Where notifications live and how to find them
Notifications come from three places: your operating system (the software that runs your device), individual apps, and websites. To turn them off, you need to know where each one lives. On most phones and computers, the settings are buried one or two menus deep — not because they're hard to turn off, but because the default is to keep them on.
Your phone's operating system controls notifications at the device level. Individual apps can override those settings and send notifications anyway, which is why turning off notifications once doesn't always stick. Websites can also send notifications through your browser, even when you're not visiting them. Each one has its own off switch, and you may need to flip all three to get silence.
Key Takeaways
- Notifications come from three sources — your phone or computer's operating system, individual apps, and websites — and each one has separate settings you need to change.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and turn off notifications per app; on Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications and do the same.
- On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications; on Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications.
- Website notifications live in your browser settings under Privacy or Notifications, and you can block them before they ask permission or revoke permission after you've already given it.
- Turning off notifications at the app level overrides the system setting, so if an app still notifies you after you've disabled them system-wide, check the app's own settings.
Turning off notifications on iPhone
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has sent you a notification. Tap the app name, then toggle off "Allow Notifications" at the top. That app will stop sending notifications when ready.
If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, you have more granular options. In that same app's notification settings, you can turn off "Sounds" or "Badges" (the red number on the app icon) while keeping visual alerts, or vice versa. You can also choose whether notifications appear on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as banners that pop up while you're using the phone. Most people find it easiest to turn off the app entirely first, then turn it back on with only the notification types they actually want.
Turning off notifications on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications (the exact name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it "Notifications", Google Pixel calls it "Apps & notifications"). Tap "Notifications" or "Manage notifications". You will see a list of apps. Tap the app you want to silence, then toggle off "Show notifications".
Some Android phones also let you control notifications at the channel level. If you open an app's notification settings and see options like "Messages" or "Reminders", you can turn off specific channels while keeping others. For example, you might silence promotional notifications from a shopping app but keep order updates. This option appears only if the app has set up multiple notification channels, so not every app will have it.
Turning off notifications on Windows
Open Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"). Go to System > Notifications. You will see a list of apps that can send notifications. Toggle off the ones you want to silence. You can also turn off notifications entirely by toggling off "Notifications" at the very top, though this will silence all apps at once.
Windows also lets you control notifications by type. Scroll down to "Advanced" and you can turn off notifications from apps in the background, or silence notifications when you're using an app in full screen. Some people find it useful to turn off background notifications but keep notifications that appear while they're actively using the computer.
Turning off notifications on Mac
Open System Settings and go to Notifications. You will see a list of apps on the left side. Click the app you want to silence, then uncheck "Allow notifications" on the right. The app will stop notifying you when ready.
Mac also lets you control how notifications appear. You can turn off sounds, badges, or banners for individual apps. Some people silence the sound but keep the visual notification, or vice versa. You can also set a "Do Not Disturb" schedule that automatically silences notifications during certain hours — for example, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. — without turning off notifications entirely.
Blocking website notifications in your browser
Websites can ask permission to send notifications that appear even when you're not on the site. You can block these before they ask, or revoke permission after you've already given it. The steps differ by browser.
Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Under "Blocked" you can see sites you've already denied. Under "Allowed" you can see sites you've permitted. Click any site and toggle off "Notifications" to revoke permission. To block all notification requests before they ask, toggle off "Sites can ask for permission to send notifications" at the top.
Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll to "Permissions". Click "Settings" next to "Notifications". You will see a list of sites you've allowed or blocked. Click any site and select "Block" to revoke permission. To block all requests, check "Block new requests asking to allow notifications".
Safari: Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications. You will see lists of allowed and denied sites. Click any site and change the dropdown from "Allow" to "Deny".
What to do if notifications keep coming back
If you turn off notifications for an app but it still notifies you, the app has its own notification settings that override the system setting. Open the app itself, go to its Settings or Preferences (usually a gear icon), and look for "Notifications" or "Alerts". Turn off notifications there as well.
Some apps hide notification settings inside other menus. For example, a messaging app might have notification settings under "Chat" or "Messages" rather than in a dedicated Notifications section. If you can't find the setting, try searching the app's help documentation for "notifications" or "alerts".
Website notifications sometimes reappear because your browser's settings got reset, or because the site is asking again after you've denied it once. If a website keeps asking for notification permission, you can block it permanently in your browser settings using the steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop me from getting important calls or texts?
No. Turning off notifications only silences alerts from apps and websites. Calls and text messages use your phone's built-in calling and messaging system, which has separate settings. You can turn off notifications from the Messages or Phone app while still receiving calls and texts — you just won't see a notification badge or hear a sound.
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact or one person?
It depends on the app. Some messaging apps let you mute notifications from specific people or group chats while keeping notifications from others. Open the app, find the conversation, and look for a "Mute" or "Silence" option. This is usually in a menu you access by long-pressing the conversation or tapping a three-dot icon.
What's the difference between turning off notifications and Do Not Disturb?
Turning off notifications removes the alert entirely — the app stops trying to notify you. Do Not Disturb silences alerts temporarily on a schedule you set, but the app still sends notifications in the background. Do Not Disturb is useful if you want notifications back after a certain time, like after work hours end. Turning off notifications is permanent until you turn them back on.
If I turn off notifications, will I miss important updates?
You might. Turning off notifications means you won't see alerts, but the app or website still has new information — you just won't know about it unless you open the app yourself. If you need to know about something, keep notifications on for that app or check it regularly by hand.
Why do some apps keep asking for notification permission even after I've denied it?
Apps are allowed to ask for permission multiple times, and some do this intentionally hoping you'll eventually say yes. If a site or app keeps asking, you can block it permanently in your browser or phone settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and make sure the app is toggled off. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications and turn off notifications for that app.