Where to find notification settings on each device
The steps to turn off notifications differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each system stores notification controls in a different place, and some apps let you change settings within the app itself rather than in your device settings.
On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, then select the app you want to change. You can toggle off "Allow Notifications" entirely, or keep notifications on but turn off sounds, badges, or banners. On an Android phone, open Settings, go to Apps & Notifications (or Apps), find the app, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Show Notifications." On a Windows computer, open Settings, select System, then Notifications & Actions, and turn off notifications for specific apps. On a Mac, open System Settings, click Notifications, select the app, and uncheck "Allow Notifications."
Key Takeaways
- iPhone notifications are controlled in Settings > Notifications, where you can turn them off completely or disable only sounds and badges.
- Android phones use Settings > Apps & Notifications > [App Name] > Notifications to disable alerts from individual apps.
- Windows computers have a Notifications & Actions panel in Settings where you can turn off notifications per app.
- Some apps store their own notification settings inside the app itself, separate from your device settings.
- Turning off notifications at the device level is faster than managing each app individually if you want to silence everything at once.
Turning off notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of all apps that send notifications. Tap the app you want to change.
Once you open an app's notification settings, you have several options. Toggle off "Allow Notifications" to stop all alerts from that app. If you want to keep notifications but silence them, toggle off "Sounds" to remove notification sounds, or toggle off "Badges" to stop the red number circles on the app icon. You can also change how notifications appear: tap "Notification Style" and choose between Lock Screen, Notification Center, or Banners.
If you want to turn off notifications for all apps at once, go back to Settings > Notifications and scroll to the bottom. Tap "Siri Suggestions" and toggle off "Show in Notifications" to stop app recommendations from appearing.
Turning off notifications on Android
Open Settings on your Android phone. The exact path varies by manufacturer, but look for Apps, Apps & Notifications, or Application Manager. Tap Apps or Apps & Notifications.
Find the app you want to change in the list. Tap it, then tap Notifications. Toggle off "Show Notifications" to stop all alerts from that app. Some apps have additional options here: you may see toggles for "Sound," "Vibration," or "Lights." Turn off whichever you want to disable.
If your phone has a notification panel at the top of the screen, you can also swipe down from the top twice to open the full notification shade. Long-press a notification from an app you want to silence, then tap "Turn off notifications" or the settings icon to access that app's notification controls.
Turning off notifications on Windows
Open Settings on your Windows computer. Click System in the left sidebar, then click Notifications & Actions. You will see a list of apps that send notifications.
Find the app you want to change and toggle off the switch next to its name. If you want to turn off all notifications at once, toggle off "Get notifications from apps and other senders" at the top of the page. You can also toggle off "Show notifications on the lock screen" or "Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls" if you want to keep some notifications but hide others.
Some Windows apps, like Mail or Calendar, may also have their own notification settings inside the app. Check the app's settings or preferences menu if you do not see the control you need in the system settings.
Turning off notifications on Mac
Open System Settings on your Mac. Click Notifications in the sidebar. You will see a list of all apps that can send notifications.
Click the app you want to change. Uncheck "Allow Notifications" to turn off all alerts from that app. You can also uncheck "Badges" to remove the red number circles on the app icon, or uncheck "Sounds" to silence notification sounds while keeping visual alerts. If you want to change where notifications appear, click the "Notification Center" dropdown and choose a different style.
To turn off notifications for all apps at once, scroll to the bottom of the Notifications list and look for a toggle or option to disable notifications globally. Some Macs also let you set "Do Not Disturb" hours in the same panel.
Turning off notifications within individual apps
Some apps store notification controls inside the app itself rather than in your device settings. This is common for social media apps, messaging apps, and email clients. Open the app, look for a Settings or Preferences menu (usually in the app's main menu or in your account settings), and search for "Notifications."
App-level notification settings often give you more control than device settings. For example, you might be able to turn off notifications for certain types of messages while keeping others on, or set quiet hours when the app will not alert you. Check both your device settings and the app's own settings to make sure you have turned off notifications the way you want.
Silencing notifications without turning them off completely
If you want to keep notifications but stop them from interrupting you, you have options short of turning them off entirely. On iPhone, use Focus modes to silence notifications during certain times or activities. On Android, use Do Not Disturb mode to mute sounds and vibrations while keeping notifications in your notification center. On Windows and Mac, use Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb to temporarily silence all notifications.
You can also change individual notification settings to be less intrusive. Turn off sounds and vibrations but keep visual badges, or change notifications to appear only on your lock screen instead of interrupting what you are doing. This way you can still see alerts when you check your device without being constantly interrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop me from seeing messages from people I care about?
Turning off notifications only stops the alert sound and badge — messages will still arrive and sit in the app. You will see them when you open the app, but you will not be notified. If you want to keep notifications from certain people, check if the app has a "VIP" or "Favorites" feature that lets you turn off notifications for everyone except specific contacts.
Can I turn off notifications for just one contact instead of the whole app?
This depends on the app. Messaging apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram let you mute individual conversations. Open the conversation, look for a mute or silence option (usually in the conversation settings), and choose how long to mute it. Email apps often let you mute entire senders or create filters. Social media apps rarely offer per-contact muting.
What is the difference between turning off notifications and turning off sounds?
Turning off notifications stops all alerts from an app — no sounds, no badges, no banners. Turning off sounds keeps notifications but silences the noise and vibration. Turning off badges removes the red number circles on the app icon. You can mix and match these settings to get the level of interruption you want.
If I turn off notifications, will I still get alerts for emergency calls?
Yes. On both iPhone and Android, emergency calls and messages from your contacts will still come through even if you have turned off notifications for that app or enabled Do Not Disturb mode. The system treats emergency contacts differently to make sure you do not miss critical calls.
How do I turn off notifications for all apps at once?
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and toggle off "Allow Notifications" for each app, or use a Focus mode to silence all notifications during certain times. On Android, open Settings > Apps & Notifications and toggle off notifications for each app. On Windows and Mac, use the global toggle at the top of the Notifications settings panel to turn off all notifications at once.