Where push notifications come from and how to stop them
Push notifications are messages that apps and websites send to your device even when you are not using them. They arrive as popups on your phone, alerts on your computer, or badges on your app icons. Unlike email or text messages that sit in an inbox until you check them, push notifications interrupt what you are doing right now.
You can block them at three levels: turn off notifications from a single app, block an entire category of notifications (like social media or shopping), or disable push notifications system-wide. Most people need a mix — keeping notifications from work email or messaging apps but silencing everything else.
The steps differ between iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac because each operating system handles notifications differently. The good news is that you control every notification on your device, and you can change these settings anytime without uninstalling apps.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn off "Allow Notifications" completely or choose "Quiet" or "Critical" delivery instead.
- On Android, open Settings > Apps > Notifications and toggle off the switch for any app you want to silence, or tap the app name to control specific notification types.
- On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn off notifications by app, or disable them entirely for banners, sounds, and badges.
- On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications and uncheck apps in the list, or choose "None" for delivery style to keep them silent.
- Website push notifications require you to say no when the browser first asks for permission, or to revoke permission in your browser settings afterward.
Blocking notifications on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has ever sent you a notification. Tap any app name to see its notification settings.
To block all notifications from that app, tap "Allow Notifications" to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray and the app will never send you a notification again. If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, keep "Allow Notifications" on and scroll down to see more options. You can turn off sounds, badges (the red number on the app icon), or banners (the alerts that pop up at the top of your screen).
For apps you use regularly but find distracting, choose a delivery style instead of blocking them entirely. Tap "Delivery" and select "Quiet" — notifications will still arrive but silently, and you can check them when you open the app. Select "Critical" only for apps like health alerts or security warnings that genuinely need your when ready attention.
Blocking notifications on Android
Open Settings and tap Apps or process Manager (the name varies by phone brand). Scroll to find the app you want to silence and tap it. Look for "Notifications" or "App Notifications" and tap that option.
Toggle off "Show Notifications" to block all notifications from that app. If you want finer control, keep notifications on but turn off "Sound" or "Vibration" individually. Some apps let you silence specific notification channels — for example, you might allow notifications from a messaging app's direct messages but block group chat notifications. Tap "Notifications" again and look for channel names to control them separately.
If you cannot find the Notifications option in an app's settings, go back to the main Settings menu and search for "Notifications" or "App Notifications" directly. This opens a master list where you can toggle every app on or off without opening each one individually.
Blocking notifications on Windows
Open Settings and go to System > Notifications. You will see a list of every app that sends notifications. Toggle off the switch next to any app name to silence it completely.
At the top of the Notifications page, you can also turn off notifications globally by toggling "Notifications" itself. This stops all notifications from all apps, though you can still turn individual apps back on below. You can also toggle off "Banners" (the popups that appear), "Sounds" (the audio alerts), or "Badges" (the numbers on app icons) separately, so you can keep some notification types while blocking others.
If an app is not listed, it may not support Windows notifications. Some older programs or web-based tools do not use the notification system at all.
Blocking notifications on Mac
Open System Settings and click Notifications in the sidebar. You will see a list of apps on the left. Click any app name to see its notification settings on the right.
To block all notifications from an app, uncheck the box next to its name. To keep notifications but change how they arrive, click the app name and change the "Notification Style" dropdown. Choose "None" to silence it completely, "Banners" to show a popup that disappears after a few seconds, or "Alerts" to show a popup that stays until you dismiss it. You can also toggle off "Sound" or "Badge" individually below.
For apps you use frequently, you can also set a "Focus" mode that silences notifications during certain times or when you are doing specific activities. Go to Focus in System Settings and create a custom focus that allows notifications only from apps you choose.
Blocking website push notifications in your browser
Websites ask for permission to send push notifications the first time you visit them. A popup appears asking "Allow" or "Block" — tap or click "Block" and that website will never ask again.
If you already said yes to a website and now want to revoke that permission, the steps differ by browser. In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar, then click "Notifications" and change it to "Block". In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to "Permissions", click "Settings" next to Notifications, find the website in the list, and click "Remove". In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications and find the site in the list, then choose "Deny".
Some websites will ask again after you block them, especially if you clear your browser history. If a site keeps asking, you can block it permanently in your browser settings rather than waiting for the popup.
Controlling notifications by time and focus mode
Instead of blocking notifications entirely, you can silence them during specific times. On iPhone, use Focus modes — go to Settings > Focus and create a custom focus for work, sleep, or driving. Choose which apps can notify you during that focus, and set a schedule so the focus turns on automatically.
On Android, use Do Not Disturb mode — go to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. You can allow notifications from specific contacts or apps even when Do Not Disturb is on.
On Windows, use Focus information — go to Settings > System > Focus information and choose when it turns on. You can set it to turn on automatically at certain times or when you are using full-screen apps.
On Mac, use Focus modes the same way as iPhone — go to System Settings > Focus and create a custom focus with a schedule.
What happens when you block notifications
Blocking a notification does not uninstall the app or stop it from working. The app continues to run normally; it just cannot send you alerts. You can still open the app and see any messages or updates inside it.
Some apps show a badge (a red number) on their icon even when notifications are off. If you find this distracting, turn off "Badges" in the app's notification settings. This removes the red number but does not affect the app's function.
If you block notifications from an important app by mistake, you can turn them back on anytime by going back to your notification settings and toggling the app back on. There is no penalty for changing your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block notifications from one contact but allow them from others in the same app?
On iPhone, some apps like Messages let you customize notifications per contact. Open the conversation, tap the contact name at the top, scroll down, and toggle "Hide Alerts" on or off. On Android, this depends on the app — open the app's settings and look for options to mute specific conversations or contacts. Not all apps support this level of control.
Why do I still see notifications after I turned them off?
Some notifications come from your phone's system, not from apps. On iPhone, check Settings > Notifications > Siri Suggestions and turn off any system notifications you do not want. On Android, check Settings > Apps > Notifications and look for system apps like "System" or "Android System". You can also check your browser settings if notifications are coming from websites.
Will blocking notifications stop me from getting important messages?
Blocking notifications only stops alerts — messages still arrive in the app. You can open the app anytime and see them. If you need to know about urgent messages, keep notifications on for that app but turn off sounds and badges so it is less disruptive. You can also use Focus modes to allow notifications from specific people during work hours.
Can I block notifications from ads or sponsored content?
Blocking the app itself stops all its notifications, including ads. If you want to keep using the app but silence its promotional notifications, look in the app's own settings for a "Marketing" or "Promotional" section and turn that off. Some apps do not offer this option, so blocking notifications from the app entirely may be your only choice.
Do I need to do this on every device I own?
Yes. Notification settings are stored on each device separately. If you have an iPhone and a Mac, you need to adjust notifications on both. The same applies if you use multiple computers or tablets. Some apps sync settings across devices, but notifications usually do not.