Badges are the small red circles with numbers or symbols that appear on your app icons
A badge on your iPhone is a small red circle, usually with a white number or symbol inside it, that sits in the corner of an app icon on your home screen or in your app library. The number tells you how many unread or pending items are waiting for you in that app — unread emails, text messages, friend requests, software updates, or notifications of any kind.
The badge system is Apple's way of letting you know something needs your attention without you having to open the app. A badge with the number 5 on your Mail app means you have five unread emails. A badge with just a dot (no number) on your Messages app means you have at least one unread text. Some apps use badges to show you updates available, reminders pending, or items waiting for action.
Key Takeaways
- Badges are small red circles with numbers or symbols that appear on app icons to show unread messages, updates, or pending actions.
- Each app controls its own badge — your Mail app badge counts unread emails, while your Messages badge counts unread texts.
- You can turn badges off entirely for any app, or turn them on for apps that currently don't show them.
- A badge with just a dot instead of a number means the app has something waiting but the count is not important.
How badges work on different apps
Different apps use badges in different ways, depending on what the app does. Your Mail app shows a badge with the number of unread emails across all your inboxes. Your Messages app shows a badge for unread text messages and iMessages. Your Calendar app might show a badge if you have upcoming events or reminders you have not dismissed. Your App Store shows a badge when software updates are waiting to be installed.
Some apps let you choose what triggers a badge. For example, you might set your email to show badges only for important senders, not for every message. Other apps, like reminders or to-do apps, show badges based on tasks you have not completed. The badge is always the app's way of saying "there is something here you have not dealt with yet."
How to turn badges on or off
You control badges through your iPhone settings. Go to Settings, then Notifications, then find the app you want to change. Look for the option labeled "Badge App Icon" or just "Badges." Toggle it on to see badges for that app, or toggle it off to hide them. You can do this for every app individually.
If you turn badges off for an app, the red circle will disappear from that app's icon, but the app itself will still work normally — you just will not see the notification count. If you turn badges on for an app that currently does not show them, badges will start appearing once the app has something to notify you about. You can change these settings at any time.
Why you might want to turn badges off
Some people find badges distracting or stressful, especially if an app shows a high number that keeps growing. For example, if your email badge shows 200 unread messages and you never plan to read them all, the constant reminder can feel overwhelming. Turning off badges for that app removes the visual pressure without affecting how the app works.
Other people turn off badges for apps they check regularly anyway, like Messages or Maps, because they do not need the extra reminder. You might keep badges on for apps you use less often, like your banking app or a calendar, so you remember to check them. The choice is entirely yours based on what helps you stay organized without adding stress.
The difference between badges and notifications
A badge is just the number or symbol on the app icon itself. A notification is the alert that pops up on your screen or appears in your notification center to tell you something happened. You can have notifications turned on but badges turned off, or vice versa. For example, you might want your phone to alert you with a sound and banner when a text arrives, but not show a badge on the Messages icon.
Notifications are more intrusive — they interrupt what you are doing with a sound, vibration, or pop-up. Badges are quieter — they sit on your home screen waiting for you to notice them. Some people prefer one over the other, and your iPhone lets you choose which combination works best for each app.
Common places badges appear
Badges show up on your home screen on the app icons themselves, but they also appear in other places. If you use the App Library (the rightmost screen on your home screen), badges appear on folder icons to show you have unread items in one of the apps inside. Badges also appear on the Settings app icon when your iPhone has a software update waiting, and on the App Store icon when app updates are ready.
Some apps show badges in their own interface too. For example, your Mail app might show a badge on individual mailboxes inside the app, not just on the Mail icon itself. This helps you see at a glance which mailbox has unread messages. The badge system is designed to give you information at multiple levels — from a quick glance at your home screen to a detailed view inside the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my app have a badge but I have not seen any new messages?
The app might be counting something you have not noticed yet — a notification you dismissed without reading, a reminder that appeared while you were using another app, or an update that became available. Open the app and look for what is marked as new or unread. If you still cannot find it, try closing and reopening the app, which sometimes clears old badges.
Can I remove a badge without opening the app?
Not directly. To clear a badge, you usually have to open the app and mark the items as read or complete the action the app is waiting for. Some apps let you swipe on the notification in your notification center to clear it, which may remove the badge. The exact method depends on the app.
What does a badge with just a dot mean instead of a number?
A dot badge means the app has something waiting for you, but the app does not count the items — it just wants you to know there is something there. This is common on apps like Settings or Find My, where the count is not as important as knowing you have something to check.
Do badges use battery or data?
Badges themselves use very little battery or data. The app still has to check for new information to know whether to show a badge, so turning badges on does not meaningfully change how much power or data your phone uses. The battery drain comes from the app checking for updates, not from displaying the badge.
Can I set a badge to show only for certain types of messages?
This depends on the app. Mail lets you set badges to show only for important senders or specific mailboxes. Most other apps show a badge for all unread items or turn it off entirely. Check the app's settings or notification settings in your iPhone Settings to see what options are available.