Where to find notification controls on each device
The fastest way to stop notifications is to turn them off at the source — the device or app sending them. On most phones and computers, you do not need to uninstall anything or change passwords. You are simply telling the device "do not show me alerts from this app" or "do not make sounds."
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has ever asked permission to send you alerts. Tap any app name and you can turn off notifications entirely, or keep them but silence the sound and badge (the red number on the app icon). On Android phones, the path is Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications, though the exact wording varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others arrange this slightly differently. The principle is the same: find the app, tap it, and toggle notifications off.
On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications. You can turn off all notifications, or scroll down to see which apps are allowed to send them and turn off the ones you do not want. On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications, find the app in the list, and uncheck "Allow notifications."
Key Takeaways
- Most notifications can be turned off in your device settings without touching the app itself — iPhone uses Settings > Notifications, Android uses Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications, Windows uses Settings > System > Notifications, and Mac uses System Settings > Notifications.
- You can silence notifications without deleting them entirely by turning off sounds and badges while keeping alerts visible, which is useful if you want to check messages on your own schedule.
- Some apps let you control notifications from within the app itself — look for a Settings or Preferences menu inside the app before diving into device settings.
- Turning off notifications does not delete your account, change your password, or prevent the app from working; it only stops the alerts from appearing on your screen.
- If an app keeps sending notifications even after you turn them off in settings, uninstalling and reinstalling it usually fixes the problem.
Silencing notifications without turning them off completely
You do not have to choose between "all notifications" and "no notifications." Most devices let you keep alerts but remove the sound, vibration, and badge. This is useful if you want to check messages when you have time, rather than being interrupted constantly.
On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and toggle off "Sounds" and "Badges." The app will still send notifications, but they will arrive silently and without the red number on the icon. You can also set a "Focus" mode (Settings > Focus) that silences notifications from certain apps during work hours or bedtime, then automatically turns them back on later.
On Android, the process depends on your phone, but generally you tap the app in Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications, then look for options like "Importance level" or "Sound." Set it to "Silent" or "Low" to keep alerts without noise. On Windows, you can toggle off "Show notifications" for individual apps while keeping them in the notification center, so you see them when you open the panel but they do not pop up on screen.
Controlling notifications inside the app itself
Some apps have their own notification settings that override or add to what your device allows. If you turn off notifications in your device settings but an app still bothers you, check inside the app for a Settings or Preferences menu.
For example, Gmail has notification controls both in your phone settings and inside the Gmail app itself. If you silence Gmail notifications on your iPhone but still want to receive alerts for emails from your boss, you can open Gmail > Settings > Notifications and create rules for specific senders. Facebook, Instagram, Slack, and most messaging apps work the same way — they let you pick which types of alerts you want (messages only, not likes; work channels only, not social ones) without turning everything off.
The app-level controls are usually more detailed than device settings. If you want to stop notifications from one person or one type of activity, look in the app first. If you want to stop all notifications from an app, the device settings are faster.
What to do if notifications keep coming after you turn them off
Occasionally an app will ignore your settings and keep sending notifications anyway. This usually happens after a software update or if the app's settings got corrupted. The fix is simple: uninstall the app and reinstall it.
On iPhone, press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove App," then "Delete App." Go to the App Store, search for the app, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, tap "Uninstall," then download it again from the Google Play Store. When you reinstall, the app will ask for permissions again — you can refuse notification permission this time, or grant it and then turn it off in settings.
If uninstalling does not work, restart your phone. Hold down the power button until you see the shutdown screen, turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary files that might be causing the app to misbehave.
Stopping notifications from websites and browsers
Websites can also send notifications — the kind that pop up in the corner of your screen even when you are not on the website. These are separate from app notifications and require a different approach.
In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. You will see a list of websites that have permission to send you alerts. Click any website and select "Block" to stop notifications from it. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to "Permissions," find "Notifications," and click "Settings" to see which sites have permission. Click any site and choose "Block."
If a website asks for notification permission and you do not want it, click "Block" or "Don't Allow" in the popup. If you accidentally clicked "Allow" and forgot which site it was, use the steps above to find and block it.
Managing notifications on smartwatches and other devices
If you wear a smartwatch, notifications from your phone will also appear on your wrist. You can control this from your phone settings or from the watch itself.
On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Notifications, and choose which apps can send alerts to your watch. You can silence notifications on the watch while keeping them on your phone, or turn them off entirely. On a Wear OS watch (Samsung Galaxy Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and others), swipe down from the top of the watch screen, tap the settings icon, and look for notification settings. The exact path varies by watch, but the principle is the same.
If you have a fitness tracker or smart home device that sends notifications, check its companion app on your phone — most have a notification section in settings where you can turn alerts on or off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications delete my messages or data?
No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts from appearing on your screen. Your messages, emails, and data remain in the app and on the company's servers. You can still open the app and read everything — you just will not be interrupted by popups or sounds.
Can I turn off notifications from one person but keep them from everyone else?
Yes, but it depends on the app. Messaging apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram let you mute individual conversations — usually by swiping or long-pressing the chat and selecting "Mute." Email apps like Gmail let you create filters or rules for specific senders. Social media apps usually do not offer this level of control, so you have to choose between all notifications or none.
Why does an app keep sending notifications even after I turned them off?
The app's settings may have gotten corrupted, or a recent update may have reset your preferences. Uninstall and reinstall the app, or restart your phone to clear temporary files. If it still happens, check inside the app itself for notification settings that override your device settings.
Do I need to turn off notifications on my phone and my computer separately?
Yes. Your phone and computer are separate devices with separate settings. Turning off notifications on your iPhone does not affect your Mac or Windows computer. If you want to silence alerts everywhere, you need to go into settings on each device.
What if I want notifications back later?
You can turn notifications back on anytime by going to the same settings where you turned them off. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, tap the app, and toggle notifications back on. The same applies to Android, Windows, and Mac. You can also adjust which notifications you want — for example, turn off sounds but keep badges, or turn off all notifications except from certain people.