Where to find notification settings on your device
Notification settings live in different places depending on what device you use. On most phones and computers, you reach them through the main Settings app — not through individual programs. The fastest way is to search for "notifications" in your device's search bar, which takes you straight to the control panel instead of making you dig through menus.
On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, and you see a list of every app that sends you alerts. On an Android phone, the path is Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications. On a Windows computer, go to Settings > System > Notifications. On a Mac, it's System Settings > Notifications. Once you are in the right section, you can turn off notifications app by app, or change how each one behaves.
If you want to silence notifications right now without changing permanent settings, most devices have a quick toggle. On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap Focus or Do Not Disturb. On Android, swipe down twice from the top and look for Do Not Disturb. On Windows, click the notification icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and select Focus Assist. These temporary silences usually last until you turn them back on or until a set time passes.
Key Takeaways
- Notification settings are in your device's main Settings app under Notifications or a similar name — not in individual apps.
- You can turn off notifications completely for an app, or keep them but change when and how they appear.
- Do Not Disturb and Focus modes silence all notifications temporarily without deleting the settings you configured.
- Some apps send notifications through your web browser even if you uninstall them from your phone — check browser settings separately.
- Turning off notifications for an app does not delete your account or stop the app from working; it only stops the alerts.
Turning off notifications for individual apps
Once you are in your device's notification settings, you see a list of apps. Tap or click the app name to open its notification options. The simplest choice is a toggle that says something like "Allow Notifications" — switch it off and that app stops sending you alerts entirely. This is the fastest way if you never want to hear from that app again.
If you want to keep notifications but change how they work, look for options like "Sound," "Vibration," "Badge," or "Banner." Sound turns off the noise but keeps a visual alert. Vibration silences the sound but makes your phone buzz. Badge is the small red number that appears on the app icon — turning it off means you will not see how many unread messages or updates you have. Banner is the alert that pops up on your screen; turning it off means notifications arrive silently in your notification center instead.
Some apps let you choose which types of notifications to receive. For example, a messaging app might let you turn off group chat notifications but keep direct message alerts. A news app might let you turn off breaking news but keep sports scores. Look for a section called "Notification Types" or "Alert Categories" to customize this level of detail.
Stopping notifications from web browsers
Websites and web apps can send notifications even if you do not have their app installed on your phone. These arrive through your browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge — and they can be just as annoying as app notifications. The settings for these live in your browser, not in your device's main notification panel.
In Chrome on any device, click the three-line menu (top-right), go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. You see a list of websites that have permission to send you alerts. Click any site name and toggle notifications off, or click "Block" to prevent that site from ever asking again. In Safari on iPhone or Mac, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to find websites listed below apps. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click Settings next to Notifications.
If a website keeps asking permission to send notifications even after you have blocked it, you can prevent it from asking again. In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the website address in the search bar, find Notifications, and change it from "Ask" to "Block." This stops the permission prompt from appearing.
Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes
Do Not Disturb and Focus modes are temporary silences that work across your entire device. They mute all notifications without changing your settings, so when you turn the mode off, your notifications come back exactly as they were. This is useful when you are in a meeting, sleeping, or need to concentrate for a few hours.
On iPhone, open Control Center (swipe down from top-right), tap Focus, and choose a preset like Work, Sleep, or Driving — or create a custom one. You can set which people and apps are allowed to break through the silence. For example, you might let calls from family come through during Sleep Focus but block everything else. On Android, swipe down twice and tap Do Not Disturb, then choose how long it lasts and which contacts can still reach you.
You can schedule Do Not Disturb to turn on automatically at certain times. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > [your focus name] > Schedule and set the days and hours. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. This is especially useful for Sleep Focus — set it to turn on at 10 p.m. and off at 7 a.m., and your phone will silence itself every night without you having to remember.
Stopping notifications from email and messaging apps
Email and messaging apps often have their own notification rules on top of your device settings. Even if you turn off notifications in your device settings, the app itself might have a separate toggle. Check inside the app first by looking for Settings or Preferences, usually found in a menu or gear icon.
In Gmail, tap your profile picture, go to Manage your Google Account > Notifications, and turn off the types of alerts you do not want. In Outlook, open Settings > Mail > Notifications and toggle off the categories you want to silence. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Notifications and turn off alerts for messages, groups, or calls separately. In Slack, click your profile picture, select Preferences > Notifications, and choose which types of messages trigger alerts.
Many messaging apps also let you mute individual conversations without muting the whole app. In most apps, long-press or right-click a conversation and look for "Mute" or "Silence Notifications." You can usually set how long the mute lasts — one hour, eight hours, one day, or indefinitely. This way you stay connected to the app but do not get bothered by one specific person or group chat.
Turning off notification badges and sounds
Notification badges are the small red circles with numbers that appear on app icons — they show how many unread messages or updates you have. If you find them distracting, you can turn them off without silencing the notifications themselves. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [app name] and toggle off "Badge App Icon." On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > [app name] > Notifications and toggle off "Show notification badges."
Notification sounds are the chimes, buzzes, and alerts your device makes when something arrives. You can turn off sound for all notifications at once, or customize the sound for each app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [app name] > Sound and choose "None" to silence that app, or pick a different sound. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > [app name] > Notifications > Sound and select "Silent" or a different tone.
If you want notifications to appear silently — no sound, no vibration, no badge — some devices let you set this as a default. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > [app name] and turn off Sound, Vibration, and Badge App Icon all at once. On Android, open the app's notification settings and look for a "Notification importance" or "Priority" option, then set it to "Low" or "Silent."
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off notifications does not delete your account, stop the app from working, or prevent you from using it. It only stops the alerts from appearing on your screen or making noise. You can still open the app and see everything that happened — you just will not be interrupted by pop-ups or sounds.
If you turn off notifications and later change your mind, you can turn them back on the same way you turned them off. Your settings are not permanent; you can adjust them whenever you want. Some people turn off notifications for certain apps during work hours and turn them back on in the evening, or vice versa.
Be aware that turning off notifications for an app like a calendar, alarm, or medication reminder might mean you miss important events or doses. Before you silence an app, think about whether you actually want to miss its alerts, or whether you just want to change how they appear — for example, keeping the alert but removing the sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications for just one person or group chat?
Yes. In most messaging apps, long-press or right-click the conversation and tap "Mute" or "Silence Notifications." You can usually choose how long the mute lasts — one hour, one day, or indefinitely. The conversation stays in your app, but you will not get alerts from it.
Why do I still get notifications after turning them off in settings?
Some apps have notification settings in two places — your device settings and inside the app itself. Check both. Also check your browser settings if the notifications come from websites. If you are using a smartwatch, it might be forwarding notifications from your phone even if your phone is silenced.
Will turning off notifications stop my alarm from going off?
No. Alarms are separate from notifications on most devices. Turning on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode will silence alarms, but turning off notifications in Settings will not. If you need to silence notifications but keep your alarm, use Do Not Disturb instead and add your alarm app to the allowed list.
How do I stop a website from asking permission to send notifications?
In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the website address, find Notifications, and change it from "Ask" to "Block." In Safari, go to Settings > Notifications and find the website in the list, then toggle it off. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications and click the X next to the website.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at night automatically?
Yes. Use Do Not Disturb or Focus mode with a schedule. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus > [mode name] > Schedule and set the times. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. Your device will automatically silence notifications during those hours every day.