Where to find push notifications and why you'd want them
Push notifications are messages that apps send you even when you're not using them — they appear as popups, badges on app icons, or alerts on your lock screen. To receive them, you have to turn them on in your device settings, then turn them on again inside each individual app. Most devices block notifications by default, so nothing reaches you unless you explicitly allow it.
You might want push notifications for things that matter to you in real time: text messages from people you know, package delivery updates, calendar reminders before a meeting, or news alerts from a source you trust. The catch is that turning them on for one app doesn't turn them on for all apps — you control each one separately, which is actually useful because it means you can allow notifications from your banking app but block them from a game.
The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. The principle is the same everywhere: you grant permission at the system level first, then configure what each app is allowed to send you.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications require two separate steps: allowing them in your device settings, then allowing them inside each app that wants to send them.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app you want to hear from, then toggle on "Allow Notifications".
- On Android, open Settings > Apps > Notifications, find the app, and toggle on "Allow notifications".
- On Windows and Mac, notifications are usually on by default, but you can control them app-by-app in system settings.
- You can turn notifications on for some apps and off for others — there is no all-or-nothing choice.
How to enable notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app on your phone that has ever asked for permission to send you notifications. Find the app you want to hear from and tap its name.
Toggle on Allow Notifications at the top of the screen. Once that is on, you can choose how the notifications appear: as a banner at the top of your screen, as a list in your notification center, or silently (the app sends them but you only see them if you swipe down from the top). You can also choose whether notifications show a number badge on the app icon, whether they make a sound, and whether they vibrate your phone.
If an app is not in your Notifications list, it either has never asked for permission or you already denied it. To fix that, open the app itself and look for a settings or preferences menu — most apps will ask again if you tap something like "Turn on notifications" or "Enable alerts". If the app still does not appear in Settings > Notifications after you say yes, restart your phone and try again.
How to enable notifications on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps or process Manager (the exact name varies by phone brand). Find the app you want notifications from and tap it. Look for Notifications and tap that section.
Toggle on Allow notifications. Depending on your phone, you may then see options to choose the notification style (banner, popup, or silent), whether it shows a badge, and whether it makes a sound. Some Android phones also let you set a notification priority — high priority notifications interrupt what you are doing, while low priority ones appear only in your notification center.
If you cannot find the app in your Settings, open the app directly and look for a menu option like "Notifications", "Alerts", or "Preferences". Tap the option to turn notifications on, and your phone should ask you to confirm in a popup. After you confirm, the app will appear in your Settings > Notifications list.
How to enable notifications on Windows
Open Settings and go to System > Notifications. You will see a toggle for Notifications at the top — make sure it is on. Below that, you will see a list of apps that have sent you notifications before.
Find the app you want to hear from and toggle it on. You can also choose whether that app's notifications show a banner, play a sound, or appear silently in your notification center. If the app is not in the list, open the app and look for a settings menu — most Windows apps will ask for permission the first time they want to send you a notification, and you can say yes at that point.
Windows also lets you turn off notifications during certain hours (like when you are sleeping or in a meeting). In the same Notifications settings, look for Focus information and set it to turn on automatically at times you choose.
How to enable notifications on Mac
Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings > Notifications. You will see a list of every app on your Mac that can send notifications. Find the app you want to hear from and click it.
Make sure Allow notifications is checked. You can then choose whether notifications appear as a banner (they disappear after a few seconds) or as an alert (they stay until you close them). You can also turn on a sound, a badge on the app icon, or a red dot next to the app name in the dock.
If the app is not in the list, open the app and look for preferences or settings — most Mac apps will ask for permission the first time they want to send you a notification. Click "Allow" when the popup appears, and the app will be added to your Notifications list.
What to do if notifications are not showing up
If you turned on notifications but are not receiving them, check three things. First, make sure you turned them on in both places: in your device settings and inside the app itself. Second, check whether the app is allowed to send notifications when your phone is locked or your screen is off — some apps only notify you when you are actively using them. Third, check your device's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode settings, which can block notifications even if they are turned on.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and make sure the focus modes you use (like "Sleep" or "Work") are not blocking notifications from the app you care about. On Android, check Settings > Do Not Disturb. On Windows, check Settings > System > Focus information. On Mac, check System Settings > Focus.
If notifications still do not appear, try restarting your device. If that does not work, uninstall and reinstall the app — sometimes the permission gets stuck and a fresh install fixes it.
How to manage notification sounds and badges
Once notifications are on, you can control how loud or visible they are without turning them off entirely. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [App name] and scroll down to see options for sound, vibration, and badge icon. You can choose a specific sound, turn off sound entirely, or set the notification to vibrate only.
On Android, open Settings > Apps > [App name] > Notifications and look for options like "Sound" and "Vibration". You can usually choose from a list of sounds or turn sound off. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications and find the app, then toggle "Show notification banner" or "Play a sound" on or off. On Mac, click System Settings > Notifications > [App name] and choose whether to show alerts or banners, and whether to play a sound.
Badges are the small numbers that appear on app icons to show you have unread messages or alerts. You can usually turn these off separately from the notifications themselves — on iPhone, toggle off "Badge App Icon" for that app; on Android, look for "Show notification badge" in the app's notification settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn on notifications for just one contact or sender?
It depends on the app. Messages and Mail apps usually let you set notifications per contact or sender — open the app, find the conversation, and look for a menu option like "Notifications" or "Alert settings". Most other apps send notifications from the app as a whole, not from individual people or sources.
What if an app keeps asking for notification permission?
If an app repeatedly asks even after you said no, it is trying to get you to change your mind. You can ignore it. If you change your mind later, you can always go to Settings and turn it on yourself — you do not have to wait for the app to ask again.
Do push notifications use data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per message. They have almost no effect on battery life. The main cost is that your device has to stay connected to the internet to receive them, but it does that anyway for other reasons.
Can I schedule notifications to come through only at certain times?
You cannot schedule individual apps, but you can use Do Not Disturb (iPhone), Focus modes (iPhone), Focus information (Windows), or Focus (Mac) to block all notifications during certain hours. Android has a "Quiet hours" feature in some versions. These tools let you set times when only important notifications come through.
What is the difference between a banner and an alert?
A banner appears at the top of your screen for a few seconds and then disappears. An alert stays on your screen until you close it. Banners are less intrusive; alerts make sure you see the notification. Most apps let you choose which style you prefer in their notification settings.