues with newer versions of Windows.

I saw the code work on Windows 10 Enterprise winVer1803 in August. Now still on winVer1803 (with hotfixes KB4512576, KB4516115, KB4521861, KB4523203, KB4525237 installed in the meantime) it's not working as I said. But recently I tested the code on Windows 10 winVer1903, and it worked on Qt 5.7 and Qt 5.12, the test notification was showing up! It doesn't make any sense to me. I might have to try using the new Windows 10 api to post the notifications, which is ugly or maybe impossible with using Visual Studio 2015.

-snip-
If OP decide to try this approach, i would recommend him to backup his wallet file first.

My bad. I forgot to add this step to my suggestion. And I'd like to add another safer suggestion: wait for the next Windows update.

[bulldozer2025]

Do you have other apps that display notification and you can confirm that are working in your current setup?
Because if others do not work, it may be "system wide" and not specific to Electrum.

I also use Electrum-LTC and this one is still working fine!
The notification pop-ups are coming in the right below corner (with sound)
Running the most recent version.

[bulldozer2025]

Anyway, you can try downgrading to a previous version to confirm.

If OP decide to try this approach, i would recommend him to backup his wallet file first.

I tried going back to 4.5.8, but then we weren't able to open the newly created wallet.
because it was created or opened in the latest version 4.6.x

So we have to stay in 4.6.x

we hope it can be fixed asap.. because we need the notifications and sounds.
hopefully we can solve it on another way..

[bulldozer2025]

What I did notice is the following:

The 4.5.x versions were installed in Program Files (x86),
while starting from version 4.6.x, Electrum is installed in Program Files instead.

Additionally, it may be important to mention that my colleague is also using Electrum version 4.6.2, and on his system notifications and sounds work normally.
He is currently running Windows 11 version 24H2.

I am running Windows 11 version 25H2, so that is a noticeable difference between our setups. On his system it works, but on mine it doesn’t.

[noorman0]

I tried going back to 4.5.8, but then we weren't able to open the newly created wallet.
because it was created or opened in the latest version 4.6.x

This backup methods might be useful.
It should be compatible with any version as long as you back up properly.

-snip-
hopefully we can solve it on another way..

I use a Telegram notifier @tracktxbot to get realtime incoming fund notifications. No keys or seeds are required, just wallet addresses. However, privacy is not guaranteed, your address may be exposed to the bot developer.

[nc50lc]

The 4.5.x versions were installed in Program Files (x86),
while starting from version 4.6.x, Electrum is installed in Program Files instead.

It stopped supporting 32-bit versions of Windows so it's now uses the 64-bit directory by default.

So we have to stay in 4.6.x
-snip-
we hope it can be fixed asap.. because we need the notifications and sounds.
hopefully we can solve it on another way..

It's not apparent if the issue is something to be solved by Electrum or Microsoft so I'm hesitant to open a new issue in GitHub.
You may open one though since it's an issue regardless (check first if there's a duplicate): github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues

You've provided good enough information by answering the previous questions, so you may link this topic for context.
and it will lessen the developers' work load even more if you can deduce the number of related PRs and commits to check by specifying the versions.
Please try v4.6.0 and if it also doesn't show notifications, then there's only one version worth of changes to check.