Where to find notification settings on your device
The fastest way to turn off notifications is to find the settings menu on your device. On most phones and computers, this is a gear icon or the word "Settings" — usually on your home screen or in your main menu. Once you open Settings, look for a section called "Notifications," "Apps," or sometimes "Sound & Vibration."
The exact path depends on what device you use. Android phones, iPhones, Windows computers, and Macs all keep notification controls in different places, but they all have them. The sections below walk you through each one step by step.
Key Takeaways
- You can turn off all notifications at once, or silence only the apps that bother you most.
- Most devices let you mute notifications without deleting the app or losing your account.
- Turning off notifications for one app does not affect notifications from other apps.
- You can usually still see messages and alerts if you open the app yourself — turning off notifications just stops the interruptions.
How to turn off notifications on an Android phone
Open Settings and tap "Apps" or "Application Manager." Scroll down and find the app you want to silence. Tap the app name, then look for "Notifications" or "App Notifications." You will see a toggle switch — tap it to turn notifications off for that app.
If you want to turn off notifications for everything at once, go back to Settings and look for "Notifications." Some Android phones call this section "Notification Settings" or "Do Not Disturb." Tap "Do Not Disturb" and choose when you want it active — you can set it to turn on at a certain time each day, or turn it on right now and leave it on.
You can also silence notifications from your lock screen. When a notification pops up, press and hold it. A menu will appear with options like "Turn off notifications for this app" — tap that option and you are done.
How to turn off notifications on an iPhone
Open Settings and tap "Notifications." You will see a list of every app on your phone. Tap the app you want to silence. At the top of the screen, toggle off "Allow Notifications." The app will stop sending you alerts, but you can still open it and see your messages whenever you want.
If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, you have more control. In that same app settings screen, you can turn off "Sounds" or "Badges" while keeping notifications visible on your lock screen. You can also choose "Quiet" or "Critical" instead of turning notifications off completely — this lets important alerts through but silences everything else.
To silence all notifications at once, open Settings, tap "Focus," and turn on "Do Not Disturb." You can set it to turn on automatically at bedtime or during work hours, or turn it on manually whenever you need quiet.
How to turn off notifications on a Windows computer
Click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left), then click Settings. Look for "System" and click it. On the left side, click "Notifications." You will see a list of every app that sends notifications.
Find the app you want to silence and click the toggle next to its name to turn notifications off. If you want to turn off all notifications at once, look for "Notifications" at the top of this same screen and toggle it off. Your computer will stop showing alerts, but you can still use your apps normally.
You can also use "Focus Assist" to silence notifications during certain hours. In the same Settings menu, click "Focus Assist" on the left side. Choose when you want Focus Assist to turn on — during work hours, gaming, or a custom schedule you set. When it is active, notifications will be hidden.
How to turn off notifications on a Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings." Click "Notifications" in the left sidebar. You will see a list of every app that can send notifications.
Find the app you want to silence and click it. Toggle off "Allow Notifications." The app will stop sending you alerts. If you want to keep notifications but turn off sounds, click the app and uncheck "Play Sounds" instead.
To silence all notifications at once, click "Focus" in the System Settings sidebar. Click the "+" button to create a new Focus mode, or click "Do Not Disturb" if it already exists. Turn it on, and your Mac will stop showing notifications until you turn the Focus mode off.
What happens when you turn off notifications
When you turn off notifications for an app, you stop getting pop-ups, sounds, and badges (the little red circles with numbers on app icons). The app itself keeps working — you can still open it and use it normally. Messages and alerts stay in the app; you just will not be interrupted by them.
Turning off notifications does not delete your account, log you out, or change any of your settings in the app. It only stops the interruptions. If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on the same way you turned them off.
Turning off notifications for just one type of alert
Most devices let you be selective. You might want to keep text message notifications but turn off email notifications, or keep sounds but turn off badges. On both Android and iPhone, open the app's notification settings and look for options like "Sounds," "Vibration," "Badges," or "Lock Screen." You can toggle each one separately.
On Windows and Mac, you have fewer options — you usually turn notifications on or off for the whole app. Some apps have their own settings inside the app itself, though. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, and search for "Notifications" — you might find more detailed controls there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I miss important messages if I turn off notifications?
No. Messages stay in the app — you just will not be interrupted by alerts. You can still open the app and read everything whenever you want. If you are worried about missing something urgent, turn off notifications only for apps that are not critical, like games or social media.
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact or person?
This depends on the app. Text message apps and email apps usually let you mute specific people or senders. Open the app, find the contact or sender, and look for a "Mute" or "Silence" option. Other apps do not have this feature — you have to turn off notifications for the whole app or keep them on.
How do I turn notifications back on?
Go back to the same settings screen where you turned them off and toggle the switch back on. On Android and iPhone, open Settings, find Notifications, tap the app, and toggle "Allow Notifications" back on. On Windows and Mac, follow the same steps in reverse.
What is the difference between turning off notifications and uninstalling an app?
Turning off notifications silences alerts but keeps the app on your device and your account active. Uninstalling removes the app completely. If you just want to stop being interrupted, turn off notifications. If you do not want the app at all, uninstall it.
Can I set a schedule so notifications turn off automatically at night?
Yes. On Android, iPhone, Windows, and Mac, you can use Do Not Disturb or Focus modes to silence notifications during certain hours. Open your device settings, find Do Not Disturb or Focus, and set it to turn on automatically at bedtime or any other time you choose.