Where to find and turn off notifications
Notifications live in different places depending on what device you use. On a smartphone, they stack up in your notification center — the panel you pull down from the top of the screen on Android or swipe down from the top-right corner on iPhone. On a computer, they appear in the bottom-right corner on Windows or the top-right on Mac. Each notification usually has an X or close button you can tap to dismiss it right then, but that only removes that one alert. To stop them from coming back, you need to change the settings in the app or service that sent it.
The fastest way to silence everything at once is to turn on Do Not Disturb mode (iPhone and Mac) or Quiet Hours (Android and Windows). This stops all notifications from appearing on your screen and mutes the sounds, though most devices still let calls from your contacts through. You can set a schedule so Do Not Disturb turns on automatically at night and off in the morning. This is useful when you need focus time but don't want to dig into individual app settings.
Key Takeaways
- Dismissing a notification removes it from your screen but does not stop future ones — you must change the app's settings to prevent them from returning.
- Do Not Disturb (iPhone and Mac) or Quiet Hours (Android and Windows) silences all notifications at once and can run on a schedule you set.
- Most apps let you turn off notifications in their own settings menu, separate from your device's notification panel.
- You can usually choose which types of notifications to keep — for example, allowing messages but blocking promotional alerts from the same app.
- Notification settings sync across devices on the same account, so turning off notifications on your phone may affect your computer and tablet too.
Turning off notifications on iPhone and iPad
Open Settings and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has sent you a notification. Tap the app name to open its notification settings. At the top, toggle off "Allow Notifications" to stop all alerts from that app. If you want to keep some notifications but block others, leave "Allow Notifications" on and scroll down to see more options.
Most apps let you turn off specific types of notifications. For example, you might allow messages from a social media app but turn off promotional notifications. You can also change the notification style — choose "Banners" if you want alerts that disappear on their own, "Alerts" if you want ones that stay until you dismiss them, or "None" to see notifications only in your notification center without any sound or visual interruption. If an app is not in the Notifications list, it has never sent you a notification, so there is nothing to turn off.
Turning off notifications on Android phones
Open Settings and go to Apps or Application Manager — the exact name depends on your phone brand. Scroll to find the app you want to silence. Tap it, then look for Notifications or App Notifications. You will usually see a toggle labeled "Show Notifications" or "Allow Notifications" — turn it off. Some phones also let you tap "Notification Categories" to turn off specific types of alerts while keeping others.
If you cannot find the app in Settings, try opening the app itself and looking for a Settings or Preferences menu inside it. Many apps have their own notification controls separate from your phone's system settings. You can also long-press a notification in your notification center and tap "Manage" or "Settings" to jump straight to that app's notification controls without hunting through menus.
Turning off notifications on Windows computers
Click the Start button and open Settings. Go to System, then Notifications. You will see a list of apps that can send notifications. Toggle off the ones you want to silence. You can also scroll down to see more detailed options — for example, you can turn off notification sounds while still seeing the alerts on your screen, or hide notifications from specific apps when you are using full-screen programs.
Some apps, like Outlook or Teams, have their own notification settings inside the app that override your system settings. If turning off notifications in Windows Settings does not work, open the app and look for a Settings or Preferences menu. Search for "Notifications" in that menu to find the controls. Windows also has a Focus Assist feature similar to Do Not Disturb — click the notification icon in the bottom-right corner and select "Focus Assist" to silence everything temporarily.
Turning off notifications on Mac computers
Click the Apple menu and open System Settings. Go to Notifications. You will see a list of apps on the left side. Click an app name to see its notification options on the right. Uncheck "Allow Notifications" to turn them off completely. If you want to keep notifications but change how they appear, you can turn off sounds, badges, or banners individually while leaving the notification center alerts on.
Mac also has a Focus mode that works like Do Not Disturb on iPhone. Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner and select Focus. You can choose from preset options like Do Not Disturb, Work, or Sleep, or create a custom focus that blocks notifications from everyone except your contacts. Set a schedule so your focus turns on and off automatically — for example, Work focus could run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Controlling notifications from websites and email
Websites can send notifications to your browser even when you are not on their page. If you see a notification from a website, right-click it and select "Settings" or "Manage Notifications" — this varies by browser. You can also go to your browser's settings, find the Notifications section, and see a list of websites that have permission to send alerts. Click the X next to any website to revoke that permission.
Email notifications are usually controlled inside your email app or account settings, not in your device settings. Open Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or whichever service you use and look for Settings or Preferences. Search for "Notifications" to find the controls. You can usually choose which types of emails trigger notifications — for example, you might want alerts for messages from your boss but not from mailing lists. Some email services also let you turn off notifications during certain hours.
What to do if notifications keep coming back
If you turned off notifications but they still appear, the app may have reset your settings during an update, or you may have accidentally turned them back on. Go back to your notification settings and confirm the toggle is still off. Some apps also have notification settings in two places — once in your device settings and once inside the app itself. Check both locations.
If an app is sending notifications even though you turned them off in your device settings, open the app and look for its own notification controls. Many apps override your system settings if they have their own notification menu. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app, though this is usually a last resort. Before you do, check whether the app has a "Do Not Disturb" or "Quiet Mode" option inside it — some apps have this instead of a full notifications toggle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop me from receiving messages or calls?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts and sounds — messages and calls still arrive on your device. You just will not see a pop-up or hear a sound when they come in. If you need to know when someone contacts you, keep notifications on for messaging and phone apps but turn them off for everything else.
Can I turn off notifications from one contact but keep them from others?
This depends on the app. Most messaging apps let you mute individual conversations or contacts — look for a mute button or option when you open a chat. Your phone's system notifications settings usually control all alerts from an app at once, but the app itself may have finer controls. Check inside the app first.
What is the difference between dismissing a notification and turning off notifications?
Dismissing removes one notification from your screen right now. Turning off notifications in settings stops that app from sending you any more alerts in the future. You have to do both if you want to clear your screen and prevent new ones from appearing.
Do notification settings sync across my phone, tablet, and computer?
Partially. If you use the same account on multiple devices, some settings sync — for example, Do Not Disturb schedules on Apple devices. However, app notification settings usually do not sync. You may need to turn off notifications separately on each device.
How do I stop notifications without turning them off completely?
Use Do Not Disturb (iPhone and Mac) or Quiet Hours (Android and Windows) to silence everything temporarily without changing your settings. You can also change notification styles to banners instead of alerts — banners disappear on their own and are less disruptive. Some apps let you turn off sounds and badges while keeping silent notifications in your notification center.