Where to find the notification settings for each app
Notifications on iPhone are turned on or off one app at a time, inside the Settings app. You cannot turn on notifications for all apps at once — you choose which ones you want to hear from.
Open Settings (the gray gear icon on your home screen). Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app installed on your phone, organized alphabetically. Find the app you want to show notifications for and tap its name.
At the top of that app's notification screen, you will see a toggle switch next to "Allow Notifications". If the switch is gray and pushed to the left, notifications are off. Tap the switch to turn it on — it will turn green and move to the right. That single action turns notifications back on for that app.
Key Takeaways
- Notifications are controlled in Settings > Notifications, one app at a time, not all together.
- The "Allow Notifications" toggle must be green and switched right to turn notifications on for any app.
- Once notifications are on, you can choose how they appear: as banners at the top, in the notification center, or silently with only a badge number on the app icon.
- Some apps will not send notifications until you turn on permission in Settings > Notifications, even if you have allowed them elsewhere.
- Turning notifications on for an app does not mean you will be bothered constantly — you can set quiet hours with Focus modes or schedule when notifications arrive.
Choosing how notifications look when they arrive
After you turn on "Allow Notifications", the next section down shows you three choices for how the notification will appear: Lock Screen, History, and Alerts. These control where you see the notification and how much it interrupts you.
Lock Screen means the notification will show up on your locked phone screen. History means it will be saved in your notification center (swipe down from the top of the screen to see it later). Alerts means the app can send you a sound, vibration, or banner that pops down from the top while you are using your phone. You can turn all three on, or pick just one or two.
Below those choices, you will see "Notification Grouping" — this stacks multiple notifications from the same app together so they do not clutter your screen. Leave this on unless you need to see each notification separately.
Turning on badge numbers and sounds
A badge is the small red circle with a number on the app icon that tells you how many unread notifications you have. If you want to see that number without getting a sound or banner, scroll down to "Badge App Icon" and make sure that toggle is green.
If you want the app to make a sound or vibrate when a notification arrives, look for "Sounds" in the same section. Tap it to pick a sound, or toggle it off if you want notifications to arrive silently. Most apps let you choose between different alert sounds — pick one or leave it on the default.
The "Vibration" toggle below that controls whether your phone vibrates when the notification arrives. You can have sound without vibration, vibration without sound, or both.
Allowing notifications for apps that ask permission
Some apps ask for permission to send notifications the first time you open them. A popup appears asking "Allow [App Name] to send you notifications?" If you tap "Don't Allow" by mistake, the app will not send notifications even if you turn them on in Settings later.
To fix this, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and make sure "Allow Notifications" is toggled on. If it is already on and you still are not seeing notifications, go to Settings > [App Name] and look for a Notifications section inside that app's own settings — some apps have a second layer of notification controls that override the system settings.
If you see a notification from an app but want to turn it off without going into Settings, you can swipe left on the notification itself (on the lock screen or in the notification center) and tap "Manage" or the settings icon. This usually opens the app's notification settings directly.
Notifications that stay off even when you turn them on
If you have turned on "Allow Notifications" but an app is still not sending notifications, check whether you have a Focus mode active. Focus modes (like Do Not Disturb, Work, or Sleep) can block all notifications or only allow them from certain people. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to see if a Focus mode is turned on, and tap it to turn it off temporarily.
Another reason notifications might not appear is if the app itself has notification controls buried in its own settings. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences inside it, and search for a Notifications section. Some apps like Gmail or Slack let you turn notifications on in the system settings but then require you to turn them on again inside the app itself.
If notifications still do not arrive after checking both places, try closing the app completely (swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold on the app preview, then tap "Close All Windows") and then open it again. Sometimes the app needs to restart to recognize that notifications are now allowed.
Turning notifications back off when you change your mind
To turn off notifications for an app, go back to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle "Allow Notifications" to the left (it will turn gray). The app will stop sending you any notifications at all.
If you want to keep notifications but make them quieter, you can turn off sounds and vibrations while leaving the badge number on, or turn off the lock screen notification while keeping it in your notification center. This way you still know something arrived without being interrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an app not showing notifications even though I turned them on?
Check three things: First, make sure the toggle for "Allow Notifications" is actually green in Settings > Notifications. Second, check if a Focus mode is blocking notifications (swipe down from the top right). Third, open the app itself and look for a Notifications section in its own settings — some apps require you to turn notifications on twice.
Can I turn on notifications for some contacts but not others?
Yes, but only for certain apps like Messages, Phone, and Mail. In Settings > Notifications, open the app and look for "Allowed Notifications" or "VIP" settings. You can set it to notify you only from favorite contacts or specific people, while silencing everyone else.
What is the difference between a banner and a lock screen notification?
A banner appears at the top of your screen while you are using your phone and disappears after a few seconds. A lock screen notification stays visible on your locked phone until you unlock it. You can turn either one on or off independently in the app's notification settings.
Do I need to restart my phone after turning notifications on?
Usually no — notifications should work when ready after you toggle "Allow Notifications" on. If an app is not sending notifications right away, close and reopen the app. If that does not work, restart your phone by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.
Can I schedule when notifications arrive instead of getting them all day?
Yes, using Focus modes. Go to Settings > Focus and create a custom Focus mode with a schedule. You can set it to allow notifications only during work hours, or turn off all notifications during sleep time. The Focus will automatically turn on and off at the times you set.