Badges are the small numbers, dots, or labels that appear on your app icons to grab your attention
A badge is a small visual marker — usually a red circle with a number, a colored dot, or a label — that sits on top of an app icon on your phone or computer. Its job is to tell you something needs your attention without you having to open the app to find out what. The badge stays visible until you address what it's marking, then it disappears.
The most common badge is a red circle with a number in it. That number tells you how many unread messages, notifications, or items are waiting for you. If your email app shows a badge with "5" on it, you have five unread emails. If your messaging app shows "12", you have twelve unread messages. Some apps use a plain red dot instead of a number — that just means something new is there, without counting how many things.
Badges exist because app makers know you won't open every app constantly to check for updates. The badge is a shortcut: it lets you see at a glance which apps have something waiting, and how urgent it might be based on the number.
Key Takeaways
- A badge is a small number, dot, or label on an app icon that shows you have unread messages, notifications, or updates waiting inside.
- Red badges with numbers are the most common type, and the number tells you exactly how many unread items you have.
- A plain dot or colored badge without a number just signals that something new exists, without telling you how many.
- You can usually turn badges on or off in your phone's settings or in individual app settings if you find them distracting.
How badges work on different devices
On iPhones and iPads, badges appear in the top-right corner of the app icon. They're almost always red circles with white numbers inside. If you have three unread texts, you'll see a red circle with "3" on your Messages icon. If you have unread emails, your Mail app will show a badge with that count. Some apps use badges for other things too — a calendar app might show a badge for upcoming events, or a fitness app might show one for daily goals.
On Android phones, badges work similarly but look slightly different depending on which phone maker you have and which version of Android it runs. Samsung phones, Google Pixels, and others all display badges, but the style and exact placement can vary. Some Android apps show badges as small dots, others as numbers, and some as colored labels. The behavior is the same: the badge tells you something in that app needs attention.
On computers, badges appear on app icons in your dock (Mac) or taskbar (Windows). A web browser might show a badge on its icon if you have unread emails in Gmail, or a messaging app might show one if you have unread chats. The principle is identical — it's a visual signal without opening the app.
What different badge styles mean
A numbered badge (like "7" in a red circle) tells you the exact count of unread items. This is most common on messaging and email apps. The number updates in real time — when you read a message, the number drops by one. When you get a new message, it goes up by one.
A dot badge (a solid colored circle with no number) means something new is there, but the app isn't counting it. You might see this on social media apps, news apps, or streaming services. The dot just says "check me," without specifying how many new things exist. Some apps use a dot because they update constantly and a number would be meaningless.
A label badge is text or a symbol instead of a number or dot. You might see "New" or an exclamation mark on an app icon. These are less common but work the same way — they're drawing your eye to something that changed.
Why apps use badges instead of notifications
Badges are quieter than notifications. A notification pops up on your screen, makes a sound, or vibrates your phone — it interrupts you. A badge just sits there on the icon, waiting for you to notice it when you look at your home screen. This makes badges useful for things that are important but not urgent, like unread emails or messages you can read later.
Badges also let you see at a glance which apps have updates without opening each one. If you have five apps with badges, you know when ready which ones need attention. Without badges, you'd have to open each app to check for new content.
Some apps use both. You might get a notification when a message arrives (the pop-up), and then a badge stays on the icon so you remember to read it later. The notification goes away after a few seconds, but the badge persists until you actually open the app and clear the unread items.
How to turn badges on or off
On iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, then select the app you want to change. Look for "Badge App Icon" and toggle it on or off. If you turn it off, that app will never show a badge, even if it has unread messages. You can do this for every app individually, so you might keep badges on for Messages and Mail but turn them off for social media apps.
On Android, the process varies by phone. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings, then Apps, then Notifications, then select the app and toggle "Show notifications" off. Some Android phones have a separate badge settings menu. If you're not sure where to find it on your phone, search "badge settings" in your phone's Settings app.
On a Mac, you can usually right-click an app icon in the dock and look for notification settings, or go to System Preferences, then Notifications, and find the app there. On Windows, right-click the app in your taskbar and look for notification or badge settings.
Many people turn off badges for apps that update constantly (like social media or news apps) but keep them on for apps where unread items matter more (like email or messages). It's entirely up to your preference.
When badges can be misleading
Some apps show badges that don't mean what you'd expect. A social media app might show a badge just because someone liked your post or commented, not because you have an unread message. A shopping app might show a badge for a sale, not for something you actually need to do. These badges are designed to pull you into the app, not to tell you about something you asked for.
If a badge number stays high even after you've read everything, the app might not be clearing badges correctly. This is a bug in the app, not something you did wrong. Restarting the app or restarting your phone usually fixes it. If it keeps happening, you might consider turning that app's badges off.
Some apps use badges aggressively to encourage you to open them more often. If you find badges stressful or distracting, you have full control — you can turn them off for any app or all apps. There's no penalty for doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my app badge show a number that doesn't match how many unread messages I have?
The app might be counting things you don't consider "unread" — like notifications, likes, or comments — in addition to direct messages. Some apps also have bugs where the badge doesn't update correctly. Try closing and reopening the app, or restarting your phone. If it persists, check the app's notification settings to see what it's counting.
Can I turn off badges for just one app?
Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, select the app, and toggle off "Badge App Icon." On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications, select the app, and turn off notifications or badges. You can do this for each app individually, so you can keep badges on for some apps and off for others.
What's the difference between a badge and a notification?
A notification is a pop-up, sound, or vibration that interrupts you when ready. A badge is a small marker on an app icon that stays there until you address it. You can have both — a notification alerts you right away, and a badge reminds you later when you look at your home screen.
Do badges use battery or data?
Badges themselves use almost no battery or data. They're just visual markers that update when the app checks for new content. The app's background activity — checking for messages or updates — uses the battery and data, not the badge itself.
Why do some apps not have badges even though I have unread messages?
The app maker may have chosen not to use badges, or you may have turned them off in settings. Some apps also require you to turn on notifications before badges will appear. Check the app's settings or your phone's notification settings for that app to see if badges are enabled.