Where to find the mute button for each notification type
Most devices let you silence notifications in two places: the notification itself, or the settings for the app that sent it. The fastest route depends on whether you want to silence one notification right now, or stop an app from bothering you altogether.
On Windows, right-click a notification as it appears and select "Don't show notifications from this app" or look for an X button in the top corner. On Mac, click the X on the notification or go to System Settings > Notifications and find the app in the list. On iPhone, swipe left on a notification and tap the bell icon with a line through it. On Android, press and hold the notification, then tap "Turn off notifications" or the settings gear icon.
If you want finer control — like silencing notifications during work hours but keeping them on at night — you will need to dig into the app's own settings rather than the system-wide notification panel. Most apps have their own notification preferences buried in Settings or Preferences.
Key Takeaways
- You can silence a single notification by clicking or swiping its close button, but this does not stop future notifications from that app.
- To stop an app from sending notifications entirely, find it in your system notification settings (Settings > Notifications on most devices) and toggle notifications off.
- Do Not Disturb mode silences all notifications except calls and messages from people you mark as favorites, and you can schedule it to turn on automatically at set times.
- Some apps let you choose which types of notifications you receive — like messages but not promotional alerts — in the app's own settings menu.
- Notification badges (the red numbers on app icons) can be turned off separately from sound and pop-up notifications in most operating systems.
Using Do Not Disturb to silence everything at once
Do Not Disturb mode is the fastest way to silence all notifications without turning your phone or computer off. When it is on, notifications still arrive, but they do not make sound, vibrate, or pop up on your screen. You can usually still see them in a notification center if you look for them.
On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and tap the moon icon. On Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings and tap "Do Not Disturb." On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and toggle it on. On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top right and select "Do Not Disturb."
Most devices let you schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and tap "Add Schedule." On Android, open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a time range. You can also set it to allow calls or messages from specific people — usually your contacts marked as favorites — while blocking everything else.
Turning off notifications for a single app
If one app sends too many notifications but you still want to use it, you can disable notifications just for that app without touching any others. This is different from silencing a single notification — it stops all future notifications from that app until you turn them back on.
On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Notifications from apps and websites, scroll to the app name, and toggle it off. On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications, find the app in the list on the left, and uncheck "Allow notifications." On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app name, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, open Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and toggle off "Show Notifications."
If you want to keep notifications but just remove the sound, look for a "Sound" toggle in that same menu. Some apps also let you silence notifications without disabling them entirely — the notification will still appear, but silently. This is useful if you want to check messages on your own schedule without hearing a ping every time one arrives.
Customizing notifications within individual apps
Many apps have their own notification settings separate from your device's system settings. These let you choose which types of notifications you want — for example, messages from friends but not promotional emails, or calendar reminders but not social media likes.
Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines), and search for "Notifications" or "Alerts." Common options include toggling specific notification types on or off, choosing which sounds play, and setting quiet hours. Email apps like Gmail and Outlook let you silence notifications for certain senders or folders. Messaging apps like Slack and Discord let you mute specific channels or direct messages. Social media apps let you turn off notifications for likes, comments, or shares while keeping notifications for direct messages.
If the app does not have its own notification settings, you can only control notifications through your device's system settings. Some apps are designed to send notifications and do not offer granular control — in those cases, your only options are to silence them entirely or live with them.
Removing notification badges from app icons
Notification badges are the red circles with numbers that appear on app icons to show you have unread messages or alerts. They are separate from sound and pop-up notifications, so you can turn them off without silencing the notifications themselves.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app name, and toggle off "Badges." On Android, open Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and toggle off "Show notification badge." On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Notifications from apps and websites, find the app, and toggle off "Badge on the app icon." On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications, find the app, and uncheck "Badge icon."
Turning off badges is useful if you find the red numbers stressful or distracting but still want to receive notifications when you open the app. Some people turn off badges but keep sound notifications on so they know when something arrives without being nagged by a number on their home screen.
Silencing notifications on your computer during work or focus time
Computers have focus modes similar to phone Do Not Disturb, but they often have more options. Windows 11 calls it "Focus information," Mac calls it "Focus," and most Linux systems do not have a built-in equivalent (though some desktop environments like GNOME have Do Not Disturb).
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Focus information and choose "Priority only" to allow notifications only from your priority list, or "Alarms only" to silence everything except alarms. You can set a schedule so Focus information turns on automatically during your work hours. On Mac, open System Settings > Focus, create a new Focus (like "Work"), and choose which apps and people can notify you. You can also set it to set up automatically when you open certain apps or at certain times of day.
Both systems let you set a status that shows other people you are in focus mode, which can prevent them from expecting an when ready reply. This is more useful than just silencing notifications — it sets expectations so people know you are not ignoring them, you are just not available right now.
Handling notifications you cannot turn off
Some notifications are built into your operating system and cannot be disabled through normal settings. System alerts like low battery warnings, security updates, and connection errors usually cannot be silenced, though you can often delay them.
On Windows, some system notifications will let you click "Snooze" to delay them for a set time. On Mac, you can sometimes close a notification and it will not appear again until the next time the condition occurs. If a notification is truly persistent and you cannot find a way to disable it, check the app or service that is sending it — sometimes the source has its own settings that control whether the notification is sent at all.
If you are getting notifications from a service you do not recognize, check your installed apps and browser extensions. Unwanted notifications sometimes come from software you forgot you installed, or from websites that asked permission to send notifications when you first visited them. On most browsers, you can manage notification permissions in Settings > Privacy and Security > Notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I miss important notifications if I turn Do Not Disturb on?
Notifications still arrive and are stored in your notification center — you just will not hear or see them pop up. Most devices let you allow calls or messages from specific people (like family or your boss) to come through Do Not Disturb, so you can silence most notifications while staying reachable for emergencies.
Can I silence notifications from one contact but not others in the same app?
It depends on the app. Messaging apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram let you mute individual conversations. Email apps let you mute senders or folders. Social media apps usually do not offer per-contact muting. Check the app's settings or try long-pressing a conversation to see if a mute option appears.
What is the difference between muting and disabling notifications?
Muting usually means silencing the sound and pop-up, but notifications still appear in your notification center. Disabling means the app stops sending notifications entirely. You can also turn off badges while keeping notifications in the center, so you see them when you look but do not get interrupted.
Why do some apps keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?
Some apps have multiple notification types in their own settings menu, and you may have disabled only one type. Open the app's settings and look for a "Notifications" section — you might need to turn off notifications for messages, alerts, and promotions separately. If that does not work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Can I silence notifications on my phone but keep them on my computer?
Yes. Notification settings are separate on each device. Turn off notifications on your phone through its system settings, and your computer will continue to receive them. Some apps like email and messaging sync notifications across devices, so you may need to adjust settings in the app itself to prevent duplicates.