Where to find the notification controls on your iPhone

Open Settings on your home screen, then tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app installed on your phone that can send you alerts. From here, you can turn notifications off entirely for any app, or adjust what type of alert it sends and when.

The Notifications menu is the single place where iPhone gathers all these controls. You do not need to open individual apps or hunt through different settings pages — everything is in one spot, organized by app name.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn off notifications for a single app by opening Settings > Notifications, tapping the app name, and switching off Allow Notifications.
  • You can keep notifications but change how they arrive — as silent badges, banners that disappear, or alerts that require you to dismiss them.
  • Focus modes let you silence notifications from most apps during specific times or activities without permanently turning them off.
  • Turning off notifications for an app does not delete the app or prevent it from working — it only stops the alerts.
  • Some apps like Phone and Messages cannot be fully silenced, but you can still control how their alerts appear.

Turn off notifications for one app completely

Open Settings, tap Notifications, then find the app you want to silence. Tap the app name to open its notification settings. At the top, you will see a toggle labeled Allow Notifications. Switch it off. That app will no longer send you any alerts, badges, or sounds.

The app itself continues to work normally — it just stops interrupting you. If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on by returning to the same screen and switching the toggle back on.

Change how notifications appear without turning them off

If you want to keep notifications but make them less disruptive, you have three main choices. Open Settings > Notifications, tap the app name, then look for the Alerts section.

Banners appear at the top of your screen for a few seconds, then disappear on their own. You do not have to do anything. Lists (sometimes called Stacks) group notifications together and show them as a list you can scroll through. Alerts require you to tap a button to dismiss them — they stay on screen until you respond. Choose whichever interrupts you the least.

Below that, you will see options for Sounds and Haptics (vibration), Badges (the red number on the app icon), and Show in History. You can turn any of these off individually. For example, you might keep banner notifications but turn off sound, so you see the alert but do not hear it.

Use Focus modes to silence notifications during specific times

If you want notifications off only during certain hours or activities — like during work, sleep, or exercise — Focus modes are faster than turning apps on and off. Open Settings > Focus, then tap the plus sign to create a new Focus. Name it (Work, Sleep, Gym, whatever fits your day), then tap Customize.

You will see a list of apps. Toggle off the ones you do not want to hear from during this Focus. When you turn on that Focus — either manually or on a schedule — those apps will stay silent. When the Focus ends, notifications return to normal. You can create multiple Focuses for different parts of your day.

To set a Focus to turn on automatically, tap Add Schedule and choose the time or location. For example, you can set Work Focus to turn on at 9 a.m. on weekdays and turn off at 5 p.m.

Turn off notifications for all apps at once

If you need everything silent when ready, open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones). Tap the Focus icon — it looks like a circle with lines through it. Select Do Not Disturb. All notifications will be silenced until you turn it off.

Do Not Disturb is temporary and quick, but it silences everything. If you want more control — like keeping calls from certain people or allowing work notifications but not social media — create a custom Focus instead.

Manage notifications from specific contacts

Some apps, like Messages and Phone, let you control notifications by contact rather than by app. Open Settings > Notifications, tap Messages (or Phone), then scroll down to Customize Notifications. Tap VIP to set which contacts you always want to hear from, even during Focus modes.

You can also mute individual conversations without affecting the whole app. Open Messages, swipe left on a conversation, tap the bell icon with a slash through it, and choose how long to mute it. The conversation stays in your inbox, but you will not see notifications from it.

What happens when you turn off notifications

Turning off notifications does not delete messages, emails, or other content. The app continues to receive information — you just will not be alerted about it. When you open the app, you will see everything that arrived while notifications were off.

Some apps like Phone and Messages cannot be fully silenced because they are core to how your iPhone works. You can change how their alerts appear, but you cannot turn them off completely. For these apps, use Focus modes or change the alert style to minimize interruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off notifications for just one contact in an app?

Yes, for Messages and some other apps. Open the app, find the conversation or contact, swipe left (or long-press on older iPhones), and look for a mute or bell icon. You can mute that contact for an hour, a day, or until you unmute it manually. Other apps do not offer per-contact control.

Will the app still work if I turn off notifications?

Completely. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts — the app functions normally. You can still open it, send messages, check email, or use any feature. You just will not be interrupted by pings and badges.

How do I turn notifications back on after turning them off?

Go back to Settings > Notifications, tap the app name, and switch Allow Notifications back on. You can also adjust the alert style, sounds, and badges at the same time if you want to fine-tune how it alerts you.

What is the difference between turning off notifications and using Do Not Disturb?

Turning off notifications for an app is permanent until you change it. Do Not Disturb is temporary — it silences all notifications until you turn it off. Focus modes sit in the middle: they silence specific apps on a schedule you set.

Can I silence notifications from one app but keep badges?

Yes. Open Settings > Notifications, tap the app, turn off Allow Notifications, then scroll down and turn Badges back on. The red number will still appear on the app icon, but you will not get sounds, banners, or alerts.