Where push notifications come from and how to turn them off
Push notifications are messages that apps and websites send to your device whether or not you have them open. They arrive as popups on your phone screen, badges on app icons, or alerts on your computer. The fastest way to stop them is to turn off notifications at the source — inside each app's settings — rather than trying to block them system-wide.
Every app that sends notifications has its own on-off switch. You do not have to uninstall the app or stop using it. You straightforward tell it to stop interrupting you. The steps differ slightly between iPhone, Android, and computer, but the principle is the same: find the app's settings, locate the notification controls, and switch them off.
Key Takeaways
- Each app controls its own notifications through its settings menu, not through your phone's main settings — though you can also block notifications at the system level if you want to turn off an entire app's alerts at once.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle off "Allow Notifications"; on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications, find the app, and toggle off the notification switch.
- On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications, find the app in the list, and toggle it off; on Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications, find the app, and uncheck "Allow notifications".
- You can also silence notifications without deleting them by turning off sounds and badges while keeping the notification center itself on, so you see alerts only when you choose to look.
- Website notifications (the popups that ask "Allow notifications?") can be blocked by saying no when prompted, or by going back and removing permission if you already said yes.
Stopping notifications on iPhone
Open Settings on your home screen and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has ever sent you a notification. Tap the app you want to silence. At the top of that app's page, toggle off "Allow Notifications". The app will stop sending alerts to your lock screen, your notification center, and your home screen badge.
If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, you have more granular options. On the same page, you can toggle off "Sounds" to stop the alert sound while keeping the visual notification, or toggle off "Badges" to stop the red number on the app icon. You can also change where notifications appear — for example, telling an app to send alerts only to your notification center (which you see by swiping down from the top) rather than interrupting you with a popup on your lock screen.
For notifications that come from websites rather than apps, the process is different. Open Safari, visit the website, and look for a notification permission request. If you see it, tap "Don't Allow". If you already said yes and want to undo it, go to Settings > Safari > Notifications and find the website in the list, then tap "Remove".
Stopping notifications on Android
Open Settings and tap Apps (or Applications, depending on your phone). Tap Notifications. You will see a list of apps sorted by how many notifications they send. Find the app you want to silence and toggle off the switch next to its name. The app will stop sending notifications entirely.
If you want finer control, tap the app's name instead of toggling the switch. You will see options to turn off specific types of notifications — for example, you might allow messages but block promotional alerts. You can also toggle off "Show notifications" to stop them from appearing while keeping the app's ability to send them (useful if you want to check manually later but do not want interruptions).
Some Android phones also let you long-press the app icon on your home screen, tap "App info", and then tap Notifications from there. The result is the same, but the path varies by manufacturer. If you cannot find Notifications in Settings, try this method instead.
Stopping notifications on Windows
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System on the left side, then Notifications. You will see a list of every app that can send notifications. Find the app you want to silence and toggle it off. The app will stop sending alerts to your notification center (the panel that appears when you click the time in the bottom right).
Below the app list, you will also see options to turn off notification sounds, to hide notifications on your lock screen, or to turn off notifications entirely while you are in focus information mode (which you can set to turn on automatically during certain hours). These system-level controls affect all apps at once, so use them only if you want a blanket rule rather than silencing individual apps.
Stopping notifications on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Notifications on the left side. You will see a list of apps that can send notifications. Click the app you want to silence and uncheck "Allow notifications". The app will stop sending alerts to your notification center (which you see by clicking the time in the top right).
You can also customize how each app's notifications behave without turning them off entirely. For each app, you can choose whether alerts appear as banners (which disappear after a few seconds) or alerts (which stay until you close them), whether they show on your lock screen, and whether they make a sound. These options let you keep notifications you need while silencing the ones that distract you.
Blocking website notifications
Websites often ask for permission to send notifications the first time you visit. If you see a popup asking "Allow notifications?" or similar, tap or click "Don't Allow" or "Block". You will not see that request again.
If you already said yes and want to undo it, the process depends on your browser. In Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, go to Settings, click Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. Find the website in the list and click the trash icon to remove it. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings, click Websites, click Notifications, find the site, and click "Deny". On iPhone Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Notifications and remove the site from the list.
Silencing notifications without turning them off
You do not have to choose between getting notifications and being interrupted by them. Most devices let you silence the sound and visual alerts while keeping notifications in your notification center, so you can check them when you have time.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and toggle off "Sounds" and "Badges". The app can still send notifications, but they will appear silently in your notification center. On Android, open the app's notification settings and toggle off "Show notifications" or choose "Silent" as the notification style. On Windows and Mac, you can turn off notification sounds in the system settings while leaving individual apps' notifications on.
You can also use Do Not Disturb (iPhone and Mac) or Focus information (Windows) to silence all notifications during certain hours or activities. Set these to turn on automatically during work hours, sleep time, or when you are in a meeting, and your device will hold notifications until you turn the mode off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop the app from working?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the app from sending you alerts. The app itself continues to work normally. You can still open it, use it, and see all your data. You straightforward will not be interrupted by popups or sounds when something happens in the app.
Can I turn off notifications for one type of alert but keep others?
Yes. Most apps let you customize which notifications you receive. For example, you might turn off promotional emails from a shopping app but keep order updates, or turn off chat notifications but keep calls. Open the app's settings or notification preferences to see what options are available.
What if I change my mind and want notifications back?
Go back to the same settings page where you turned them off and toggle notifications back on. The app will resume sending alerts. You can turn notifications on and off as many times as you want.
Why do some apps keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?
Check that you turned off notifications in the right place. Some apps have notification settings both in the app itself (inside the app's menu) and in your phone's system settings. You may need to turn them off in both places. If notifications still appear, restart your phone and check the settings again.
Can I block notifications from a website without blocking the whole website?
Yes. Blocking a website's notification permission does not prevent you from visiting the site or using it normally. It only stops that specific website from sending you alerts. You can still see all the site's content and features.