Where to find notification settings on your iPhone

Notifications on iPhone live in the Settings app, not in the apps themselves. Open Settings, scroll down to find the app you want to adjust, tap it, and you'll see notification options. If you don't see an app listed, it means that app hasn't requested permission to send notifications yet — you may need to open the app first and allow it when prompted.

You can also reach notification settings faster by going to Settings > Notifications, which shows every app that has permission to notify you, organized by how recently you changed their settings. This view is useful if you want to review what's already turned on across your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Notifications are controlled in Settings > [App Name], not inside the apps themselves, and each app's settings are separate.
  • You can turn notifications fully on or off for an app, or use "Allow Notifications" to keep them but control where they appear and how they sound.
  • Lock screen, notification center, and banner notifications are three different places your alerts can show up, and you can pick which ones you want for each app.
  • Turning off "Sounds and Haptics" silences an app's notifications without deleting them — they still arrive, just silently.
  • If an app never asks for permission when you first open it, you can manually turn notifications on in Settings and the app will start sending them.

Turning notifications fully on for an app

Open Settings, scroll to the app you want to notify you, and tap it. At the top, you'll see "Allow Notifications" with a toggle switch. If it's off (gray), tap it to turn it on (green). Once you do, the app can send you notifications, and you'll see additional options appear below that toggle for controlling where and how those notifications arrive.

If the app is already on the list in Settings but "Allow Notifications" is grayed out, the app itself may not support notifications, or you may need to open the app and enable notifications from inside it first. Some apps require you to turn on notifications in two places: once in Settings and once in the app's own preferences.

Choosing where notifications appear on your screen

After you turn "Allow Notifications" on, you'll see three main choices for how notifications show up: Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners. Lock Screen means alerts appear on your locked phone. Notification Center means they collect in the pull-down menu at the top of your screen. Banners means they pop up briefly at the top while you're using your phone. You can turn any of these on or off independently — an app can notify your lock screen but not send banners, for example.

Most people leave all three on for important apps and turn off banners for less urgent ones, since banners interrupt what you're doing. If you turn off all three, the app still sends notifications, but you won't see them unless you manually check Notification Center later.

Controlling sounds, badges, and preview text

Below the location settings, you'll find toggles for "Sounds and Haptics," "Badges," and "Show Preview." Sounds and Haptics controls whether your phone makes a noise or vibrates when a notification arrives. Badges are the red circles with numbers on app icons — turning this off means you won't see how many unread messages or alerts you have at a glance. Show Preview controls whether the notification displays the actual message text or just says "1 New Message."

You can also tap "Sounds" to pick a specific sound for that app instead of the default, or choose "None" to keep notifications silent. This is useful if you want certain apps to notify you visually but not interrupt you with sound.

Setting notification priority and grouping

Further down in most apps' notification settings, you'll see "Notification Grouping," which controls whether multiple notifications from the same app stack together or appear separately. "Automatic" groups them by default. "By App" stacks all notifications from that app together. "Off" shows each one separately, which can clutter your lock screen if the app sends many alerts.

Some apps also have a "Time Sensitive" option, which lets certain notifications bypass your Do Not Disturb settings. This is useful for apps like Maps or your bank, where you might need an alert even when you've silenced your phone. Only turn this on for apps where missing a notification could actually matter.

Turning notifications on for apps that never asked permission

Some apps don't request notification permission when you first install them. If you want an app to start notifying you, go to Settings > Notifications, scroll down to find the app, and tap it. If "Allow Notifications" is off, turn it on. The next time that app sends a notification, it will reach you. You don't need to open the app or do anything else — changing the toggle in Settings is enough.

If you don't see the app in the Notifications list at all, it may not support notifications, or it may only appear after you've opened it at least once. Open the app, use it briefly, then check Settings > Notifications again.

Undoing changes and resetting notification defaults

If you turn off notifications for an app and want to turn them back on, the process is the same: Settings > [App Name] > "Allow Notifications" > toggle on. There's no "reset to default" button — you control each setting individually. If you've changed sounds, badges, and preview settings and want to start over, you'll need to adjust each one back to what you prefer.

If an app stops notifying you even though "Allow Notifications" is on, try closing the app completely (swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe the app away), then open it again. Sometimes the app needs to reconnect to your phone's notification system. If that doesn't work, turn "Allow Notifications" off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between turning off notifications and turning off sounds?

Turning off "Allow Notifications" completely stops the app from sending alerts — nothing arrives. Turning off "Sounds and Haptics" keeps notifications coming, but silently. They'll still appear on your lock screen and in Notification Center; you just won't hear or feel them.

Can I turn notifications on for just one type of message from an app?

Not directly in iOS settings. You control notifications at the app level, not by message type. However, many apps like Mail and Messages have their own internal settings where you can choose which contacts or accounts notify you. Check the app's preferences to see if it offers that level of control.

Why does an app appear in my Notification Center but not in Settings?

If you see notifications from an app but it's not listed in Settings > Notifications, the app may have sent notifications before you updated iOS, or the app may have been uninstalled and reinstalled. Try opening the app and checking its own notification settings, or uninstall and reinstall it to reset its permission request.

Do notifications still arrive if my phone is in Do Not Disturb mode?

Notifications still arrive and appear on your lock screen, but your phone won't make sounds or vibrate. Some apps marked as "Time Sensitive" will bypass Do Not Disturb and alert you anyway. You can customize Do Not Disturb in Settings > Focus to allow specific apps or contacts through.

What happens if I never allow an app to send notifications?

The app will continue to work normally, but it won't be able to send you alerts. You can change your mind anytime by going to Settings > [App Name] > "Allow Notifications" and turning it on. The app doesn't need permission again — it will start notifying you when ready.