Turning notifications off can reduce interruptions from alerts, sounds, and banners. You can silence every notification temporarily or disable alerts from selected apps while keeping important calls and messages available. The exact menu names vary by device and software version, so use the closest matching settings on your screen. Before you begin, decide whether you want a short break or a lasting change: Do Not Disturb or Focus is usually best for temporary quiet, while app notification settings are better for specific, ongoing changes.
What You’ll Need
- Your phone, tablet, or computer, unlocked.
- Access to its Settings or System Settings app. You may need your device passcode or administrator permission to change some settings.
- A moment to identify apps whose alerts you still want, such as a phone, messaging, calendar, or safety app.
Step-by-Step
- Choose between a temporary pause and turning off alerts. If you want quiet for a meeting, sleep, or a few hours, use Do Not Disturb, Focus, or a similar mode. To stop one app from alerting you indefinitely, change that app’s notification settings. These approaches can be combined.
- Open your device settings. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings. On Android, open Settings; the label may differ by manufacturer. On a Windows PC, open Start, then Settings. On a Mac, open the Apple menu and choose System Settings. If you cannot find the relevant option, search Settings for “notifications” or “Do Not Disturb.”
- Open notification controls. On iPhone or iPad, tap Notifications. On Android, look for Notifications, Apps, or Notifications & status bar. On Windows, select System, then Notifications. On Mac, choose Notifications from the System Settings sidebar. Menu names and locations can change between software versions.
- Turn off alerts for an individual app. Find the app in the notification list and open its controls. Turn off Allow Notifications, the app’s notification switch, or the equivalent option. On some Android devices, open App notifications and select the app first. Repeat for other apps you want to silence. This is the clearest option when you want to keep alerts from other apps.
- Choose what to silence, if you do not want to disable everything. Many devices let you turn off only sounds, lock-screen alerts, banners, badges, or notification previews. Adjust the categories you do not want rather than switching off all notifications. Android may offer separate notification categories within an app; changing a category can leave the app’s other alerts enabled.
- Use a quiet mode for a set period. Open Control Center on an Apple device, Quick Settings on many Android devices, or the quick settings panel on a computer. Select Focus, Do Not Disturb, or the equivalent. Choose a duration or schedule if offered. Review allowed people and apps, since favorites, repeat callers, alarms, or selected apps may still get through.
- Confirm schedules and exceptions. In Focus or Do Not Disturb settings, check automatic schedules, bedtime settings, and rules that turn the mode on during events or work hours. Remove or adjust any schedule that would keep silencing alerts when you do not expect it. Also check whether calls, alarms, emergency alerts, or time-sensitive notifications have separate controls.
- Test the result. Lock the device or switch to another window, then trigger a harmless notification or ask someone to send a test message. Confirm that the alert behavior matches what you chose. If you used a temporary mode, check how and when it will turn off.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming silent mode disables notifications. Silent mode commonly mutes sounds but may still show banners, badges, or lock-screen alerts. Adjust notification settings or use Focus if you want fewer visual interruptions.
- Turning off all alerts when only one app is the problem. This can hide useful reminders or messages. Disable the specific app or notification category instead.
- Forgetting that Focus modes can allow exceptions. A person, app, repeat call, or alarm may still alert you. Review the allowed list if something gets through.
- Leaving Do Not Disturb on or scheduled. A mode can remain active until you switch it off, or reactivate automatically. Check both its current status and its schedules.
- Expecting missed notifications to disappear. Turning off alerts usually stops future interruptions but does not necessarily remove notifications already delivered or prevent an app from updating its inbox.
Tips
- Start by muting one noisy app and see whether that solves the problem before changing system-wide settings.
- For sleep or focused work, use a scheduled Focus or Do Not Disturb mode, and allow essential alarms or contacts if you need them.
- Turn off previews on a shared or visible screen if privacy is the concern; you may be able to keep the alert while hiding its contents.
- On Android, check app-specific categories if you want to silence promotions but keep direct messages, or vice versa.
- Make a note of what you changed if you are adjusting several apps. It is easier to restore the settings later.
Troubleshooting
Notifications still appear: Check that you changed the correct app and device profile, and confirm that the app’s main notification switch is off. If alerts appear on a watch, tablet, or another computer, change settings on that device too; notification settings do not always sync across devices.
There is no Notifications option: Search Settings for the app name or “notifications.” On some Android devices, open Apps, select the app, then choose Notifications. On a computer, check the operating system’s notification controls as well as the app’s own preferences.
Some alerts still make a sound: Check Focus exceptions, app categories, alarms, emergency alerts, and calling settings. Some alerts are controlled separately from ordinary app notifications, and availability varies by device and region.
The setting keeps changing back: Look for an automation, schedule, work or school management profile, parental control, or app-specific rule. A managed device may restrict changes; contact its administrator if the control is unavailable.
You turned off something important: Return to the same app’s notification page and switch alerts back on. If you cannot remember which option changed, restore that app’s notification defaults if your device offers that option, then adjust only the unwanted alert types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications for just one app?
Yes. Open notification settings, select the app, and disable its alerts or the specific categories you do not want.
Will turning notifications off delete messages?
Usually not. It generally stops alerts from appearing or making a sound; messages and other content may still arrive inside the app.
Is Do Not Disturb the same as turning notifications off?
No. Do Not Disturb usually silences or limits alerts temporarily and may permit exceptions. Turning off an app’s notifications is generally a more lasting change for that app.
Can I still receive calls with notifications off?
It depends on your call and Focus settings. Check allowed callers and repeat-call rules, and test your settings. Emergency calls and alerts may be handled separately.
How do I turn notifications back on?
Return to the app’s notification settings and enable its alert switch, or switch off Do Not Disturb or Focus. Check schedules if the quiet mode comes back automatically.
Why do I still see a badge after disabling alerts?
Badges may have a separate control, and an existing badge may remain until you open or clear the app. Revisit that app’s settings and turn off badges if available.