Why are my iOS push notifications not being delivered, even though the API/Control Panel says they were sent successfully?

If push notifications are marked as sent but aren't arriving on your iOS device, it often indicates an issue with the device's push token registration or a mismatch in the APNs environment configuration.

Here's how to troubleshoot:

1. Check SDK Integration & Initialization:

   • Ensure the Pushwoosh SDK is correctly integrated into your iOS application.
   • The SDK should automatically attempt to register the device for push notifications (calling the /registerDevice method internally) on the first launch after installation, provided the user grants push permissions.

2. Verify the APNs Gateway configuration:

   • The Apple Push Notification service (APNs) gateway configured in Pushwoosh must match the environment your app build is using.
   • In the Control Panel go to Settings → Configure platforms and open the iOS configuration.
   • Check the Gateway setting:
     • Sandbox: for development/debug builds installed directly from Xcode.
     • Production: for builds distributed via TestFlight or the App Store.
   • A gateway/build mismatch is a very common reason for notifications not being delivered.

3. Perform a clean test:

   • Completely uninstall your app from the test device.
   • Reinstall the build (matching the gateway setting checked in step 2) and launch it.
   • Crucial: when the system prompt appears, explicitly Allow push notifications.
   • (Recommended) With verbose SDK logging enabled, check the device console for a successful /registerDevice request containing a valid push_token and the correct gateway value (sandbox or production).
   • Go to Audience → User Explorer, find the test device (search by HWID, User ID, email or token) and open the Devices and platforms tab to verify a push token is present.
   • Send a test push directly to this device.

4. Check your APNs credentials:

   • Token-based configuration with an APNs Auth Key (.p8) is the method recommended by Apple and Pushwoosh: one key works for multiple apps and for both environments — you simply select the Gateway in Pushwoosh.
   • Certificate-based configuration (.p12) is a legacy method kept for existing setups. If you use it, make sure the certificate is not expired and matches your app's Bundle ID and the selected Gateway.

If notifications still don't arrive, review your SDK integration and check the device console for errors during app initialization or push registration.