Google Calendar shows a notification popup when an event is about to start, and you can turn it off in your calendar settings
The notification that appears on your screen a few minutes before a calendar event is controlled by individual event settings, not a single master switch. You can remove notifications from one event at a time, or change the default so new events stop showing them altogether. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Google Calendar on a computer or phone.
Most people see these popups because Google Calendar's default is to notify you 10 minutes before each event. If you never want to see them, you can change that default. If you only want to silence notifications for specific events — like a recurring meeting you no longer need reminding about — you can edit just that event.
Key Takeaways
- Notification popups come from individual event settings, so you can turn them off per event or change the default for all future events.
- On a computer, open the event, click "Edit event", scroll to Notifications, and delete the notification line by clicking the trash icon.
- On a phone, tap the event, tap the pencil icon to edit, scroll down to Notifications, and tap the X next to the notification you want to remove.
- To stop notifications on all new events going forward, change your calendar settings under "Event settings" rather than editing individual events.
- Removing a notification does not delete the event — it only stops the popup from appearing.
Remove notifications from a single event on your computer
Open Google Calendar in your web browser and find the event you want to change. Click on the event name to open its details card. At the top right of that card, click the pencil icon labeled "Edit event".
The event editor will open. Scroll down until you see the "Notifications" section. You will see one or more notification lines, each showing a time (like "10 minutes before") and a notification type (like "Notification"). To remove a notification, click the trash icon on the right side of that line. If there are multiple notifications listed, delete each one you do not want. When you are done, click "Save" at the bottom of the page.
The event stays on your calendar — only the popup notification is gone. If this is a recurring event (one that repeats weekly or monthly), Google Calendar will ask whether you want to change only this event or all events in the series. Choose based on what you need: "This event" changes only this one occurrence, while "All events" removes the notification from every instance of that recurring meeting.
Remove notifications from a single event on your phone
Open the Google Calendar app and tap the event you want to change. A popup card will appear showing the event details. Tap the pencil icon at the top right to edit the event.
Scroll down to the "Notifications" section. You will see one or more notification lines. Tap the X on the right side of any notification you want to remove. When you have deleted all the notifications you do not want, scroll to the bottom and tap "Save".
If the event repeats, you will see a choice asking whether to change this event only or all events in the series. Tap your choice, and the change will take effect immediately.
Change the default notification setting for all new events
If you want to stop notifications on every new event you create, rather than editing each one individually, change your calendar's default settings. On a computer, open Google Calendar and look for the gear icon in the top right corner. Click it and select "Settings".
On the left side of the Settings page, find your calendar name under "My calendars" and click it. Scroll down to "Event settings" and look for the "Notifications" section. You will see the default notification that applies to new events. Click the trash icon next to it to remove it. Scroll to the bottom and click "Save settings".
This change only affects events you create from now on. Events already on your calendar keep their current notifications unless you edit them individually. If you use Google Calendar on your phone, you cannot change default settings there — you must use a computer browser.
The difference between notification types
Google Calendar offers different ways to be notified: "Notification" (a popup on your screen), "Email" (a message sent to your inbox), and "SMS" (a text message to your phone). When you remove a notification, you are removing only that specific type. An event might have an email notification but no popup notification, for example.
If you see multiple notification lines for the same event, each one is a separate alert. You can delete all of them, some of them, or none. Deleting the popup notification does not affect email or text reminders — you have to remove those separately if you do not want them.
What to do if the notification keeps appearing
If you removed a notification but the popup still appears, the event may have been shared with you by someone else. Shared events sometimes keep the organizer's notification settings even after you edit them. Try editing the event again and checking whether the notification has reappeared.
Another possibility is that you are looking at a different calendar. Google Calendar lets you have multiple calendars (Work, Personal, Birthdays, and others). A notification might be coming from an event on a calendar you did not realize was turned on. Look at the left sidebar and check which calendars are visible — you can click the eye icon next to any calendar name to hide it.
If you have edited the event and the notification still appears, try removing it again and saving. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to register, especially on a phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a notification delete the event?
No. Removing a notification only stops the popup from appearing. The event stays on your calendar and will still show up at the scheduled time. You can still see it, edit it, or add the notification back later if you change your mind.
Can I turn off notifications for just one recurring event without affecting the others?
Yes. When you edit a recurring event and remove its notification, Google Calendar asks whether you want to change "This event" or "All events". Choose "This event" to remove the notification from only that single occurrence. The other instances of the recurring event keep their notifications.
Why do I still get email reminders even though I removed the notification?
Notifications and emails are separate settings. Removing the popup notification does not remove email reminders. Edit the event again, scroll to the Notifications section, and look for a line that says "Email". Click the trash icon next to it to remove email reminders as well.
Can I remove notifications from all events at once?
You cannot remove notifications from existing events all at once, but you can change the default for new events. Go to Settings, click your calendar name, find "Event settings", and delete the default notification. This stops new events from having notifications automatically, but does not change events already on your calendar.
What if I share my calendar with someone else — will removing my notification affect theirs?
No. Each person who views a shared calendar can set their own notifications independently. When you remove a notification from an event on your calendar, it only affects what you see. Other people who have access to that calendar keep their own notification settings.