Where to find notification settings on your device

The fastest way to turn off notifications is through your device's main settings, not through individual apps. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and you will see a list of every app that sends alerts. On Android, the path is Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications. On Windows, Settings > System > Notifications & Actions shows what is sending you alerts. On Mac, System Settings > Notifications lists every app.

Once you are in that central location, you can turn off notifications for entire apps at once, or drill down to control specific types of alerts from the same app. For example, you might allow Gmail to send you notifications about important emails but silence promotional messages. This approach is faster than hunting through each app's own settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Most devices have a single notifications control panel where you can silence apps in bulk — iPhone and Android in Settings, Windows and Mac in System Settings.
  • You can turn off all notifications from an app, or keep some types (like messages) while silencing others (like promotional alerts).
  • Do Not Disturb mode silences everything except calls from people you choose, and you can schedule it to turn on automatically at bedtime or during work hours.
  • Turning off badge numbers and sound separately from visual alerts gives you fine control over how intrusive notifications feel.
  • Some apps hide notification controls in their own settings rather than the device settings, so check both places if an app keeps alerting you.

Turning off notifications for one app at a time

If you want to keep notifications from most apps but silence one that is particularly noisy, find it in your device's notification settings and toggle it off. On iPhone, tap the app name and switch off "Allow Notifications". On Android, tap the app name and toggle off "Show Notifications". The app will continue to work normally — you just will not see alerts.

Many apps send multiple types of notifications, and you can control each type separately. In the notification settings for that app, you might see options like "Messages", "Reminders", "Promotions", or "Updates". Turn off only the categories you do not want. This way you can keep urgent alerts from a work app while silencing its daily digest emails.

Using Do Not Disturb to silence everything temporarily

Do Not Disturb mode stops all notifications except from people you choose. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and tap the Do Not Disturb icon (a circle with a line through it). On Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings and tap "Do Not Disturb". On Windows, click the notification icon in the taskbar and select "Focus information". On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top right and select "Focus".

You can set Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically at specific times. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and tap "Scheduled". On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. This is useful if you want notifications silenced during sleep hours or work meetings without having to remember to turn it on manually. You can also create a custom focus that allows calls only from your family or boss while blocking everything else.

Controlling notification sounds and badges separately

You do not have to choose between seeing all notifications and hearing none. Most devices let you turn off sound while keeping visual alerts, or hide the numbered badges on app icons while keeping sounds. On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications, tap an app, and toggle off "Sounds" while leaving "Allow Notifications" on. You will still see alerts on your lock screen and in the notification center, but your phone will stay silent.

Badge numbers (the red circles with numbers on app icons) can be distracting even if you do not hear sounds. On iPhone, in that same app's notification settings, toggle off "Badges". On Android, long-press the app icon, tap "App Notifications", and toggle off "Badge". This removes the visual reminder that something is waiting, which many people find reduces the urge to check their phone constantly.

Checking app-specific notification settings

Some apps hide additional notification controls inside their own settings rather than in your device's notification panel. If you turn off notifications for an app in your device settings but it still alerts you, the app itself may have a separate on switch. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon), and search for "Notifications" or "Alerts".

Social media apps and messaging platforms are common culprits — they often have their own notification toggles that override your device settings. For example, Facebook has notification controls both in your phone's settings and inside the Facebook app itself. If you silence it in one place but not the other, you will still get alerts. Check both locations to make sure they match what you actually want.

Silencing notifications on your computer

Windows and Mac both have notification centers that work similarly to phones. On Windows 11, right-click the notification icon in the taskbar and select "Notification settings". You will see a list of apps and toggles to turn each one off. On Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications and do the same. You can also set Focus modes on Mac (similar to Do Not Disturb on iPhone) to silence everything except specific contacts during work or sleep.

If you use email, your email client probably sends its own notifications separate from your operating system. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options and uncheck "Display a notification message when new mail arrives". In Gmail on the web, click the gear icon, go to Settings > Labels, find the label you want to silence, and uncheck "Show notifications".

Stopping notifications from websites and browsers

Websites can ask permission to send you notifications through your browser, and many people accidentally allow this without realizing what they agreed to. To see which websites have permission, open your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications. You will see a list of websites that can alert you.

Click the three dots or menu icon next to each website and select "Remove" or "Block" to stop those notifications. You can also change the default setting so websites cannot ask for permission in the first place. In Chrome, under Notifications, change the default behavior to "Block". This prevents new websites from requesting notification access without your explicit choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications prevent me from seeing important messages?

No — messages will still arrive and stay in the app. You just will not be alerted when they come in. You can still check the app manually whenever you want. If you need to stay reachable for urgent contacts, use Do Not Disturb with exceptions for specific people instead of turning off all notifications.

Can I turn off notifications for just one contact in a messaging app?

Most messaging apps let you mute individual conversations. In iMessage, swipe left on a conversation and tap "Mute". In WhatsApp, long-press a chat, tap the three dots, and select "Mute Notifications". The conversation stays in your inbox but will not alert you. You can unmute it anytime.

What is the difference between turning off notifications and turning off an app?

Turning off notifications silences alerts but the app still works normally and can run in the background. Turning off an app (or uninstalling it) removes it entirely. If you want an app to work but stay quiet, turn off notifications. If you do not want to use the app at all, uninstall it.

Why do some apps keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?

The app likely has its own notification settings separate from your device settings. Open the app, find its Settings or Preferences menu, and look for a Notifications section. Turn off notifications there as well. Some apps also send notifications through email or SMS, which you may need to disable separately.

Can I schedule notifications to turn back on at a certain time?

Yes, through Do Not Disturb or Focus modes. On iPhone, set a schedule in Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set times. Your notifications will automatically resume when the scheduled time ends. You can also create multiple Focus modes for different times of day.