Where to find push notification settings on your device
Push notifications are messages that pop up on your screen even when you are not using an app — they come from apps, websites, and services you have installed or visited. To block them, you go into your device's settings, not into the app itself. The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.
On most devices, notification settings live in one central place. Your phone or computer lets you turn notifications off entirely, turn them off for specific apps, or change how they appear. You do not need to uninstall anything or contact the app maker — it is a setting you control right now.
Key Takeaways
- Push notification settings are in your device's main settings app, not inside individual apps, and you can block notifications from one app without affecting others.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and tap each app to turn notifications off; on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications and toggle off the apps you want to silence.
- On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn off notifications entirely or disable them for specific apps.
- On Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications and uncheck the apps you do not want to hear from.
- Blocking notifications does not delete the app or prevent it from working — it only stops the pop-up messages from appearing on your screen.
How to block notifications on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see a list of every app that has sent you a notification before. Tap the name of any app you want to silence.
Once you are inside that app's notification settings, look for the toggle next to Allow Notifications. Tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and that app will stop sending you notifications. Repeat this for every app you want to block. You can come back and turn notifications back on for any app at any time by flipping the same toggle.
If you want to block notifications from an app that does not appear in your Notifications list yet, open that app once and let it send you a notification. Then go back to Settings > Notifications and you will see it there.
How to block notifications on Android
Open the Settings app. Tap Apps or Applications (the exact name varies by phone maker). You will see a list of all your installed apps. Find the app you want to silence and tap it.
Look for a section called Notifications or App Notifications. Tap it. You will see a toggle labeled Allow Notifications or similar. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The app will stop sending you notifications, but it will continue to work normally otherwise.
Some Android phones also let you manage notifications from the notification panel itself. When a notification appears, press and hold it. A menu will pop up with options including Turn Off Notifications. Tap that option to block future notifications from that app without going into Settings.
How to block notifications on Windows
Click the Start button and open Settings. Go to System and then Notifications. You will see a list of options at the top, including a toggle for Notifications itself. If you turn this off, you will block all notifications from all apps and services.
If you want to block notifications from only certain apps, leave the main Notifications toggle on. Scroll down to Notifications from Apps and Other Senders. You will see a list of apps that have sent notifications. Find the app you want to silence and click the toggle next to it to turn it off.
Windows also lets you manage notifications from the notification panel in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click the notification icon and look for a settings gear. Click it to access quick notification controls.
How to block notifications on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Notifications in the sidebar. You will see a list of apps on the left side of the screen.
Click the name of any app you want to silence. On the right side, you will see options for how that app sends notifications. Uncheck the box next to Allow Notifications to block them entirely. You can also adjust other settings like whether notifications appear as banners or alerts, but unchecking the main box stops all notifications from that app.
The difference between blocking and muting notifications
Blocking a notification means the app cannot send you any notifications at all — you will not see pop-ups, badges, or sounds from it. Muting a notification usually means you still get the notification, but your phone or computer does not make a sound or light up your screen. Some devices call this silent notifications.
If you want to block notifications completely, use the steps above. If you want to keep getting notifications but do not want them to interrupt you with sound or vibration, look for a Sound or Vibration toggle in that app's notification settings instead of turning off notifications entirely.
What happens when you block notifications
When you block notifications from an app, only the notifications stop. The app itself continues to work normally. You can still open it, use it, and see any information inside it. Blocking notifications does not delete the app, log you out, or prevent it from running in the background.
Some apps may show you a badge — a small red circle with a number — even if notifications are blocked. This badge tells you something in the app needs your attention, like an unread message. If you want to remove badges as well, look for a Badge App Icon or Show Badge toggle in that app's notification settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the app know I blocked its notifications?
No. The app cannot tell whether you blocked its notifications or simply never opened them. Blocking notifications is a setting on your device only — the app developer has no way to see it.
Can I block notifications from a website?
Yes, but the process is different from blocking app notifications. When a website asks permission to send notifications, you can click Block instead of Allow. If you already said yes, go to your browser settings, find the Notifications section, and remove that website from the list of allowed sites.
What if I want to block notifications from only one person in an app?
Most apps do not let you block notifications from individual people through your device settings. Instead, look inside the app itself for a mute or block option. For example, in messaging apps, you can usually mute conversations or block specific contacts.
Can I schedule notifications to turn off at certain times?
Yes. Most phones have a Do Not Disturb or Focus mode that silences notifications during hours you set. On iPhone, this is called Focus; on Android, it is called Do Not Disturb. You can schedule these modes to turn on automatically at night or during work hours.
If I block notifications, will I miss important messages?
You will not receive notifications, but the messages or information will still be in the app. When you open the app, you will see everything that arrived. If you are worried about missing urgent messages, consider muting notifications instead of blocking them, or use Do Not Disturb mode to silence them only at certain times.