Where to find notification settings on each device

The path to shut off notifications differs by device, but each one puts the controls in the same general place: your system settings, not inside individual apps. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, and you'll see a list of every app that sends them. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps & Notifications, then Notifications. On Windows, open Settings, select System, then Notifications & Actions. On Mac, open System Preferences, click Notifications, and you'll see the same list.

The reason notifications live in system settings rather than app settings is that your device controls whether a notification reaches you at all — the app just requests permission. This means you can block notifications from an app without opening that app, and you can change your mind later without reinstalling anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Notifications are controlled in your device's system settings, not inside the apps themselves, so you can turn them off without uninstalling anything.
  • You can turn off all notifications from one app, or allow only certain types — like messages but not marketing — depending on what the app offers.
  • Turning off notifications does not delete your account, stop the app from working, or prevent you from opening it manually.
  • On phones, you can also silence notifications by time of day using Do Not Disturb or Focus modes, which let some contacts through while blocking others.
  • Browsers send notifications separately from apps, and you can block them site by site in your browser's settings.

Turning off all notifications from one app

On iPhone, find the app in Settings > Notifications, tap it, and toggle off "Allow Notifications" at the top. That's it — the app will no longer send you anything. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications, find the app, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Show Notifications." On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions, scroll down to "Notifications from these senders," find the app, and click it to turn it off. On Mac, open System Preferences > Notifications, click the app, and uncheck "Allow Notifications."

Turning off notifications does not affect the app itself. You can still open it, use it, and see new messages or updates when you launch it manually. The app will not delete your account, stop syncing data, or behave differently — it just stops interrupting you.

Allowing only certain types of notifications from an app

Many apps let you choose which notifications to receive. On iPhone, tap the app in Settings > Notifications and look for toggles like "Badges," "Sounds," "Banners," or "Lock Screen." You might also see options for "Critical Alerts" or "Time Sensitive." Turn off the ones you don't want. On Android, tap the app in Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications, then look for "Notification categories" or similar — tap each category to turn it on or off.

For example, you might want messages from your messaging app but not marketing notifications. In that case, find the app's notification settings and look for categories like "Messages" and "Promotions." Keep Messages on and turn Promotions off. Not every app offers this level of control — some only let you turn all notifications on or off — but most social media, email, and messaging apps do.

Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes to silence notifications by time

If you want notifications during the day but not at night, or during work but not during dinner, use Do Not Disturb on iPhone or Focus modes on newer iPhones, or Do Not Disturb on Android. These features silence all notifications except from people or apps you choose. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, press and hold the Do Not Disturb icon, and set a time. On Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings, tap Do Not Disturb, and choose when it turns on and off.

You can also create custom Focus modes on iPhone (Settings > Focus) that silence everything except calls from your favorites, or custom Do Not Disturb schedules on Android that allow notifications from specific contacts. This is useful if you want to block work emails after 6 p.m. but still receive calls from family, or silence social media during dinner but keep text messages.

Turning off browser notifications from websites

Websites can send notifications separately from apps — you might see a popup asking "Allow notifications from this site?" when you visit. To turn these off, open your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of sites allowed to send notifications. Click any site and toggle off "Allow." In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, click Settings next to Notifications, and remove sites from the list. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications and uncheck sites.

If you've already allowed notifications from a site and want to block them, you don't need to clear your browser data or reinstall anything — just remove the site from your browser's notification list. The next time you visit that site, it may ask for permission again, and you can decline.

Stopping notifications from email and messaging apps

Email and messaging apps often send two layers of notifications: one from the app itself, and one from the service inside the app. For example, Gmail might notify you both through the Gmail app and through Gmail's internal settings. To fully control them, turn off notifications in both places. First, turn off the app's notifications in your device settings (as described above). Then open the app itself and look for Settings or Preferences — most email and messaging apps have a Notifications section where you can choose which types of messages trigger alerts.

In Gmail, open the app, tap your profile picture, go to Manage Your Google Account > Notifications, and adjust each notification type. In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Notifications. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Notifications. This second layer of control lets you receive notifications from important contacts but not from group chats, or from work email but not promotional emails — without turning off the app entirely.

What happens when you turn off notifications

Turning off notifications changes only how the app reaches you — nothing else. Your account stays active, your data syncs normally, and you can still open the app and see everything that's new. You won't miss messages or updates; you'll just see them when you open the app instead of being interrupted by a popup or sound. If you change your mind, go back to your device settings and turn notifications back on.

Some apps may ask for notification permission again the next time you open them, especially after a system update. If you see the permission popup and don't want notifications, tap "Don't Allow" or "Deny." If you accidentally tapped "Allow" and want to undo it, use the steps above to turn it off in your device settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications delete my account or lose my data?

No. Notifications are only how the app reaches you — they don't affect your account, your data, or anything stored in the app. Your messages, photos, and settings stay exactly where they are. You can turn notifications back on anytime without losing anything.

Can I turn off notifications from one person but keep them from everyone else?

It depends on the app. Most messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger let you mute individual conversations or contacts. Open the conversation, look for a mute or silence option, and choose how long to mute it. Email apps usually let you create filters or rules to send certain senders to a folder instead of your inbox. Check your app's settings for contact-specific or sender-specific controls.

Why do I still see notifications after I turned them off?

You may have turned off notifications in your device settings but not in the app's internal settings, or vice versa. Check both places: your device's system settings (Settings > Notifications on iPhone, Settings > Apps & Notifications on Android) and the app's own settings. Also check if Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is scheduled to turn off at a certain time — if it is, notifications will resume then.

Can I turn off notifications for just one type of alert, like sounds, but keep badges?

Yes. In your device's notification settings for that app, you'll usually see separate toggles for Sounds, Badges, Banners, and Lock Screen notifications. Turn off only the ones you don't want. For example, you can keep badges (the red number on the app icon) but turn off sounds and banners so you see updates without being interrupted.

What's the difference between turning off notifications and uninstalling the app?

Turning off notifications stops the app from interrupting you, but the app still works normally when you open it. Uninstalling removes the app entirely from your device. If you just want to stop being interrupted, turn off notifications. If you don't use the app at all and want to free up space, uninstall it.