A notification badge is the small red circle or number that appears on an app icon to show you have unread messages or updates
When you see a red dot or a number like "3" on your email app or messaging app, that is a notification badge. It sits on top of the app icon itself — usually in the upper right corner — and stays there until you open the app and read what is waiting for you. The badge disappears once you have seen the notification, or sometimes once you have opened the app.
Badges are different from the alerts and sounds that interrupt you while you are using your phone. A badge is always visible on your home screen or app drawer, but it does not make noise or light up your screen. It is a quiet way for apps to tell you something needs your attention, without forcing that attention on you right now.
The purpose of a badge is to remind you that an app has something new without being as disruptive as a pop-up notification or a sound. You can glance at your home screen and see at a glance which apps have unread content. Some people find badges helpful for staying on top of messages. Others find them stressful because they create a constant visual reminder of things left undone.
Key Takeaways
- A notification badge is a small red dot or number that appears on top of an app icon to show unread messages or updates.
- Badges stay visible until you open the app and read the notification, or until you manually clear them.
- Unlike alerts and sounds, badges do not interrupt you — they sit quietly on your home screen waiting for you to notice them.
- You can turn badges off for individual apps or for all apps, depending on whether you find them helpful or distracting.
- Different phones use slightly different names and designs for badges, but the idea is the same across iPhone, Android, and other platforms.
How badges appear on different phones
On an iPhone, a badge is almost always a red circle with a white number inside, or just a red dot if there is only one unread item. The badge sits in the upper right corner of the app icon. Some apps use a different color — for example, some messaging apps use a green badge instead — but red is the standard.
On Android phones, badges work similarly but look slightly different depending on which phone you have and which version of Android it runs. Most Android phones show a small dot or a number on the app icon, often in the upper right corner like iPhone. Some Android phones let you customize the color or style of the badge.
On a computer, badges are less common, but some apps and browsers use them the same way. For example, your email client might show a number on its icon in the taskbar or dock to tell you how many unread messages you have.
What triggers a badge to appear
A badge appears when an app receives a notification that you have not yet seen. This could be a text message, an email, a social media comment, a calendar reminder, or any other type of alert the app is designed to send. The app decides what counts as "unread" — for some apps, opening the notification clears the badge, while for others you have to open the app itself.
Some apps let you control what creates a badge. For example, you might set your email app to show a badge only for messages from your boss, not for every message that arrives. Other apps show a badge for everything, and you cannot customize it.
A badge usually disappears automatically once you have read the notification or opened the app. However, some apps keep a badge visible until you take a specific action — like marking an email as read or dismissing a reminder. If a badge stays on an app icon even after you have opened it, the app may have a setting that controls this behavior.
Why some people turn badges off
Notification badges create a visual reminder that something is waiting for you, and for some people this feels like a constant demand for attention. Even though a badge does not make noise or vibrate, seeing a red number on your home screen can create anxiety or a sense of obligation to check the app right away. This is especially true if the badge number keeps growing — like when emails pile up faster than you can read them.
People who are trying to reduce their phone use often turn off badges because they remove one visual cue that pulls them back to their device. Without the badge, you have to actively choose to open the app rather than being reminded by a number sitting on your screen.
Some people turn off badges for specific apps but keep them for others. For example, you might want a badge on your messaging app so you do not miss important conversations, but turn off badges on social media apps to reduce the urge to check them constantly.
How to turn badges on or off on iPhone
On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications. Scroll down and tap the app you want to change. Look for the option that says "Badge App Icon" or just "Badge." Toggle it off to remove badges for that app, or toggle it on to add them back.
If you want to turn off badges for all apps at once, you cannot do that from one central setting. You have to go through each app individually. However, you can turn off all notifications for an app — which also removes its badge — by toggling off "Allow Notifications" at the top of that app's notification settings.
Some apps do not let you turn off badges separately from other notifications. If you do not see a "Badge" option for an app, it means that app does not support badge control, or the badge is tied to other notification settings you would have to change.
How to turn badges on or off on Android
On Android, the process varies depending on which phone you have and which version of Android it runs. On most phones, go to Settings, then Apps or process Manager. Find the app you want to change, tap it, then tap Notifications. Look for an option called "Badge" or "Show badge" and toggle it off.
Some Android phones have a separate Notification settings area in the main Settings menu. If you cannot find badge controls in the app's notification settings, try looking in the main Notifications section of your phone's Settings.
If your Android phone does not have a badge control option, your phone may not support badges, or the feature may be controlled by your phone's launcher — the app that manages your home screen. Some third-party launchers let you turn badges on and off, while others do not.
The difference between badges and other notification types
A notification badge is just one way an app can get your attention. A banner notification is a message that slides down from the top of your screen or pops up in the corner — it appears for a few seconds and then disappears. A sound or vibration is an alert that interrupts you with noise or a buzz. A lock screen notification shows a message on your lock screen so you can see it without unlocking your phone.
You can usually control each of these separately. For example, you might turn off sounds and banners for an app but keep badges on, so you see a quiet reminder on your home screen without being interrupted by noise. Or you might turn off badges but keep sounds on for important apps like your phone or messaging app.
The combination of notification types you choose depends on how much interruption you want and what you need to stay aware of. Badges are the least disruptive option because they do not demand your attention — they just sit there until you decide to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a badge number keep going up even though I opened the app?
The badge is counting unread items, not items you have opened. If you open your email app but do not read every email, the badge will still show a number. You may need to mark messages as read or dismiss them individually for the badge to clear. Some apps also have a "mark all as read" option that clears the badge when ready.
Can I have a badge for one app but not others?
Yes. You can turn badges on and off for each app individually. Go to your phone's notification settings, find each app, and toggle the badge option on or off. This lets you keep badges for apps you care about — like messaging — while removing them from apps that distract you.
What if I want a badge but no sound or banner?
Most phones let you control notifications separately. Turn off sounds and banners in the app's notification settings, but leave the badge option on. This gives you a quiet visual reminder without any interruption. This is a good choice for apps you want to check on your own schedule.
Do badges work the same way on all Android phones?
Mostly, but not exactly. The basic idea is the same — a number or dot on an app icon — but the settings menu location and available options vary by phone brand and Android version. If you cannot find badge controls where this guide says to look, try searching your phone's settings for the word "badge."
Can I clear a badge without opening the app?
Not usually. Most phones require you to open the app or read the notification for the badge to disappear. Some apps let you swipe away a notification from your notification center, which clears the badge without opening the app, but this depends on the app and your phone type.