Where to find push notification settings
Push notifications appear as alerts on your device — a message that pops up on your phone screen, your computer, or your browser even when you are not actively using an app. To turn them on, you go into the settings of the device or app itself, not into a central control panel. The exact path depends on what device you own and which app is sending the notification.
On most phones and computers, notification settings are split between the device level (which apps are allowed to send notifications at all) and the app level (what kinds of notifications each app sends). You may need to change both to get the notifications you want.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications require permission at two levels: the device must allow the app to send them, and the app itself must have notifications turned on.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app name, then toggle Allow Notifications on.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications, find the app, and toggle Notifications on.
- On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications and toggle on for each app you want to hear from.
- In a web browser, the site will ask permission the first time it wants to send a notification — click Allow when prompted.
Enabling notifications on an iPhone
On iPhone, open the Settings app and scroll down to find Notifications. Tap it. You will see a list of every app installed on your phone. Find the app you want notifications from and tap its name. At the top of that app's page, you will see a toggle for "Allow Notifications" — make sure it is switched on (the toggle will be green).
Once Allow Notifications is on, you can choose how the notification appears: as a banner at the top of the screen, as a list in your notification center, or as a badge (a red number) on the app icon. You can also choose the sound it makes and whether it vibrates. These choices are all on the same page, below the Allow Notifications toggle.
If an app is not in your Notifications list, it means the app has never asked for permission to send notifications. Open the app itself and look for a settings or preferences option inside the app — many apps let you turn notifications on from within the app rather than from the device settings.
Enabling notifications on Android
On Android, open Settings and look for Apps or Application Manager (the exact name varies by phone maker). Tap it. You will see a list of installed apps. Find the app you want notifications from and tap its name. Look for a Notifications option — on most phones this is near the top of the app's settings page. Tap Notifications and toggle it on.
Some Android phones also let you control notifications from a quick settings panel. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full quick settings menu, find the app name, and long-press it. A menu will appear with notification options. You can toggle notifications on or off from there without going into the full Settings app.
If you cannot find the Notifications toggle, the app may not support push notifications, or it may only let you control notifications from inside the app itself. Open the app and look for a settings or preferences menu within the app.
Enabling notifications on Windows
On Windows, open Settings (you can search for it in the Start menu). Click System in the left sidebar, then click Notifications. You will see a list of apps that have requested permission to send notifications. Find the app you want and toggle the switch next to its name to on. The switch will turn blue when it is active.
You can also control what kind of notifications each app sends. In the same Notifications settings page, scroll down to find "Advanced notification options" or a similar heading. Click on an app name to see choices like whether to show banners, play a sound, or show a count of unread messages.
If an app is not in your list, it has not yet asked for permission. Open the app and look for notification settings inside the app itself, or try using the app in a way that would trigger a notification (like receiving a message) — the app may then ask for permission.
Enabling notifications in a web browser
When you visit a website that wants to send you push notifications, the browser will show a prompt asking for permission. The prompt usually appears at the top of the page or in a small box. Click Allow to turn on notifications for that site. If you click Block or close the prompt, the site cannot send notifications unless you change your mind later.
To change your decision after the fact, click the lock icon next to the website address in your browser's address bar. A small menu will appear. Look for a Notifications option and change it from Blocked to Allow, or vice versa. The exact steps vary slightly between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but the lock icon method works in all of them.
If you have allowed notifications but stopped seeing them, check your browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll down to Permissions > Notifications. You can see which sites have permission and toggle them on or off from there.
Troubleshooting notifications that do not appear
If you have turned on notifications but are not seeing them, check three things. First, make sure the app itself has notifications enabled — some apps have a separate notifications toggle inside the app that overrides the device setting. Second, check your device's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner. On Android, swipe down twice from the top. If Do Not Disturb is on, notifications may be silenced. Third, check the app's notification sound and vibration settings — if both are off, the notification may arrive silently and you might miss it.
On Windows, check whether notifications are turned off for the entire system. Go to Settings > System > Notifications and make sure the toggle at the very top (for all notifications) is on. If it is off, no app notifications will appear no matter what you have set individually.
If notifications still do not appear, try closing and reopening the app, or restarting your device. Sometimes a notification permission does not take effect until the app is restarted.
Controlling notification frequency and content
Once notifications are turned on, you can usually control how many you receive and what they say. Most apps let you choose which types of notifications to receive — for example, you might want messages but not marketing emails, or you might want alerts about orders but not product recommendations.
Look inside the app itself for a Notifications or Preferences section. You will usually find options like "Notify me about messages," "Notify me about sales," or "Notify me about account activity." Turning off the ones you do not want reduces the number of notifications without disabling them entirely. This is often more useful than turning notifications off at the device level, because it lets you keep notifications you care about while silencing the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn on notifications for one type of alert but not another?
Yes. Most apps let you choose which notification types to receive. Open the app and look for Notifications, Preferences, or Settings. You will usually find checkboxes or toggles for different alert types — turn on the ones you want and leave off the ones you do not. This is different from the device-level setting, which is all or nothing.
What if a website keeps asking for notification permission?
Click Block to stop the prompt from appearing. If you change your mind later, click the lock icon next to the website address and change Notifications from Blocked to Allow. The site will not ask again once you have made a choice.
Do push notifications use data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per notification. Battery impact is also minimal because the notification is delivered to your device by the app's server, not by constantly checking for updates. Turning on notifications will not noticeably drain your battery.
Can I schedule notifications to arrive only at certain times?
Some apps have built-in scheduling options. Look in the app's notification settings for a "Quiet Hours," "Do Not Disturb," or "Schedule" option. If the app does not have this feature, you can use your device's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence all notifications during certain hours, then turn it off when you want to receive them again.
Why do I see notifications on my phone but not my computer?
Each device has its own notification settings. You need to turn on notifications separately on each device where you want to receive them. Go through the steps for your phone, then repeat them for your computer. Some apps sync notification settings across devices, but most do not.