Where to find push notification settings on your device
Push notifications are turned on by default on most phones and computers, but the exact location of the setting depends on what device you use. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, then tap the app name to see its notification options. On Android, open Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications, find the app, and toggle notifications on. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. On Mac, open System Preferences > Notifications, select the app, and check the box next to "Allow notifications from this app".
If you cannot find the setting in your device's main settings menu, the app itself may have its own notification controls. Open the app, look for a menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or three dots), and search for "notifications" or "settings". Some apps let you turn notifications on or off directly from there without touching your device settings.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are usually on by default, so you may only need to check that they have not been turned off by accident.
- iPhone notifications live in Settings > Notifications; Android uses Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications; Windows and Mac have their own system-wide notification panels.
- You can turn notifications on for the whole app or customize which types of alerts you receive — like silencing badges while keeping sound alerts.
- If an app's notifications are off at the device level, turning them on in the app itself will not work; you must enable them in your device settings first.
Turning notifications on for a specific app
Once you are in your device's notification settings, find the app you want to hear from. On iPhone, tap the app name and make sure the toggle next to "Allow Notifications" is switched to green (on). You will see options below it for how you want to be alerted — sound, badge (the red number on the app icon), or banner (a pop-up at the top of the screen). Choose which ones you want.
On Android, tap the app name and toggle "Show notifications" to on. You may also see a "Notification channels" option, which lets you control different types of alerts within that app separately — for example, you might want messages to make a sound but calendar reminders to be silent. On Windows and Mac, find the app in the notification settings list and check the box to allow notifications, then decide whether you want them to show in your notification center, play a sound, or both.
Customizing how notifications arrive
Most devices let you choose not just whether to get notifications, but how they reach you. On iPhone, you can set notifications to arrive silently (badge only), with a sound, or as a banner that pops up on your screen. You can also choose whether the notification appears on your lock screen, in your notification center, or both. Swipe down from the top of your screen to see your notification center and review what has come in.
Android offers similar choices: you can pick a notification sound, set it to vibrate, or keep it silent. Some apps let you create custom notification channels so that urgent messages arrive with sound while less important ones stay silent. On Windows, you can choose whether notifications appear as pop-ups in the corner of your screen or only in your notification center (which you access by clicking the time in the bottom right). On Mac, notifications appear in the top right corner by default, but you can change this in System Preferences.
What to do if notifications are not showing up
If you have turned notifications on but are not seeing them, check whether your device is in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to see Control Center; if the moon icon is highlighted, Do Not Disturb is on. On Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings and look for "Do Not Disturb" or "Focus mode". On Windows, check the bottom right corner for a focus information icon. On Mac, click the notification center icon in the top right and look for "Focus" options. Turn off Do Not Disturb and try again.
Also check whether the app itself has permission to send notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Notifications and make sure the app is listed there. On Android, open Settings > Apps, find the app, tap Permissions, and make sure "Notifications" is toggled on. If the app was recently updated, the update may have reset your notification preferences, so go back into the app's own settings and turn notifications on there as well.
Notification permissions and what they mean
When you first open an app, it often asks for permission to send you notifications. If you said "Don't Allow" or dismissed the request, the app cannot send notifications even if you turn them on in your device settings. To fix this, go to your device's notification settings, find the app, and look for a "Permissions" or "Notification permissions" section. On iPhone, you may need to go to Settings > Privacy > Notifications and toggle the app on there. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Permissions > Notifications and turn it on.
Some apps ask for different types of notification permissions — for example, permission to send alerts, permission to access your location for location-based notifications, or permission to use your microphone for voice alerts. You can usually grant some permissions and deny others. If an app is not sending notifications even after you have turned them on, check whether it is asking for a permission you have not yet granted.
Turning notifications on for web browsers
Websites can also send push notifications if you allow them. When you visit a website that offers notifications, your browser will ask "Do you want to allow notifications from this site?" If you click "Allow", the site can send you alerts even when you are not on that website. To manage these later, go to your browser settings. In Chrome, click the three dots in the top right > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications. You will see a list of websites you have allowed or blocked.
If a website's notifications are bothering you, you can block them by finding the site in this list and clicking "Block" or the trash icon. If you want to allow notifications from a site you previously blocked, find it in the "Blocked" section and click "Allow". Browser notifications work the same way as app notifications — they will not show up if your device is in Do Not Disturb mode or if you have turned off notifications for the browser itself in your device settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are notifications turned off even though I never turned them off?
Apps sometimes reset their notification settings after an update, or your device may have automatically disabled them if the app was not used for a long time. Some phones also have battery-saving modes that turn off notifications for apps running in the background. Check your device's battery settings and turn off any aggressive battery-saving features if you want notifications to arrive reliably.
Can I turn on notifications for just one type of alert from an app?
Yes. Most apps let you customize which notifications you receive. In the app's notification settings, you may see options like "Messages", "Reminders", or "Updates" — you can turn some on and leave others off. This is called notification channels on Android and notification types on iPhone. Check the app's own settings menu as well as your device settings, since some apps offer more detailed control in their own interface.
What is the difference between turning notifications on in device settings versus in the app itself?
Device settings control whether the app is allowed to send notifications at all. App settings control which notifications you want to receive. If notifications are off in your device settings, turning them on in the app will not work. Always check both places if notifications are not arriving.
Will notifications still come through if my phone is locked?
Yes, push notifications are designed to reach you whether your phone is locked or unlocked. They will appear on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as a pop-up, depending on how you have customized them. The only exception is if your device is in Do Not Disturb mode or if notifications are turned off at the device level.
How do I stop notifications from waking my screen at night?
Use Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence notifications during specific hours. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. On Android, go to Settings > Do Not Disturb and choose when it turns on automatically. You can allow notifications from certain apps or contacts to come through even during Do Not Disturb if you mark them as priority or favorites.