Where notifications come from and how to find them
Notifications arrive through different channels depending on what device you're using and what's sending them. Your phone's operating system (iOS or Android) manages notifications from apps. Your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) has its own notification center. Websites can send notifications through your browser. Email comes through your email app or browser. Each one has its own off switch, and you need to know where to look.
On an iPhone, notifications live in Settings > Notifications. On Android, they're in Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications. On Mac, it's System Settings > Notifications. Your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) has notification settings in its own preferences, separate from your operating system. This matters because turning off notifications in one place doesn't affect the others.
Key Takeaways
- Each device and app stores its notification settings in a different place — your phone's settings, the app itself, your browser, and your email client all have separate controls.
- You can turn off notifications entirely, allow them silently (they appear in your notification center but don't make noise or light up your screen), or keep them on for specific apps only.
- Turning off notifications at the device level stops them everywhere; turning them off in a single app stops only that app.
- Some apps will still work normally without notifications — they just won't alert you until you open them.
Stopping notifications on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app that has ever sent you a notification. Tap any app name to see its options. The simplest move is to toggle "Allow Notifications" off entirely — that app will never alert you again, but it will still work normally when you open it.
If you want to keep notifications but stop the noise and vibration, turn on "Sounds" toggle off and "Vibration" toggle off. The notification will still appear on your lock screen and in your notification center, but it won't interrupt you. You can also set a custom sound for specific apps, or choose "None" to silence just that one. At the top of the Notifications settings, tap "Notifications" again to see system-wide options like whether notifications appear on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as banners at the top of the screen.
Stopping notifications on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications > Notifications. You'll see a list of apps. Tap any app to see its notification settings. Toggle "Show notifications" off to stop that app from alerting you. If you want to keep notifications but silence them, look for "Notification sound" and set it to "None" or "Silent". Some Android phones also have a "Vibration" toggle you can turn off separately.
You can also control notifications by importance level. Some apps let you choose between "Urgent" (shows on lock screen, makes noise), "High" (shows in notification center, may make noise), "Medium" (shows in notification center, silent), and "Low" (appears only when you open the notification center). The exact names vary by phone model and Android version, but the idea is the same: you're choosing how much the notification interrupts you.
Stopping notifications on Windows and Mac
On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions. Scroll down to see which apps can send notifications. Toggle any app off to stop it. You can also turn off notification sounds, banners, and the notification center itself — though the notification center is useful for checking messages you missed. For individual apps, you can choose whether they show alerts, sounds, or badges (the little number that appears on an app icon).
On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of apps on the left. Click any app to see its options. Toggle "Allow notifications" off to stop that app. You can also choose whether notifications appear as banners (they appear at the top right and disappear after a few seconds) or alerts (they stay on screen until you close them). Turn off "Sound" and "Badge" if you want the notification to appear silently in your notification center only.
Stopping notifications in your browser and email
Websites can ask permission to send you notifications. If you've said yes to any of them, you'll see notifications pop up even when you're not on that website. To stop them, open your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of websites that have permission. Click any one and choose "Block" to stop it. In Safari, go to Settings > Websites > Notifications and do the same. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications.
For email, the control is in your email app or your email provider's website. If you use Gmail, log in, click the gear icon, go to Settings > Labels, and find the label you want to change. Scroll down to "Show notifications" and choose "None". If you use Outlook, Apple Mail, or another email client, look in that app's preferences or settings for notification options. You can usually turn off notifications for all email, or choose to be notified only for messages from specific people or folders.
What happens when you turn notifications off
Turning off notifications does not delete messages, emails, or updates. They still arrive — you just won't be alerted. When you open the app, you'll see everything that came in. This is true for messaging apps, email, social media, news apps, and anything else. The app keeps working normally; it just stops interrupting you.
Some apps will try to convince you that you need notifications to use them properly. This is rarely true. Banking apps, maps, weather apps, and most productivity tools work fine without notifications. You check them when you want to, and you get the information you need. The only apps that genuinely require notifications are ones where someone is trying to reach you in real time — like a phone call app or a messaging app where you want to know when ready when someone texts. Even then, you can choose to allow notifications only from specific people.
Turning notifications back on for specific apps
You don't have to choose between "all notifications" and "no notifications". Most people find a middle ground: turn off notifications for everything, then turn them back on only for the apps where you actually want to be interrupted. This takes a few minutes but saves you hours of distraction over time.
Start by turning off notifications everywhere. Then, for the next week, pay attention to which apps you wish had alerted you. Those are the ones worth turning back on. For most people, that's messaging apps (if you want to know when ready when someone texts), calendar apps (so you don't miss meetings), and maybe one or two others. Everything else can stay off. You can always change your mind later — these settings are not permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I miss important messages if I turn off notifications?
No. Messages, emails, and updates still arrive and stay in the app. You'll see them the next time you open the app. If someone needs to reach you urgently, they can call you instead. For apps where you do want when ready alerts — like messaging or calendar — you can turn notifications back on just for those.
Can I turn off notifications for one person but keep them for others?
Yes, but it depends on the app. Most messaging apps (iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal) let you mute individual conversations or people. 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 so certain senders go to a folder that doesn't send notifications.
What if an app keeps sending notifications even after I turned them off?
Some apps ignore your settings and send notifications anyway. The fix is to uninstall the app or stop using it. If you need the app, check if there's an update available — sometimes app updates fix notification bugs. You can also contact the app's support team and tell them the notifications aren't stopping. If enough people complain, they may fix it.
Can I turn off notifications for everything except emergencies?
Yes. On iPhone, use Focus modes (Settings > Focus) to create a custom focus that allows notifications only from specific people or apps. On Android, use Do Not Disturb (Settings > Sound & Vibration > Do Not Disturb) and set exceptions for contacts you want to hear from. On Windows and Mac, use Focus information or Do Not Disturb mode in the same way.
Do notifications use battery or data?
Notifications use very little battery or data. The bigger drain comes from apps checking for updates constantly in the background. Turning off notifications won't noticeably improve battery life, but it will improve your focus and sleep. If you're trying to save battery, turning off background app refresh is more effective than turning off notifications.