Where notifications live and how to find them

Notifications come from three places: your operating system (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), individual apps, and websites. To stop them, you need to know which one is sending each notification. A notification that pops up on your phone might be coming from the app itself, from your phone's operating system, or from a service the app connects to — and each one has its own off switch.

Start by looking at where the notification appears. If it shows up in your system tray (the bottom right corner on Windows, the top right on Mac), it's likely coming from your operating system or a system-level service. If it appears inside an app or as a badge on the app icon, the app itself is probably sending it. Once you know the source, you can turn it off at that level.

Key Takeaways

  • Notifications come from your operating system, individual apps, and websites — each has its own settings you need to change separately.
  • On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications to turn off notifications by app; on Mac, use System Settings > Notifications.
  • On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications and choose which apps can notify you and how; on Android, go to Settings > Apps and Notifications.
  • For app-specific notifications, open the app itself and look for Notifications or Alerts in its settings menu.
  • Website notifications require you to change your browser settings or revoke permission for each site individually.

Turning off notifications on Windows

Open Settings and go to System > Notifications. You will see a list of every app that can send you notifications. Toggle off the switch next to any app you do not want to hear from. You can also turn off notifications entirely by switching off "Notifications" at the top of the page, though this will silence everything including calendar reminders and system alerts.

If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, scroll down to "Advanced" and choose which types of notifications appear. You can turn off notification sounds, banners, or badges separately. You can also set "Quiet hours" — a time window when notifications will not pop up on your screen, though they will still arrive in your notification center.

Turning off 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 and toggle off "Allow notifications" to silence it completely. If you want to keep notifications but change how they appear, you can turn off sounds, badges, or banners individually for each app.

Mac also has a "Focus" feature that silences notifications during specific times or activities. Click Focus in System Settings, create a new focus (like "Work" or "Sleep"), and choose which apps are allowed to notify you during that time. When you set up the focus, only those apps will send notifications.

Turning off notifications on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has requested permission to send you notifications. Tap any app and toggle off "Allow Notifications" to silence it. If you want to keep notifications but change when they appear, you can choose "Scheduled Summary" (notifications bundle together at a time you pick) or "Time Sensitive" (only urgent notifications come through when ready).

You can also control notifications by app type. Tap an app, then choose whether notifications appear as banners (pop up and disappear), alerts (stay on screen until you dismiss them), or badges (just a number on the app icon). Some apps let you turn off notifications for specific features — for example, you might allow notifications from your email app but only for messages from certain contacts.

Turning off notifications on Android

Open Settings and go to Apps and Notifications (the exact name varies by phone maker). Tap "Notifications" and you will see a list of apps. Tap any app and toggle off "Show notifications" to silence it. Some phones also let you control notification importance — tap an app and look for "Notification importance" or "Alert type" to choose whether notifications appear as banners, sounds, or silent badges.

If you want to silence notifications temporarily, use Do Not Disturb mode. Go to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. You can also allow certain apps or contacts to break through Do Not Disturb — for example, you might silence everything except calls from family members.

Turning off notifications inside apps

Even if you allow an app to send notifications at the operating system level, the app itself may have its own notification settings. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon), and search for "Notifications" or "Alerts." You might find options to turn off notifications for specific features — for example, a shopping app might let you turn off price alerts but keep order updates.

Some apps send notifications through email instead of (or in addition to) your phone or computer. If you keep getting notifications you thought you turned off, check the app's email settings. Look for a "Preferences" or "Email Settings" section and uncheck any boxes next to notification types you do not want.

Stopping website notifications

Websites can ask your browser for permission to send notifications. If you see a pop-up asking "Allow notifications from this website?", click "Block" or "Don't Allow." If you already said yes to a website and want to revoke that permission, the process depends on your browser.

In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the website address, then click "Notifications" and choose "Block." In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy > Permissions > Notifications and remove any websites from the list. In Safari on Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications and look for websites in the app list. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to find websites that have permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications stop important alerts like security warnings?

It depends on what you turn off. If you disable notifications for your entire operating system, you may miss security alerts. Instead, turn off notifications for specific apps you do not need. Most security software has its own notification settings — you can usually keep critical alerts on while silencing routine updates.

How do I stop notifications from a specific contact or sender?

Open the app (email, messaging, social media) and look for settings within that app. Many apps let you mute notifications from specific people, groups, or senders. For example, in most email apps you can right-click a sender and choose "Mute" or "Block notifications." Check the app's help section if you cannot find the option.

Can I turn off notifications for just one feature of an app?

Yes, if the app offers granular controls. Open the app's settings and look for "Notifications" or "Alerts." Many apps let you turn off notifications for specific features — for example, you might allow notifications from your banking app for large transactions but not for login attempts. Not all apps offer this level of control.

What is the difference between turning off notifications in the app versus in my operating system settings?

Turning them off in your operating system prevents the notification from appearing on your screen at all. Turning them off in the app's own settings may still allow the app to send the notification to your operating system, but the app controls what gets sent. For the most control, turn them off in both places.

Why do I still get notifications after turning them off?

The notification may be coming from a different source than you disabled. Check your app's internal settings, your operating system settings, and any email notification preferences the service offers. Also check whether the app is sending notifications through a different channel — for example, some apps send both push notifications and emails.