Where to find the notification switch on your phone or computer

Push notifications are turned on or off in two places: inside the app or website itself, and in your device's system settings. Most of the time, the app asks permission the first time you open it — you'll see a popup asking "Allow notifications?" If you tap or click Allow, notifications turn on right away. If you tap Don't Allow, you have to go into your device settings to turn them back on later.

The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each one has its own settings menu where apps list their notification permissions. You don't need to do anything special — just find the right menu and flip the switch next to the app's name.

Key Takeaways

  • Most apps ask for permission to send notifications the first time you open them; tapping Allow turns them on immediately.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app in the list to turn notifications on.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications and toggle the switch next to each app's name.
  • On Windows and Mac, notification settings are in System Settings under Notifications or System Preferences, and you can turn them on per app.
  • Websites ask for notification permission separately from apps, and you control website notifications through your browser settings.

Turning notifications on for iPhone

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down until you see Notifications — it's usually near the top of the list. Tap it, and you'll see a list of every app installed on your phone. Find the app you want notifications from and tap its name.

Inside that app's notification settings, look for the toggle next to "Allow Notifications" at the very top. If it's gray, notifications are off. Tap it once to turn it on — it will turn white or green. Once you do that, the app can send you notifications. You can also choose whether notifications appear as banners, badges, or sounds from this same screen, but turning on the main toggle is what matters.

Turning notifications on for Android

Open Settings on your phone. Look for Apps or Application Manager — the exact name varies by phone maker, but it's usually near the top. Tap it, then find the app you want notifications from in the list. Tap the app's name to open its details page.

Look for Notifications on that page. You should see a toggle switch next to it. If the switch is off (usually gray), tap it to turn notifications on. The switch will change color to show it's active. Some phones also let you tap Notifications to see more detailed options, like which notification channels are on or off, but the main toggle is what you need.

Turning notifications on for Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then pressing Enter. Click System on the left side, then Notifications. You'll see a list of apps that have asked for notification permission. Find the app you want notifications from and make sure the toggle next to its name is on — it should be blue or white, not gray.

If the app isn't in the list, it may not have asked for permission yet. Open the app itself and look for a settings menu inside it. Many apps have their own notification controls separate from Windows Settings. If you still don't see it, the app may not support notifications.

Turning notifications on for Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click Notifications in the left sidebar. You'll see a list of apps on the left side. Find the app you want notifications from and click its name. On the right side, make sure "Allow notifications" is toggled on — it should show a checkmark or be highlighted.

You can also choose how notifications appear: as banners, alerts, or badges. The main toggle at the top of the right panel is what turns notifications on or off. If the app isn't in the list, it hasn't asked for permission yet, so open the app and look for its own notification settings.

Turning notifications on for websites

Website notifications work differently from app notifications. When you visit a website that wants to send notifications, your browser will ask "Allow notifications from this site?" at the top of the page. Click Allow, and the website can send you notifications even when you're not visiting it.

If you clicked Don't Allow and want to turn them back on, the process depends on your browser. In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the website address in the address bar, find Notifications, and change it from Blocked to Allow. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy > Permissions > Notifications and find the website in the list, then change its permission. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications and find the site in the list.

What to do if you don't see the permission popup

Sometimes an app or website never asks for permission to send notifications. This usually means it doesn't support notifications, or the permission request was dismissed before you saw it. The best way to check is to go directly to the app's or website's settings and look for a notification option there.

Inside most apps, you'll find a Settings or Preferences menu — usually a gear icon or three horizontal lines. Look for Notifications or Push Notifications in that menu. If you find it and it's off, turn it on. If you don't find it anywhere, the app simply doesn't have notification features.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between allowing notifications in Settings and allowing them in the app?

Your device's Settings controls whether the app is allowed to send notifications at all. The app's own settings control what kind of notifications you get — like whether you want alerts about messages but not sales. You need both turned on: permission in Settings plus the notification type enabled in the app.

If I said Don't Allow the first time, can I change my mind?

Yes. Go to your device's notification settings (Settings > Notifications on iPhone, Settings > Apps > Notifications on Android, etc.), find the app, and turn the toggle on. The app won't ask again — it will just start sending notifications.

Why does an app say it sent a notification but I didn't see it?

Notifications can be silenced by Do Not Disturb mode, muted in the app's own settings, or hidden if your device is locked and notifications are set to appear only in the notification center. Check your notification center (swipe down from the top on iPhone or Android, or check the bottom-right corner on Windows) to see if it's there.

Can I turn notifications on for some features of an app but not others?

Yes. Most apps let you control notification channels separately. Inside the app's notification settings, you might see options like "Messages," "Promotions," or "Reminders," each with its own toggle. You can turn on some and leave others off.

Do I need to turn notifications on in both my browser and the website?

For websites, you only need to allow notifications once in your browser when the site asks. You don't need to go into browser settings unless you want to change or remove permission later. The website itself doesn't have a separate notification toggle.