Where notifications come from and why you have so many
Notifications pile up because apps and websites are designed to pull your attention back to them. Your phone's operating system (iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS) lets each app request permission to send you alerts — and most apps ask for this permission during setup, when you're focused on getting the app working rather than reading the fine print.
Once an app has permission, it can send notifications for almost anything: new messages, activity from people you follow, reminders about unused features, sales, weather updates, or just "come back and use us." Your email client, messaging apps, social media, news apps, shopping apps, and even your fitness tracker can all be sending notifications independently. The result is dozens of interruptions a day, most of which you never asked for directly.
The good news is that you control where notifications go. You can turn them off entirely, silence them so they appear but don't make noise, or let only certain apps through. The steps differ depending on what device you're using and whether you want to block notifications from a specific app or from an entire category.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn off alerts, sounds, or badges individually.
- On Android, open Settings > Apps & Notifications, select an app, and toggle off notifications or adjust what type of alerts it sends.
- On Windows, open Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and disable notifications by app or turn off the entire notification system.
- On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications and choose which apps can send alerts and how they appear.
- Turning off notifications from an app does not delete the app or prevent it from working — it only stops the alerts.
Turning off notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Notifications. You'll see a list of every app that has ever requested notification permission. Tap any app name to see its notification settings.
For each app, you can toggle off Allow Notifications entirely, which stops all alerts from that app. Or you can keep notifications on but change how they arrive: turn off Sounds to silence the alert, turn off Badges to hide the red number on the app icon, or turn off Show Previews to hide the message content on your lock screen. You can also change the notification style from Banners (which appear at the top and disappear) to Alerts (which stay until you dismiss them) or turn them off entirely.
If you want to silence notifications temporarily without changing these settings, swipe down from the top of your screen to open Control Center and tap Focus. You can set up a custom Focus that blocks notifications from everything except people or apps you choose, or use a preset like Do Not Disturb, Sleep, or Work.
Turning off notifications on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications (the exact name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it Apps, for example). Tap Notifications or App Notifications. You'll see a list of apps; tap the one you want to change.
Toggle off Allow notifications to stop all alerts from that app. If you want to keep notifications but change how they work, look for options like Notification sounds, Vibration, or Importance level. Setting importance to Low means notifications will appear in your notification drawer but won't make noise or pop up on your screen.
To silence notifications across your entire phone temporarily, press the volume down button and look for a Do Not Disturb or Mute option. You can also go to Settings > Sound & Vibration and toggle on Do Not Disturb to block notifications for a set time period.
Turning off notifications on Windows
Open Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"). Go to System > Notifications & Actions. At the top, you can toggle off Get notifications from apps and other senders to disable all notifications at once.
If you want to keep notifications but block specific apps, scroll down to Get notifications from these senders and look for the app you want to silence. Click it and toggle off Notifications. You can also change whether notifications show on your lock screen or in the notification center by adjusting the settings below.
Windows also has a Focus Assist feature that silences notifications during certain hours or when you're using specific apps. Go to System > Focus Assist and choose Priority only (which lets through only notifications from people in your priority list) or Alarms only (which blocks everything except alarms).
Turning off notifications on Mac
Open System Settings and click Notifications in the sidebar. You'll see a list of apps on the left. Click any app to see its notification settings on the right.
Toggle off Allow notifications to stop that app from sending alerts. You can also change the notification style to Banners (which appear briefly) or Alerts (which stay until dismissed), or turn off Sound and Badge individually. If you want to hide notification previews on your lock screen, toggle off Show previews.
To silence notifications temporarily, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner and toggle on Do Not Disturb. You can set it to last for an hour, until the end of the day, or until you turn it off manually.
Stopping notifications from websites and email
Websites can also send notifications if you've given them permission. In most browsers, click the lock icon next to the website address in the search bar, then click Notifications and change the setting to Block. If you've already blocked a site and want to allow it again, click the lock icon and change it back to Allow.
For email, the steps depend on which email service you use. In Gmail, open an email from the sender, click the three dots, and select Mute to stop notifications from that conversation or sender. In Outlook, right-click a sender's name and choose Mute. Most email apps also have notification settings in their preferences where you can turn off alerts for new mail entirely or set them to arrive only during certain hours.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off notifications does not delete the app, prevent it from working, or stop it from receiving new messages or updates. It only stops the alerts from reaching you. If someone sends you a message in an app with notifications turned off, the message will still arrive — you just won't be notified about it. You can still open the app and see the message whenever you choose.
If you turn off notifications and later want them back, you can follow the same steps to turn them back on. There's no penalty or waiting period — the change takes effect immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications from one person but keep them from everyone else?
It depends on the app. Most messaging apps let you mute individual conversations or contacts. In iMessage, swipe left on a conversation and tap Mute. In WhatsApp, long-press a chat and tap Mute notifications. In Gmail, you can mute individual senders. Check your app's settings to see if this option exists.
What's the difference between muting and turning off notifications?
Muting usually means the notification arrives but silently — no sound or vibration. Turning off notifications means the alert doesn't arrive at all. Some apps use these terms differently, so check the specific wording in your app's settings.
Why do I still see notifications after turning them off?
You may have turned off notifications in one place but not another. Check both your phone's system settings and the app's own settings — some apps have notification controls in both places. Also check whether you've set up a Focus or Do Not Disturb that's blocking notifications temporarily.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times?
Yes. iPhone's Focus feature, Android's Do Not Disturb, Windows' Focus Assist, and Mac's Do Not Disturb all let you set schedules. You can also create a Focus or Do Not Disturb that turns on automatically when you open certain apps, like a work app or a game.
Will turning off notifications affect my ability to receive calls or texts?
Turning off app notifications will not affect phone calls or text messages, which are handled separately by your phone's system. However, if you turn on Do Not Disturb or Focus, calls and texts may be silenced unless you've added those contacts to an exception list. Check your Do Not Disturb settings to see which calls and messages are allowed through.