App icon badges are the small red circles with numbers that appear on your app icons
An app icon badge is a small notification indicator that sits on top of your app's icon on your home screen or app drawer. It is usually a red circle with a white number inside — like a "3" or "12" — though some apps use different colors or just a dot. The number tells you how many unread items are waiting inside that app: unread emails, new messages, pending tasks, or items in a queue.
Badges are designed to catch your eye without making a sound or lighting up your screen. They sit there quietly until you open the app or dismiss them. Unlike notifications that pop up and demand attention, badges let you know something is waiting without interrupting what you are doing right now.
The problem is that badges can pile up. If you have 47 unread emails, a badge showing "47" stays on your Mail icon all day. If you have badges on five different apps, your home screen starts to feel like a to-do list that never clears. That is why learning to control them matters — especially if you came here from the notifications guide looking for ways to reduce digital noise.
Key Takeaways
- App icon badges are small numbered circles on your app icons that show how many unread items are waiting inside.
- Badges appear on iOS, Android, and some desktop apps, though the exact look and behavior varies by device and app.
- You can turn off badges for individual apps or all apps at once through your phone's notification settings.
- Some apps let you clear badges without reading every item — opening the app or swiping a notification often clears the badge automatically.
- Turning off badges for low-priority apps helps reduce visual clutter without losing access to the app itself.
Where badges appear and what they count
On iPhone and iPad, badges appear in the top-right corner of the app icon. They show on your home screen, in folders, in the App Library, and in the dock at the bottom. The badge counts whatever the app developer decided it should count — usually unread messages, emails, or notifications, but sometimes pending tasks, items in a cart, or calendar events.
On Android, badges work similarly but look slightly different depending on your phone maker and Android version. Samsung phones, Google Pixels, and others all display badges, though the style and position may vary. Some Android apps use a small dot instead of a number, while others show the actual count.
On Mac and Windows, badges appear on dock icons or taskbar items. Mail, Messages, and other apps often show badge counts here too. The behavior is the same: the badge stays until you open the app or the app decides the items have been read.
Not every app uses badges. Some apps do not have any unread concept — a fitness app or a calculator has nothing to badge. Others let the developer choose whether to show them. That is why some of your apps have badges and others never do.
How to turn off badges on iPhone and iPad
Open Settings and go to Notifications. Scroll down and tap the app you want to change. Look for the option called Badge App Icon or Badges — the exact wording depends on your iOS version. Toggle it off.
If you want to turn off badges for many apps at once, you can do this one app at a time, but there is no master switch to disable all badges everywhere. You have to go through each app individually. Start with the ones that bother you most — Mail, Messages, or social media apps often generate the most badges.
If you turn off badges but want to keep other notifications (like sounds or alerts), that is fine. Turning off badges does not affect whether the app can send you notifications in other ways. You are only removing the small number from the icon.
How to turn off badges on Android
The process varies depending on your phone maker, but the general path is Settings > Apps or Applications > select the app > Notifications. Look for Badge, Notification Badges, or Show Badges and toggle it off.
On Google Pixel phones, go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced > Notification badges and toggle off. On Samsung phones, the path is Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Show notification badges. Other manufacturers may place this setting in slightly different locations.
If you cannot find the badge setting in your phone's main settings, try opening the app itself and looking in its own settings or preferences. Some apps let you control badges from within the app rather than from your phone's system settings.
How to clear badges without reading everything
You do not have to read all 47 emails to make the badge go away. Opening the app usually clears the badge automatically — the app marks everything as read just by launching it. This happens with Mail, Messages, and most social media apps.
If opening the app does not clear the badge, try swiping away a notification from that app in your notification center. On iPhone, swipe left on the notification and tap Clear. On Android, swipe the notification away or tap the X. This often clears the badge even if you have not opened the app.
Some apps have a specific "Mark as Read" button or option in their settings. Mail lets you mark all emails as read without opening each one. Slack and Teams have options to mark entire channels as read at once. Check the app's menu or settings if you want to clear the badge without launching the full app.
If nothing else works, you can always just turn off badges for that app. The items are still there — you just will not see a number reminding you about them.
Why some apps show badges you cannot control
Some apps show badges that do not go away even when you turn off badge notifications in your settings. This usually means the app is counting something the developer decided was important — like a pending software update, a security alert, or a required action.
For example, the Settings app on iPhone may show a badge if a system update is available. You cannot turn this off through notification settings because it is not a notification — it is a status indicator. The same applies to some banking apps that badge when you have a pending transaction or security issue.
If a badge is truly stuck and will not clear, try opening the app and looking for what it is counting. Often there is a setting, update, or action waiting for you. Once you complete it, the badge clears automatically. If the badge is from a system app and you cannot clear it, restarting your phone sometimes helps.
Badges versus notifications: which one to turn off
Badges and notifications are separate things. A notification is the alert that pops up or makes a sound. A badge is the quiet number on the icon. You can have one without the other.
If an app is sending you too many notifications but you still want to know when something important arrives, turn off the notifications but keep the badge. You will not get interrupted, but the badge will remind you to check the app later.
If an app generates a lot of badges but you do not care about seeing them, turn off the badge but keep notifications on. You will get alerted when something arrives, but the icon will stay clean.
If you do not want either badges or notifications from an app, turn off both. The app will still work — you just will not be reminded about new items at all. You can always open the app manually whenever you want to check it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do badges use battery or data?
No. Badges are just visual indicators that sit on your icon. They do not drain battery or use data. The app itself may use resources when it is checking for new items, but the badge display itself is nearly free.
Can I turn off badges for all apps at once?
Not on most phones. iPhone and Android require you to turn off badges app by app. There is no master switch. Start with the apps that bother you most and work through them over time.
What if I turn off badges but still want to know when something important arrives?
Keep notifications turned on. Notifications will still alert you with a sound, vibration, or pop-up. The badge is just an extra visual reminder — turning it off does not silence the app.
Why does my badge show a number that does not match how many unread items I have?
Different apps count differently. Some count unread messages, others count notifications, and some count pending actions. The app developer decides what the number means. If the count seems wrong, opening the app usually syncs it with the actual number of unread items.
Can I customize what a badge counts?
Usually not. The app developer decides what the badge counts, and you cannot change it. Some apps let you choose in their own settings, but most do not. Your only options are to turn the badge off or leave it on.