Where to find notification settings on each device
The path to turn off notifications depends on what device you are using. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of every app that sends you alerts. Tap any app name to see its options: you can turn notifications off entirely, or keep them but remove the sound, badge, or banner that appears on your screen.
On Android phones, the route is similar but the exact steps vary by manufacturer. Open Settings, find Apps or process Manager, select the app you want to control, then tap Notifications. From there you can disable all notifications from that app or adjust which types appear.
On Windows, right-click the notification icon in your system tray (bottom right corner), then select Notification settings. You will see a list of apps that can send alerts. Toggle off any app you do not want to hear from, or click an app name to fine-tune which types of notifications it sends.
On Mac, open System Preferences, click Notifications, then select each app in the left column. You can turn off all notifications, remove the sound, or change whether alerts appear as banners or in the Notification Center.
Key Takeaways
- Every major device — iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac — has a central notifications menu where you can turn off alerts from individual apps.
- You do not have to choose all or nothing; most devices let you keep notifications but remove the sound, badge, or pop-up that interrupts you.
- Some apps send different types of notifications (messages, reminders, promotions); you can often disable only the ones you do not want.
- Turning off notifications at the device level is faster and more reliable than hunting for a settings menu inside each app.
Turning off notifications for specific app types
Many apps send multiple kinds of notifications, and you may want to keep some while blocking others. On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications, tap the app name, and you will see options like Allow Notifications, Sounds, Badges, and Lock Screen. You can turn off Sounds but leave Badges on, for example, so you see a red number on the app icon but do not hear a chime.
On Android, the options vary by app, but most let you choose notification categories. Open Settings > Apps, select the app, tap Notifications, and look for categories like Messages, Reminders, or Promotions. You can disable Promotions while keeping Messages turned on.
On Windows, some apps let you choose notification types within the Notifications settings menu. Click an app name and look for a dropdown or checkbox list. If the app does not offer that level of control, you may need to open the app itself and look for its own notification preferences — usually found under Settings or Preferences inside the app.
Silencing notifications without turning them off completely
If you want to keep notifications but stop them from interrupting you, most devices offer a middle ground. On iPhone, you can turn off sounds and vibrations while keeping visual alerts, or you can set notifications to appear only in the Notification Center (a list you check manually) rather than as a banner that pops up on your screen.
On Android, you can lower the importance level of notifications so they appear silently in your notification drawer instead of making a sound or vibrating your phone. Open Settings > Apps > [app name] > Notifications, then look for Importance or Priority and set it to Low.
On Windows and Mac, you can turn off notification sounds while keeping the visual alert, or you can set Do Not Disturb mode to run on a schedule — for example, from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. — so notifications still arrive but do not make noise during those hours.
Managing notifications from your email and messaging apps
Email and messaging apps often send the most notifications, and they deserve their own attention. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Mail (or Messages, Slack, Gmail, or whichever app you use). You can turn off notifications entirely, or you can set them to appear only for messages from people in your Contacts or VIP list.
Most email apps also have their own notification settings inside the app itself. Open Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail, find Settings or Preferences, and look for Notifications. You can often choose whether to be alerted for every message, only for messages from certain senders, or only for flagged or starred messages.
For messaging apps like Slack, Teams, or Discord, you can usually mute entire channels or servers so you see messages when you open the app but do not get a notification. Right-click the channel name and look for Mute or Notification Preferences.
Stopping notifications from websites and browsers
Websites can ask your browser for permission to send notifications, and many people accidentally allow this without realizing it. To see which websites have permission, open your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications. You will see a list of websites that can send alerts. Click the three dots next to any site and select Remove to revoke permission.
In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click Settings next to Notifications. You will see the same list. Select a website and click Remove.
In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications. Select a website in the list and change the dropdown from Allow to Deny.
If a website asks for notification permission while you are browsing, you can click Block instead of Allow. Most browsers will not ask again if you block, but if they do, look for a small icon in the address bar (usually a bell with a slash through it) and click it to manage that site's permissions.
Disabling notifications for system updates and security alerts
Your device sends notifications about software updates, security warnings, and system maintenance. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and scroll down to see which system notifications are turned on. You can turn off notifications for app suggestions, tips, and recommendations, but you should leave security and update notifications enabled so you know when your device needs attention.
On Mac, go to System Preferences > Notifications and look for System Notifications at the bottom of the app list. You can adjust how these appear, but Apple recommends keeping them on for security updates.
On iPhone and Android, system notifications (like low battery or storage full) cannot be turned off entirely, but you can silence them by enabling Do Not Disturb mode during specific hours.
Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes to pause all notifications
When you need uninterrupted time, Do Not Disturb (on iPhone and Android) or Focus (on newer iPhones) lets you pause notifications from all apps at once without turning them off permanently. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, then tap the moon icon to enable Do Not Disturb. Notifications will still arrive, but your phone will not make noise or light up.
On Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings, then tap Do Not Disturb. You can set it to allow calls and messages from specific contacts while blocking everything else.
On Windows, click the notification icon in the system tray and select Focus information. Choose Alarms Only (blocks all notifications except alarms), Priority Only (allows only notifications you have marked as important), or Off (all notifications come through).
You can schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically at certain times — for example, during work hours or while you sleep — so you do not have to remember to enable it each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications prevent me from seeing messages or calls?
Turning off notifications stops the alert, but the message or call still arrives. You will see it when you open the app or check your phone, but you will not hear a sound or see a pop-up. If you want to receive calls from certain people even with notifications off, use your device's Do Not Disturb settings to allow calls from Favorites or Contacts.
Can I turn off notifications for one contact but keep them for others?
Yes, but the method depends on your app. In iPhone Messages, you can mute a conversation by swiping left on the chat and tapping the mute icon. In Gmail, you can mute a sender so their messages skip your inbox. In Slack, you can mute individual users or channels. Check your specific app's settings for conversation or contact-level controls.
What if an app does not have a notifications option in my device settings?
Open the app itself and look for Settings, Preferences, or Account Settings. Most apps have their own notification controls buried in a menu. If you still cannot find it, try searching the app's help documentation or support page for "turn off notifications" or "disable alerts."
Will I miss important alerts if I turn off notifications?
You will not miss the message or alert itself — it will still arrive and wait for you in the app. You will only miss the when ready notification that something happened. If you are worried about missing urgent messages, use Do Not Disturb to allow notifications from specific people or apps rather than turning everything off.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times automatically?
Yes. On iPhone, use Focus modes to create a custom schedule. On Android, set up Do Not Disturb rules. On Windows, use Focus information with a schedule. On Mac, you can create an automation in the Shortcuts app to enable Do Not Disturb at set times. This way you do not have to manually turn notifications off each day.