Where to find push notification settings
Push notifications come from apps and websites, and each one has its own on-off switch. You do not turn off all notifications at once from one place — instead, you go into each app or website that bothers you and disable them individually. The location of this switch depends on what device you are using and which app sent the notification.
On an iPhone, most app notifications live in Settings > Notifications. On an Android phone, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications. On a Mac, check System Settings > Notifications. On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications. Once you are in the right menu, you will see a list of every app that has ever asked permission to send you notifications, and you can turn each one off by name.
Websites that send notifications are trickier because they do not appear in your phone's settings. Instead, you manage them inside your web browser — usually through a menu in the address bar or in the browser's own settings. The exact steps vary between Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, but the principle is the same: find the site in your notification permissions list and delete it.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are managed per app or website, not globally, so you turn off only the ones that interrupt you.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and toggle off the apps you do not want to hear from.
- On Android, open Settings > Apps & Notifications, select the app, and turn off notifications there.
- Website notifications are managed inside your browser, usually by clicking the lock icon in the address bar and removing the site from your notification list.
- Some apps let you choose which types of notifications to receive — like messages but not promotions — instead of turning them off completely.
Turning off notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has permission to send you notifications, sorted by how recently they sent one. Find the app you want to silence and tap its name.
Once you are inside that app's notification settings, you will see a toggle labeled "Allow Notifications" at the top. Tap it to turn it off. The app will no longer send you any notifications, though it will still work normally otherwise. If you want to keep some notifications but not others — for example, messages from friends but not promotional offers — tap "Customize Notifications" instead and choose which types to keep.
If you want to turn off notifications for many apps at once, you can also adjust the notification style for each app. Some people prefer "Silent" (notifications arrive but make no sound or vibration) or "None" (no notifications at all). You can also turn off the red badge numbers that appear on app icons, or disable notifications only on your lock screen while keeping them in Notification Center.
Turning off notifications on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications. You may see a list of apps right away, or you may need to tap "See all apps" first. Find the app you want to silence and tap it.
Once you are inside the app's settings, look for a toggle or option labeled "Notifications" or "Show notifications." Tap it to turn notifications off for that app. Some Android phones also let you tap "Notification settings" to fine-tune which types of notifications you receive — for example, you might allow messages but block promotional content.
If you cannot find the app in your main apps list, it may be a system app that Android hides by default. Tap the menu icon (three dots) and select "Show system" to reveal them. You can silence system apps the same way you silence regular apps, though some system notifications (like low battery warnings) may not have an off switch.
Turning off website notifications in your browser
Websites can ask your browser for permission to send you notifications, just like apps do. These notifications appear on your desktop or phone even when you are not visiting the website. To stop them, you need to remove the website from your browser's notification list.
In Chrome, click the lock icon in the address bar (or the info icon if there is no lock), then click "Permissions" or "Site settings." Find "Notifications" in the list and change it from "Allow" to "Block." In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications and find the site in the list, then change its setting to "Deny." On Firefox, click the menu icon, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click "Manage Exceptions" next to Notifications to find and remove the site.
If a website keeps asking for notification permission even after you have blocked it, you can click "Block" when the prompt appears instead of "Allow" or "Not now." Choosing "Block" tells the browser to stop asking you about that site.
Silencing notifications without turning them off completely
You do not always have to choose between all notifications or none. Many apps let you keep notifications but change how they reach you. On iPhone, you can set an app to "Silent" so notifications arrive without sound or vibration, or choose "Time Sensitive" for only the most important alerts. On Android, you can set a notification channel to "Silent" or lower its importance level so it does not make noise or light up your screen.
Some apps also let you turn off notifications during certain hours. iPhone has a "Scheduled Summary" feature that collects notifications from an app and delivers them all at once at a time you choose, instead of interrupting you throughout the day. Android has a similar feature called "Notification grouping" on some phones. Check the app's own settings — not just your phone's settings — to see if it offers a "Do Not Disturb" schedule or quiet hours.
Stopping notifications from apps you use occasionally
If you use an app only once in a while but it sends constant notifications, you have a few options. The simplest is to turn notifications off entirely and check the app manually when you want to use it. But if you want to keep notifications for important things, look for the app's own settings inside the app itself.
Many apps have a Settings or Preferences menu (usually accessed through a gear icon or menu button) where you can choose which notifications to receive. For example, a shopping app might let you turn off promotional notifications but keep order updates, or a social media app might let you silence notifications from people you do not follow. These in-app settings are often more detailed than what your phone's notification menu offers, so check there before deciding to turn everything off.
What happens when you turn off notifications
When you turn off notifications for an app, the app itself keeps working — it just stops interrupting you. Messages, updates, and activity will still happen inside the app; you straightforward will not be alerted about them. You can still open the app and see what has happened since you last checked.
Some apps may show a red badge number on their icon even when notifications are off, letting you know something new has arrived. If you want to remove those badges too, look for a "Badge App Icon" toggle in the app's notification settings and turn it off. This is useful if you want the app to be completely silent until you decide to open it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact or person?
It depends on the app. Messaging apps like iMessage and WhatsApp let you mute individual conversations so you do not get notifications from that person, even though notifications from others still come through. Social media apps often let you mute specific accounts or turn off notifications from people you do not follow. Check the app's settings for the contact or account you want to silence.
Why does an app keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?
Make sure you turned off notifications in the right place. Some apps have notification settings both in your phone's settings menu and inside the app itself — you may need to turn them off in both places. Also check whether the app has a "Do Not Disturb" schedule that is currently active, which can override your notification settings during certain hours.
How do I stop a website from asking for notification permission?
Click "Block" when the website asks for permission, rather than "Allow" or "Not now." This tells your browser to stop asking you about that site. If you already allowed it and want to revoke permission, find the site in your browser's notification settings and change it from "Allow" to "Block."
Will turning off notifications affect my ability to receive calls or texts?
No. Phone calls and text messages are handled separately from app notifications. Turning off notifications for the Messages or Phone app will silence message and call alerts, but you can turn those back on while keeping other app notifications off. Your phone's Do Not Disturb mode has its own settings for allowing calls and texts through even when notifications are silenced.
Can I turn off notifications for all apps at once?
Not with a single switch, but you can turn off notifications for many apps quickly by going through your notification settings list and disabling them one by one. On iPhone, you can also enable Do Not Disturb to silence all notifications temporarily, though this is meant for specific times rather than permanent use.