Where to find notification settings on each device

Notifications live in different places depending on what device you're using. On most phones and computers, you don't turn on notifications for the whole device — you turn them on app by app, or for specific types of messages. The operating system gives you the master controls, but individual apps make their own requests.

Start by opening the Settings app on your phone or computer. On iPhone, it's the gray gear icon. On Android, it's usually a gear or wrench icon. On Windows, search for "Settings" in the taskbar. On Mac, look in System Preferences or System Settings depending on your version. Once you're in Settings, look for a section called Notifications, Alerts, or Sounds — the exact name varies.

Turning on notifications for iPhone

Open Settings, then tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app installed on your phone. Tap the app you want to hear from. Toggle on "Allow Notifications" at the top of that screen. Below that, you can choose whether you want badges (the red number circles), sounds, or banners (the pop-ups that appear at the top).

If you don't see an app in the Notifications list, it either doesn't send notifications or you've already turned them off. You can also scroll down to the bottom of the Notifications settings and look for "Siri Suggestions" — some apps appear there instead. Once you turn on notifications for an app, your phone will ask you the next time that app tries to send you something. You can say yes or no in that moment.

Turning on notifications for Android

Open Settings and look for Apps, Applications, or Notifications — the label depends on your phone maker. Tap the app you want notifications from. Look for a toggle or switch labeled "Notifications" or "Show notifications." Turn it on. Some Android phones also let you control notifications from the notification shade itself: swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full notification panel, long-press a notification from that app, and tap "Show notifications."

Android also has a "Do Not Disturb" mode that silences notifications during certain hours or when you're in meetings. You can find this in Settings under Sound or Do Not Disturb. You can set it to allow notifications from certain contacts or apps even when it's on — useful if you want to hear from family but not work emails at night.

Turning on notifications for Windows

Open Settings and go to System, then Notifications. You'll see a toggle for "Notifications" at the top — make sure it's on. Below that, you can turn notifications on or off for individual apps. Scroll down to see the full list. Each app has its own toggle. You can also choose whether you want notification sounds and whether notifications should appear on your lock screen.

Windows also has a "Focus information" mode that works like Android's Do Not Disturb. You can set it to turn on automatically at certain times or when you're in a meeting. Go to Settings, System, Focus information to set it up. You can allow notifications from specific people or apps even when Focus information is on.

Turning on notifications for Mac

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs) and click Notifications. You'll see a list of apps on the left side. Click the app you want to hear from. Toggle on "Allow notifications" at the top. Below that, you can choose the notification style — banner (appears briefly at the top right), alert (stays until you dismiss it), or none.

You can also control whether notifications show a badge on the app icon, play a sound, or show in Notification Center. Mac's Do Not Disturb equivalent is called "Focus." Click Focus in System Settings, then choose which focus mode you want to set up (Work, Personal, Sleep, etc.). For each one, you can decide which apps and contacts are allowed to send you notifications.

What to do if an app won't send notifications even after you turn them on

Sometimes you'll turn on notifications in Settings but still won't hear from an app. First, check that the app itself hasn't turned off notifications in its own settings. Open the app and look for Settings or Preferences — usually a gear icon or menu button. Search for Notifications or Alerts within that app. Some apps let you turn notifications on in the operating system but off in the app itself.

Second, check whether your phone or computer is in a silent or Do Not Disturb mode. On iPhone, look at the physical mute switch on the side of the phone — if it's in the down position, notifications will be silent. On Android, check whether you're in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode. On Windows and Mac, check your Focus information or Focus settings. Third, make sure the app has permission to send notifications. Go back to the app's entry in your operating system's notification settings and look for a "Permissions" section — notifications should be allowed there.

Key Takeaways

  • Notifications are controlled app by app in your device's Settings, not turned on for your whole phone or computer at once.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn on badges, sounds, or banners.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps and toggle "Notifications" on for each app you want to hear from.
  • Windows and Mac both have Do Not Disturb equivalents (Focus information and Focus) that let you silence notifications during certain hours while allowing specific people or apps through.
  • If an app won't send notifications, check the app's own settings, whether your device is in silent mode, and whether the app has permission to send notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on notifications for just one contact?

Not directly through notification settings, but most messaging apps let you customize alerts for individual conversations. Open the conversation, tap the contact's name at the top, and look for notification settings. You can usually turn sounds on or off just for that person. For calls, your phone's built-in contacts app lets you mark someone as a favorite, and you can set a special ringtone for favorites.

Why do I see notifications on my lock screen but not hear them?

Your phone is probably in silent mode or Do Not Disturb mode. On iPhone, check the physical mute switch on the side. On Android, swipe down twice and look for Do Not Disturb. You can also go into notification settings for that specific app and make sure sounds are turned on. Some apps let you choose different sounds for different types of messages.

Can I turn on notifications for an app that doesn't have them yet?

No — if an app doesn't send notifications, the operating system can't force it to. You can only turn on notifications for apps that are designed to send them. If you want to hear from an app that doesn't have notifications, check the app's settings to see if there's a feature you haven't found yet, or look for an update that might add notifications.

What's the difference between a badge, a banner, and a sound?

A badge is the red number circle that appears on the app icon. A banner is the pop-up that appears at the top of your screen for a few seconds. A sound is the noise your phone makes. You can turn any of these on or off independently for each app, so you could have a sound and a banner but no badge, or just a badge with no sound.