Where Google notifications come from and why you have so many
Google sends notifications from several places at once: Gmail alerts, Google Calendar reminders, Google Drive comments, Google Photos suggestions, Chrome browser alerts, and Google Search notifications if you have a Google account. Each one has its own on-off switch, and they are not all in the same place. That is why turning them off feels scattered — you are actually visiting three or four different settings pages.
The notifications pile up because Google turns most of them on by default when you create an account or install an app. You did not choose to receive them; they arrived as the standard setting. The good news is that you can disable each type individually, or turn off Google notifications entirely if you want to start fresh.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Photos, and Chrome each have separate notification settings in different locations.
- On your phone, you can turn off all Google app notifications at once through your device settings, or disable them one app at a time.
- On your computer, notification settings live inside each Google service — Gmail settings, Calendar settings, Drive settings — not in one central place.
- Browser notifications from Google Search and other websites require a separate step in your Chrome settings.
- Turning off notifications does not delete your data or close your account; it only stops the alerts from appearing.
Disable Google notifications on Android phones
On an Android phone, you have two routes: turn off notifications for all Google apps at once, or silence individual apps. The fastest way is to go to Settings on your phone, then tap Apps or process Manager (the name varies by phone brand). Scroll down and find Google or Google Play Services. Tap it, then tap Notifications. Toggle off Allow notifications.
If you want to keep some Google notifications but silence others, go back to Settings and tap Apps. Find each Google app individually — Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Photos, Chrome. Tap each one, then tap Notifications, and toggle off Allow notifications. You can also tap Notification categories inside each app to turn off specific types of alerts while keeping others on — for example, keeping Calendar reminders but silencing promotional messages.
Disable Google notifications on iPhones and iPads
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings and scroll down to find each Google app. Tap Gmail, then tap Notifications. Toggle off Allow Notifications. Repeat this step for Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Photos, and Chrome.
If you want finer control, tap the app name in Settings, then tap Notifications. You will see options like Sounds, Badges, and Banner Style. You can turn off sounds while keeping visual badges, or turn off all notifications except for alerts marked as critical. This approach takes longer but gives you more choices about which notifications matter to you.
Turn off Gmail and Google Calendar notifications on a computer
Open Gmail in your web browser and click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner. Select See all settings, then click the Notifications tab. Under Desktop Notifications, select Off. Scroll down and click Save Changes.
For Google Calendar, go to calendar.google.com and click the Settings gear icon. Click Settings again. On the left side, click the calendar name you want to change. Scroll down to Notifications and click the X next to each notification type you want to remove. You can delete all of them or keep only the ones you want. Click Save when you are done.
Stop Google Drive and Google Photos notifications
For Google Drive, go to drive.google.com and click the Settings gear icon in the top right. Click Settings. On the left side, click Notifications. Uncheck the boxes next to the notification types you want to turn off — usually Shared drive activity, Comments on your files, and Suggestions. Click Save.
For Google Photos, go to photos.google.com and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Click Settings. Click Notifications. Toggle off Suggestions, Shared library activity, or any other notification type listed. The changes save automatically.
Disable Chrome browser notifications
Chrome notifications come from websites you visit, not from Google itself, but you can control them through Chrome settings. Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Site settings. Click Notifications.
You will see two sections: Allowed and Blocked. Any website in the Allowed section can send you notifications. Click the three dots next to a website name and select Remove to block its notifications. If you want to block all website notifications, scroll to the top and toggle off Sites can ask to send notifications. This prevents any new website from asking permission to send alerts.
Turn off Google Search notifications
Google Search can send notifications about topics you follow or search for frequently. Open Google Search in your browser and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Click Manage your Google Account. Click the Notifications tab. Under Google Search, toggle off Web & App Activity notifications or Alerts, depending on what you see. The exact option name varies based on your account settings.
If you do not see a Notifications tab, click Data & Privacy instead. Scroll down to Your data & privacy controls and click Web & App Activity. Toggle off Web & App Activity to stop Google from tracking and notifying you about your searches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications delete my emails or calendar events?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts from appearing on your screen. Your emails, calendar events, files, and photos remain in your account exactly as they were. You can turn notifications back on at any time without losing anything.
Can I turn off notifications for one Google app but keep them for another?
Yes. Each Google app has its own notification settings. You can disable Gmail notifications while keeping Calendar reminders on, or turn off Photos suggestions while keeping Drive comments. Go to each app's settings separately to choose which ones you want to hear from.
Why do I still get notifications after turning them off?
You may have turned off notifications in one place but not another. Gmail notifications can come from the Gmail app, the Gmail website, and Chrome browser notifications all at once. Check all three locations. Also check your phone or computer's main notification settings — if notifications are blocked at the device level, the app setting does not matter.
How do I stop Google from asking permission to send notifications?
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Toggle off Sites can ask to send notifications. On your phone, go to Settings > Apps and find each Google app. Tap Permissions and toggle off Notifications. This prevents apps from asking for permission in the first place.
What if I want notifications back later?
Go back to the same settings page where you turned them off and toggle them back on. For Gmail, that is Settings > Notifications > Desktop Notifications > On. For your phone, go to Settings > Apps > the app name > Notifications and toggle Allow Notifications back on. Your previous notification preferences will still be there.