Where to find the lock screen notification settings
On most phones, you control what shows on your lock screen through the same notification settings you use everywhere else — but the toggle is separate. You are not turning notifications off. You are choosing whether the notification appears before you unlock the phone, after you unlock it, or both.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, then tap the app you want to adjust. Look for Show on Lock Screen — toggle it on to display that app's notifications on your lock screen, or off to hide them until you unlock. On Android, the path varies by manufacturer, but usually it is Settings > Apps > Notifications, then select the app and look for Lock Screen or Show on Lock Screen.
Key Takeaways
- Lock screen notifications appear before you unlock your phone, so you can see them without entering your passcode.
- You can turn lock screen notifications on or off per app — some apps can show on the lock screen while others cannot.
- On iPhone, the setting is under Settings > Notifications > [App Name] > Show on Lock Screen; on Android, it is usually Settings > Apps > Notifications > [App Name] > Lock Screen.
- Showing notifications on the lock screen means anyone who picks up your phone can see them, so consider privacy before enabling for sensitive apps like banking or messaging.
Why you might want notifications visible on your lock screen
Lock screen notifications let you see incoming messages, reminders, and alerts without unlocking your phone. This is useful if you want to glance at your screen and decide whether something needs your attention right now. You can see that your calendar app is reminding you of a meeting in five minutes, or that a delivery has arrived, without having to enter your passcode first.
The trade-off is visibility: anyone who can see your phone's screen can also see those notifications. If you live alone or keep your phone with you always, this may not matter. If you share a home, work in an open office, or set your phone down in public, consider what information you are comfortable displaying before you unlock.
Privacy and security considerations for lock screen notifications
A notification from your bank, your doctor, a dating app, or a messaging service reveals something about your life to anyone standing near your phone. Even a notification that just says "New message from Mom" tells someone that you use that app and that someone named Mom is trying to reach you. If you receive notifications about health conditions, financial accounts, or other sensitive matters, you may want to keep those hidden until you unlock.
Most phones let you set a notification preview separately from whether the notification appears at all. On iPhone, this is Show Preview under the same notification settings — you can choose to show the preview always, when unlocked, or never. On Android, look for Sensitive Notifications or Hide Sensitive Content in your notification settings. This way, you can see that a notification arrived without seeing what it says until you unlock the phone.
Showing notifications for some apps but not others
You do not have to make the same choice for every app. Go through your most-used apps one by one and decide: does this app's notification need to be visible on my lock screen, or is it fine to see it only after I unlock? Messages from people you know well might be worth showing. Promotional notifications from shopping apps probably are not.
Start with the apps that send you time-sensitive information — calendar reminders, delivery updates, alerts from your phone's health or fitness app. Then handle the apps where privacy matters most — banking, health, dating, therapy, or any app that deals with sensitive topics. You can always change these settings later if you find you are missing important notifications.
Customizing how much detail appears on the lock screen
Some phones let you show that a notification arrived without showing its full text. On iPhone, tap Show Preview and choose When Unlocked — the notification will appear on your lock screen, but the message content will be hidden until you unlock. On Android, the option may be called Hide Sensitive Notifications or Sensitive Notifications, depending on your phone's manufacturer.
This is a middle ground: you get the benefit of seeing that something arrived, but you keep the content private. Someone glancing at your phone sees "New message from Sarah" but not what Sarah said. This works well for apps where you want to know there is activity without broadcasting the details.
What happens if you turn lock screen notifications off
If you turn off lock screen notifications for an app, that app can still send you notifications — they just will not appear until you unlock your phone. You might see them in your notification center or notification shade (the panel that drops down from the top of your screen), or they might wait in the app itself until you open it. The notification is not deleted; it is just delayed.
This is useful for apps you want to stay aware of, but not urgently. You might turn off lock screen notifications for email or social media, but keep them on for calls from your contacts or alerts from your home security system. The app still notifies you; you just choose when you see it.
Troubleshooting when lock screen notifications are not showing
If you have turned on lock screen notifications but they are not appearing, check three things. First, make sure the app itself has permission to send notifications — go to Settings > Apps (or Notifications) and confirm the app is not blocked entirely. Second, check whether your phone is in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, which can suppress notifications even if they are enabled. Third, restart the app or restart your phone; sometimes the setting does not take effect until you do.
If notifications still are not showing, check whether your phone's lock screen is set to show notifications at all. Some phones have a master lock screen notification setting separate from individual app settings. On iPhone, this is rare, but on Android it depends on your manufacturer — look in Settings > Lock Screen or Display for an option to show notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone unlock my phone if they see a notification on the lock screen?
No. A notification on the lock screen does not give anyone access to your phone. They can read what the notification says, but they cannot open the app or unlock the device without your passcode or biometric. However, they can see the information in the notification itself — so if a notification contains sensitive details, consider hiding it.
Will turning off lock screen notifications delete my notifications?
No. Turning off lock screen notifications just hides them from your lock screen. The notifications still arrive and you will see them once you unlock your phone, either in your notification center or when you open the app.
Can I show notifications on the lock screen for some contacts but not others?
Not directly through lock screen settings. However, you can use Focus modes (iPhone) or Do Not Disturb settings (Android) to silence notifications from specific contacts or apps during certain times, or you can mute notifications from specific contacts within the messaging or calling app itself.
What is the difference between showing a notification and showing a preview?
Showing a notification means the alert appears on your lock screen at all. Showing a preview means the content of the notification is visible. You can show a notification without showing its preview — so you see "New message" but not what the message says — or you can hide the notification entirely until you unlock.
Do lock screen notifications drain my battery?
Not significantly. Displaying a notification on your lock screen uses minimal power. What does drain battery is the phone's screen staying on, which happens whether or not you have lock screen notifications enabled.