Where to find push notification settings on your iPhone
Push notifications are turned on or off in the Settings app, not in individual programs. Open Settings, tap Notifications, then scroll down to find the program you want to hear from. Tap the program name, then toggle the switch next to "Allow Notifications" to the right (it will turn green). That single switch controls whether that program can send you alerts at all.
If you do not see a program listed under Notifications, it means the program has never asked permission to send you alerts. The next time you open that program, it will ask. You can say yes or no at that moment, and you can always change your mind later by returning to Settings > Notifications.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are controlled in Settings > Notifications, where you toggle each program on or off individually.
- Turning on "Allow Notifications" for a program does not mean you will be flooded — you can still control how alerts appear and what sound they make.
- If a program does not appear in your Notifications list, it has not yet asked permission; it will ask the first time you open it.
- You can turn notifications on for some programs and off for others without affecting anything else on your phone.
Controlling how notifications look and sound once they are on
After you toggle "Allow Notifications" on, more options appear below it. The most useful ones are "Sounds" (which you can turn off to get alerts silently), "Badges" (the red number on the program icon), and "Lock Screen" (whether alerts show on your lock screen). You do not have to use all of these — you can have sound on but badges off, or badges on but sound off.
Scroll down further and you will see "Notification Grouping". By default, iPhone stacks notifications from the same program together so they do not clutter your screen. If you want each alert separate, change this to "Off". Most people leave it on.
Turning notifications on for programs that have not asked yet
Some programs do not ask for permission to send notifications when you first install them. You can still turn them on manually. Open Settings > Notifications, scroll to the very bottom where it says "Allow Notifications", and look for a section called "Not Determined". Programs listed there have never asked permission. Tap one, then toggle "Allow Notifications" on.
If you do not see a "Not Determined" section, all programs have already asked or do not support notifications at all. In that case, open the program itself and look in its settings menu — some programs have their own notification controls that work alongside the iPhone settings.
What happens when you turn notifications on
Turning on "Allow Notifications" means the program can send you alerts, but it does not mean you will be bothered constantly. The program still decides when to actually send something. A messaging program might send a notification every time someone writes to you, while a news program might send only one per day. You control the frequency by adjusting settings inside each program itself, not in iPhone Settings.
When a notification arrives, it appears on your lock screen, in your notification center (swipe down from the top), and optionally as a banner at the top of the screen while you are using your phone. You can tap it to open the program, or swipe it away to dismiss it. Dismissed notifications do not come back.
Turning notifications off for programs you no longer want to hear from
Go to Settings > Notifications, find the program, and toggle "Allow Notifications" to the left (it will turn gray). The program can no longer send you any alerts. You will not see a notification center entry, a badge, a sound, or anything else from that program. If you change your mind later, toggle it back on the same way.
Turning off notifications does not uninstall the program or stop it from working — it just silences it. You can still open the program and use it normally. The program will not know you turned off its notifications.
Notifications on your lock screen versus your home screen
By default, notifications appear on your lock screen (the screen you see before you unlock your phone) and in your notification center. If you want to see them only in the notification center and not on the lock screen itself, go to Settings > Notifications > [Program Name] and toggle "Lock Screen" off. This is useful for programs you want to stay aware of but do not want visible to someone looking at your phone.
You can also choose how notifications appear while you are actively using your phone. In the same settings, look for "Alerts" and choose between "Banners" (a bar that slides down from the top and disappears on its own) or "Sheets" (a box that stays on screen until you dismiss it). Banners are less intrusive; sheets demand your attention.
Troubleshooting notifications that are not working
If you turned on notifications but are not receiving them, first check that "Allow Notifications" is actually toggled on — the switch should be green. Then check that the program itself has not been muted. Open the program, look for a settings or preferences menu, and search for notification controls there. Some programs have their own master switch that overrides the iPhone setting.
If notifications are still not arriving, restart your iPhone. Hold down the side button and either volume button, slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. This fixes most notification problems. If the program still does not send alerts after a restart, try uninstalling and reinstalling it — sometimes the permission gets stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn on notifications for one program but not others?
Yes. Each program has its own toggle in Settings > Notifications. You can turn on notifications for Messages and Mail but leave them off for Games and Social Media. The settings for each program are completely separate.
What is the difference between a badge and a notification?
A badge is the red number that appears on a program icon (like "5" on your Mail icon). A notification is an alert that pops up on your screen or lock screen. You can have one without the other — badges on but no sound, or alerts but no badge.
If I turn off notifications, will the program stop working?
No. Turning off notifications only silences alerts. The program continues to work normally in the background. You can still open it and use it whenever you want — you just will not be interrupted by alerts.
Why does a program not appear in my Notifications list?
Programs only appear in the Notifications list after they have asked permission to send alerts. If a program has never asked, it has not appeared yet. Open the program and it will ask. You can then control it from Settings.
Can I have notifications on my lock screen but not in my notification center?
No. If you turn on "Allow Notifications", alerts appear in both places. You can turn off "Lock Screen" to hide them from your lock screen specifically, but they will still appear in your notification center when you swipe down from the top.