Where to find notification settings on each device
Notification controls live in different places depending on what you use. On Windows 11, open Settings, go to System, then Notifications. On macOS, open System Settings, click Notifications, and you'll see a list of every app that sends them. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, and tap any app to change what it sends. On Android, open Settings, tap Apps or Applications, select an app, then tap Notifications.
The fastest way is often to turn off notifications right from the notification itself. On Windows and Mac, right-click or click the X on a notification as it appears. On iPhone, swipe left on a notification and tap the trash icon. On Android, long-press a notification and tap Turn Off. This disables that app's notifications when ready without opening settings.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable all notifications from a single app, or turn off only certain types like sounds or badges while keeping others.
- Windows and Mac let you silence notifications during specific hours; iPhone and Android have Focus modes that do the same thing.
- Turning off notifications at the app level is faster than hunting through settings, and you can undo it just as quickly.
- Some apps will still show a badge (the red number on the icon) even if you disable notifications, so you may need to turn that off separately.
Disabling notifications from one app completely
If you never want to hear from a specific app again, you can block all its notifications in one step. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Notifications, scroll down to "Notifications from apps and other senders," find the app, and toggle it off. On macOS, open System Settings > Notifications, click the app name, and uncheck "Allow notifications." On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, open Settings > Apps, find the app, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Show notifications."
After you turn off notifications, the app will continue to work normally — it just won't alert you. You can turn them back on the same way if you change your mind. Some apps may still show a red badge with a number on their icon even after notifications are off; if that bothers you, look for a "Badges" toggle in the same notification settings and turn that off too.
Turning off only certain types of notifications
You don't have to choose between all notifications or none. Most apps let you keep some alerts and silence others. On Windows 11, click an app in Settings > System > Notifications and you'll see toggles for "Sounds," "Banners," and "Priority." Turn off Sounds if you want to see the notification but not hear it; turn off Banners if you want the app to work silently in the background. On macOS, click an app in System Settings > Notifications and uncheck "Sound," "Badge," or "Banner" individually.
On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications, tap an app, and you can turn off "Sounds and Haptics" while keeping visual alerts, or turn off "Badges" (the red number) while keeping everything else. On Android, open Settings > Apps, select an app, tap Notifications, and look for toggles like "Sound" or "Vibration." This approach works well for apps you want to check on your own time but don't need interrupting you.
Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes to silence notifications by time
If you want notifications to stop during sleep, work, or dinner, use your device's built-in quiet hours. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Notifications and scroll to "Notifications do not disturb." You can set a schedule (like 10 PM to 7 AM) and choose whether to allow calls from favorites or silence everything. On macOS, open System Settings > Focus and create a new Focus mode — you can set it to set up automatically at certain times and choose which apps are allowed to notify you.
On iPhone, open Settings > Focus and tap the + button to create a new Focus (Sleep, Work, Driving, or custom). Set a schedule, choose which contacts and apps can reach you, and turn on "Share Focus Status" if you want people to know you're unavailable. On Android, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule; you can also allow calls and messages from starred contacts while blocking everything else. These modes override individual app settings, so a notification that's normally on will still be silent during your quiet hours.
Stopping notifications from websites and browsers
Websites can send notifications too, and they often ask permission the first time you visit. If you've already said yes and want to stop them, the process depends on your browser. In Chrome, click the lock icon in the address bar, find Notifications, and change it to Block. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, click Settings next to Notifications, find the website, and click Remove. In Safari on Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications and look for website names in the list; click each one and uncheck "Allow notifications."
On iPhone Safari, there's no separate notification permission — websites can't send notifications the way they do on a computer. On Android Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Site Settings > Notifications, and toggle it off to block all website notifications. If a website keeps asking for permission even after you've blocked it, that's normal; just keep clicking "Don't Allow" and it will eventually stop asking.
Handling notifications from your email and messaging apps
Email and messaging apps often send multiple notifications for the same conversation, which can feel overwhelming. Most of these apps have their own notification settings inside the app itself, separate from your device settings. Open Gmail, Outlook, WhatsApp, or Slack and look for Settings or Preferences. You'll usually find options to turn off notifications for specific conversations, mute group chats, or disable notifications for certain types of messages (like when someone is typing).
For example, in Gmail on any device, you can mute a conversation by opening it and clicking the mute icon — that conversation won't send notifications until someone new replies. In Slack, you can mute entire channels or turn off notifications for specific keywords. In WhatsApp, you can mute individual chats or groups for 8 hours, 1 week, or always. These app-level controls are often faster than changing device settings, because they let you stay notified about important conversations while silencing the rest.
Turning off notification badges and red numbers
A notification badge is the red circle with a number that appears on an app icon — it shows how many unread messages or alerts you have. Some people find these helpful; others find them distracting. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap an app, and toggle off "Badges" to remove the red number. On Android, open Settings > Apps, select an app, tap Notifications, and look for a "Badge" or "Show badge" toggle and turn it off.
On Windows 11 and macOS, badges work differently — they're usually part of the notification itself rather than a persistent icon indicator. If you've turned off notifications from an app, the badge will disappear automatically. If you want to keep notifications but remove the badge, that option isn't always available on desktop; your best option is to turn off notifications entirely or check the app's own settings to see if it has a badge control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop the app from working?
No. Disabling notifications only stops the alerts; the app continues to run and update normally in the background. You can still open the app and see new messages or activity whenever you want — you just won't be interrupted by alerts.
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact or conversation?
Yes, most messaging and email apps let you mute individual conversations. In Gmail, open a conversation and click the mute icon. In WhatsApp, long-press a chat and tap Mute. In Messages on iPhone, swipe left on a conversation and tap Hide Alerts. This keeps notifications on for other conversations while silencing just that one.
What's the difference between turning off notifications and turning off the app?
Turning off notifications stops alerts but the app still works and updates. Turning off the app (or force-closing it) stops it from running entirely. If you want the app to work but not bother you, turn off notifications. If you want to stop it completely, uninstall it or disable it in your app settings.
Why does an app keep sending notifications even though I turned them off?
Some apps have notification controls both in your device settings and inside the app itself. You may have turned off device notifications but left the app's internal notifications on. Open the app, find its Settings or Preferences, and look for notification controls there. You may need to turn them off in both places.
Can I turn off notifications for just sounds but keep seeing the alerts?
Yes. On Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, you can toggle off "Sound" or "Sounds and Haptics" while leaving other notification types on. This way you'll see the alert but won't hear a noise or feel a vibration. It's useful if you want to stay aware without being startled.